THE HISTORIC RUPP HOUSE
The Rupp House stands at 451 Baltimore Street
in downtown Gettysburg. (The photo to the right was taken in 1870.)
In 1863, John Rupp and his family
made their home where the current house now stands (the original
house was heavily damaged during the battle of Gettysburg in July
1863; the current structure was built in 1868.).
On March 15, 1872, Gettysburg’s
Star and Sentinel newspaper described the current house as, “one
of the most desirable and valuable residences in town.”
But the property has a long history that far outdates the house
built in 1868.
It is possible to trace the property
back to the mid-18th century, and one of the earliest owners was
the Rev. Alexander Dobbin who, after Gettysburg became the county
seat of the newly formed Adams County in 1800, sub-divided his
large tract of land and sold the individual lots.
By 1840, a little more than 20
years before the Civil War, the southern part of Gettysburg near
Cemetery Hill had become an industrial center that included at
least two tanneries and one slaughterhouse. The Rupp House property
changed hands a few times before Henry Rupp, John’s father,
purchased the land in 1851 (he paid $500, which was a good deal
of money in the mid-19th century).
Henry eventually turned over the
property to John, where he raised his family and operated his
tannery. The family’s home was heavily damaged during the
battle, and in 1868 John decided to tear down the house and replace
it with the structure that stands today. After John died in 1872,
Caroline was forced to sell off most of the Rupp property, which
was parceled and sold to different buyers. The Rupp House has
had several owners since 1872, most recently serving as the Batlimore
Street Bed and Breakfast.
In 2002, Friends of Gettysburg acquired the property and in 2003 opened the Rupp House. The Rupp House offers visitors a glimpse of what life was like for the civilians of Gettysburg—as well as the soldiers—during the battle. The Rupp House features interactive displays and hands-on exhibits.
The Rupp House serves
today as the Friends of Gettysburg gathering place in downtown
Gettysburg. Barbara's Library and the Finfrock Center are located
at the Rupp House and open to members of the Friends at the Patron
Level and above. Learn more
about becoming a Friends member!
The information above was taken from Thay Will Remember
Gettysburg: The Rupp Family, House and Tannery, by Emma K.
Young, copyright 2002, Friends of Gettysburg.