There is a house in Gettysburg that predates any other currently standing edifice today. It is the one structure that truly was established “four score and seven years” before the town’s infamous Battle of Gettysburg of Civil War renown. I am, of course, referring to none other than the Historic Alexander Dobbin House.
Standing out as Gettysburg’s oldest and most historic home, the silent walls of the Dobbin House have borne witness to a most versatile and storied past. First, there’s its antiquated establishment which lines right up to the very founding of the United States as an independent nation. Then there’s the fact that it survived the local crossfire of the Civil War. And let’s not forget about the host of other versatile uses it has gone on to serve as (and continue serving as) throughout its ongoing tenure. That’s why in this Flashback Friday Feature, I’m delving into Dobbin House history.
Alexander Dobbin and Family Come to Town
The story of the Dobbin House begins with its founder—Alexander Dobbin. Born in Ireland back in 1742, Dobbin was a respected, well-cultured minister who, in 1773, set sail for the New World along with his bride Isabelle Gamble Dobbin. Originally arriving in New Castle, Delaware, the Dobbins soon moved to what had been known as the “Marsh Creek Settlement” in Pennsylvania. It was here that Dobbin served as the reverend to Rock Creek Presbyterian Church, about a mile from present-day Gettysburg.
Dobbin purchased 300 acres of land from John Carson in 1774. Carson, along with Samuel Gettys, owned most of the land surrounding and comprising the Marsh Creek Settlement. At the time it was home to around 150 families.
Building a House and School Combo
Construction of a new family home was completed on the property in 1776, although the sale from Carson wasn’t technically finalized until 1779. All the same, the newly constructed edifice would go on to serve as the long-time family home to Alexander and Isabella Dobbin and the 10 children they ended up having. After her death, Alexander Dobbin remarried Mary Agnew—a widow with nine children, all of whom would eventually come to live in the Dobbin House as well.
In addition to serving as a family home, the Dobbin House also doubled as a school. The school operated as a combined seminary and liberal arts college. According to all accounts, this was a pioneering educational facility first of its kind west of the Susquehanna River.
Ties to the Underground Railroad
Strong evidence supports the idea that the Dobbin House operated as one of many important regional stopping points on the Underground Railroad. One of Alexander Dobbin’s 10 children, Matthew Dobbin, was particularly well-known for his strong anti-abolitionist sentiments. Furthermore, the discovery of a secret panel in a stairway wall just off the kitchen further confirms the Dobbin family’s likely involvement in leading fugitive slaves on the route to freedom.
The hindered cupboard doors and sliding shelf were constructed circa 1810, meaning that the house’s operation as a safe-house predates Civil War era tensions by more than half a century. Aside from this hidden space, however, and Matthew’s lack of discreet expressions regarding his feelings about slavery, there is little else in the way of confirming evidence to suggest that the Dobbin House was used in such a way. But given the times, the lack of keeping personal records by those who were involved would have been the norm.
Ownership After the Dobbins
The historic home remained in the family up until 1825. On April 20 of that year, the Bank of Gettysburg purchased the Dobbin House at a Sheriff’s Sale for $2,300. Following a short sale, Thomas Miller, son of William Miller who founded nearby Fairfield, purchased the home and owned it for 17 years.
Later on, in 1840, Miller transferred the title to Conrad Snyder—a tavern keeper who operated “Wagon Hotel” at the junction of what is now Baltimore Street and Steinwehr Avenue. Conrad died in 1860, leaving the home to his widow and children. It was then sold to James Pierce in 1861 and remained his until 1866. After the Civil War, ownership would shift several more times and would go on to be rented out countless times as well.
Its Role During the Civil War
While the Dobbin House served as a residential and rental home several times over the years, it was also utilized to fulfill a host of other multifaceted tasks throughout its ongoing tenure. One of its most essential roles came about during the three-day Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863.
Like many area homes and buildings, the Dobbin House was temporarily converted to perform the functions of a field hospital. Interestingly, wounded Union and Confederate soldiers alike were treated at the Dobbin House. Another interesting fact is that despite its crossfire location, directly in the range of all that gunfire and fighting, the house stood fortuitous, suffering only minimal damage (by comparison to other area homes) from shellfire.
Made Into a Museum
By 1941, the Historic Dobbin House found new life when it opened to the public as the Dobbin House Museum. Gettysburg resident John Lippy purchased the house from Thomas Hay Nixon, the surviving son of previous owner Kate Hay Nixon, who died in 1938. Under his direction, the Dobbin House underwent diligent restorations. Rooms were refurnished with period-appropriate décor and artifacts, and the authenticity and integrity of the original, enduring spirit of the atmosphere within was undeniable.
While the home décor largely conveyed that of the 18th century, the museum also paid tribute to the Dobbin House’s Civil War callouts. The artifacts and featured displays ranged in everything from authentic newspapers from the Colonial and Civil War eras alike to Confederate money, shells, powder flasks, bullets, nails, keys, locks, and more.
Lippy remained the owner and operator of the museum until 1954. That’s when he sold it to The Gettysburg Battlefield Diorama, Inc. Established by Gettysburg local Curvin Heiss, Sr. the corporation set out to exhibit more than 3,000 Civil War soldiers via an impressive diorama model. The downstairs continued operations as a museum and gift shop combo with the addition of the diorama and its installed audio components.
A Transcending Dining Experience
The Gettysburg Battlefield Diorama, Inc. operated the museum until 1967 when it changed ownership yet again. The Adamik family of Aspers took over for a bit before selling to A. Kenneth and Thelma H. Dick in 1977. With the family’s desire to see the existing building preserved and maintained appropriately, they urged their like-minded daughter Jacqueline “Jackie” White to take the helm.
White, who remains the active owner and operator of the Dobbin House today, came up with the perfect solution—a restaurant. She drew inspiration from past visits to Colonial Williamsburg, taking note of the all-encompassing, immersive dining experiences there. She paid special attention to the authentic cuisine presentations reminiscent of the day and the servers who donned traditional attire that paired perfectly with each establishment’s historically replicated ambiance.
The Dobbin House Today
The Dobbin House of today remains one of Gettysburg’s most distinguishable dining establishments—a popular pursuit and bucket list experience for locals and visitors alike. Officially known as the Dobbin House Tavern, a meal here knows no equivalent. You have three remarkable opportunities for dining onsite.
There is the Abigail Adams Ballroom, for example. Able to accommodate up to 130 guests, this unique private area can be booked for special occasions like weddings and grand parties.
Then there’s a refined dinnertime offering to be enjoyed as well. Located in the main original house, dinner is more of an elegant affair in the six different Alexander Dobbin Dining Rooms. Here guests are seated at charming tables in decorated homey rooms with servers donning their best period wardrobe in keeping with authenticity.
While more casual in its menu offerings, the downstairs Springhouse Tavern opens earlier in the day, serving lunch and dinner alike. Again, the scene provided alludes to charming old-fashioned quaintness with its stone walls, authentically attired waitstaff, and lighted candles at every table.
Note, that there is also currently an outdoor dining option as well. It’s their Courtyard and Bar. Operations, however, are contingent on the weather conditions on a single day.
In addition to dining, visitors to the Dobbin House may enjoy a nicely stocked gift shop and self-guided tours. You can even go up the aforementioned stairwell and view the secret panel believed to have been used for hiding slaves. The installment of representative figures is included.
Those winding stairs also lead to a unique little one-room museum display, which still showcases compiled historic artifacts that were discovered onsite. You’ll even see an old photograph of the Dobbin House.
Don’t want to leave the site too soon? Consider lodging in one of the limited bed and breakfast rooms available to guests. Click here to learn more.
Throughout its enduring legacy, the Dobbin House was used privately as a home for more than 60 years. For 100 years it served as a rental property. Then it was used for 37 years as a museum. It’s been serving as one of the finest dining establishments in the area for more than four decades already. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973
The Dobbin House has a rich enduring history and heritage that no other site in Gettysburg can hold a candle to. Discover its transcending charm for yourself by visiting today.
The Dobbin House is located at 89 Steinwehr Avenue (Business Route 15 South), Gettysburg, PA 17325. To learn more, visit the website at www.dobbinhouse.com.