Many historic structures and buildings grace the Gettysburg scene today. Several have even been repurposed into present-day attractions, like museums and shops. Others have been reinvented to accommodate overnight guests in the inn format or as a beloved community food or drink establishment. Gettysburg Academy Tourist Home Bed & Breakfast, for example, fits the bill as a two-in-one example of the latter.
With its convenient location just two blocks away from Gettysburg Square, this quaint accommodation makes for an optimal pick for both history buffs and seekers of more low-key, off-the-grid (but not removed from all the action) options. What’s more, the versatile timeline of history this building boasts even predates the Battle of Gettysburg by several decades! In this Flashback Friday Feature, I’m recounting an overview of Gettysburg Academy, from its founding to its new, present-day enduring legacy.
Early Education
It was in 1810 that Gettysburg Academy, alternately known as “the Classical Preparatory School” and sometimes “the Gettysburg Gymnasium,” was built. Before that, the first educational establishment in the borough was a boys’ academy that operated out of the Dobbin House from 1776 to 1801.
Gettysburg Academy’s incorporation came about in response to the commonwealth’s $2,000 appropriation in March 1810. It took several years, at last coming together in 1813 under the masterful direction of James Gettys, Thaddeus Stevens, and other influential men in the area. The school opened in 1814 with Samuel Ramsay as the first teacher.
The building boasted three dormitories, libraries, and a gymnasium in 1822. Just four years later, in 1826, the General Synod of Lutherans was granted permission to use the site to establish a new seminary. D. Jacobs structured a preparatory school with his brother serving as a professor of mathematics.
Samuel Simon Schmucker, who was the president of the seminary, purchased the building during a sheriff’s sale in 1829. Expansions to the edifice saw the famous incorporation of a resident gymnasium and the dubbing of “Gettysburg Gymnasium”.
By the time the 1830s rolled in, the academy was still serving as home base to both the college and the seminary. At this time, there were around 75 students in attendance. The seminary eventually moved to its present location, on the ridge just west of downtown Gettysburg.
Gettysburg Female Institute
Following the independent establishment of Gettysburg College and the Lutheran Seminary, the newly formed Gettysburg Female Institute moved in. This occupation lasted between 1838 and sometime through the 1870s. The Gettysburg Female Seminary was owned and operated by the Rev. David Eyster and his wife, Rebecca. Young Matilda “Tillie” Pierce was even a student here, and wrote about her experiences in a book published later in 1888—At Gettysburg, or What a Girl Saw and Heard of the Battle.
With the breakout of the Battle of Gettysburg, the building was temporarily repurposed into a Civil War hospital. It was also used for hosting private meetings opposing slavery before and during the war. In 1877, Eyster’s “School Halls” were advertised for rent. Later on, during World War I, it served as an officers’ quarters.
In 1972, the borough ordinance extended the surrounding historic site to include this building in particular. It operated as a private residence for several decades before its next big stint.
A New Legacy
The current caretakers of the premises are fourth-generation owners whose great-grandfather purchased the property at a sheriff’s sale in 1932 and converted the building into two units. In addition to operating Reuning’s Pastry Shop on Baltimore Street, the family also served as proud owners and overseers of the Motel Tourist Home between the mid-1930s and 1950s. A huge renovation enhanced the house back in the 1990s, which resulted in the joining of two sides into one building. The cupola on the roof, once removed in the 1930s, has been replaced and restored to its former glory.
Now, Gettysburg Academy has gotten a second wind, operating as an iconic, historical bed and breakfast, with charm, elegance, and a story laden with longevity. It’s also home to the widely acclaimed Jane’s Tea Room, known for hosting various seasonal events and specials.
In addition to offering historic overnight accommodations and impeccable services, the bed and breakfast doubles as a wedding and event venue.
Discover the grace of the Gettysburg Academy Tourist Home Bed & Breakfast for yourself at www.gettysburgacademy.com.