Gettysburg Diamond Christmas Lights

Lights on the Gettysburg Christmas Tree were officially lit on the Diamond last week. The Adams County Bank (the site of George Arnold's store in 1863) is to the left of the tree. T&S Menswear (the site of Boyer's Grocery store in 1863) is to the right of the tree. Chambersburg Street is the street between the two buildings. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 6:00 AM on Monday, December 8, 2008.

The Christmas Tree is up on the Diamond/Lincoln Square/Circle, and some of the buildings on the Diamond have also been decorated for Christmas. Wreaths with lights are also on display on the lamposts one block from the Diamond on Carlisle Street, York Street, Baltimore Street, and Chambersburg Street.

The Christmas Tree occupies the center of the Diamond which was the site of the original Adams County Courthouse from 1804-1859. The House of Bender is in the right background (John Lawrence Schick building in 1863). Baltimore Street is to the left of the J.L. Schick building. To the left of the tree is the Plaza Restaurant, and to the left of the restaurant is the 1863 home of Joel B. Danner. To the left of the Danner House is the Masonic Hall, which was the 1863 home of Robert Harper. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 6:00 AM on Monday, December 8, 2008.

Lighted Wreaths also adorn the lamp posts on the Diamond. The Gettysburg Hotel is in the left background. The Wills House is on the far right, and York Street is to the left of the Wills House. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 6:00 AM on Monday, December 8, 2008.

The wreaths are on each lamp post one block from the square, on both sides of Carlisle Street, York Street, Baltimore Street, and Chambersburg Street. This view was taken facing west at approximately 6:00 AM on Monday, December 8, 2008.

The Pub Restaurant on the left, and the bottom of the Gettysburg Hotel on the right have also been decorated for the holidays. Carlisle Street runs north between the buildings. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 7:30 AM on Saturday, December 6, 2008.

The Gettysburg Hotel sits on the site of what in 1863 was a much smaller McClellan House. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 6:00 PM on Sunday, December 7, 2008.

The Pub was competely rebuilt after a fire destroyed it in February, 2001. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 6:00 PM on Sunday, December 7, 2008.

Free parking in Gettysburg through New Years. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 6:00 PM on Sunday, December 7, 2008.

However, the parking spaces, and the sidewalk near the Wills House are still closed for no apparent reason. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 6:00 PM on Sunday, December 7, 2008.

Perry Como on the left, is always dressed properly for the winter holidays. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 6:00 PM on Sunday, December 7, 2008.

The land on the Diamond was originally donated by borough founder James Gettys. The David Wills House is on the far left of this view. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 8:00 AM on Saturday, December 6, 2008.

Then they filed into the rooms, such as the Community Room, to wait almost an hour to take the test. The tension was certainly building as some individuals were at this moment attempting to recall everything that they knew about Gettysburg and the American Civil War period. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 8:00 AM on Saturday, December 6, 2008.

At first there were three rooms reserved, but in order to spread out the test takers, five rooms were eventually commandeered. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 8:30 AM on Saturday, December 6, 2008.

Finally, at 9:00 AM, the test takers were allowed to open their packets to begin the test. The test consisted of 206 questions. There were supposed to be 205 questions, there there ended up being two question 157s. This view was taken facing south at approximately 9:00 AM on Saturday, December 6, 2008.

The test was divided into the following parts: Short Answer, Multiple Choice, True/False, Matching, Photo Identification (16 individuals, fill in the blank, no word bank), Monument Identification (21 monuments, there was a list to match the name of the monument to a picture of the monument), Map and Landmark Locations (there was a map of the Gettysburg area with 20 numbered locations that needed to be identified. There was a list of locations to match the number on the map), Essays (five essay questions, and three of the five essays needed to be answered. However these were short essays, where bullet points were allowed). This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 9:30 AM on Saturday, December 6, 2008.

The individuals in the blue blazers standing around the test rooms are part of the current force of 155 Licensed Battlefield Guides, such as Jim Frick on the far left, Wayne Motts in the center, and Bob Radke on the right. They pored over the test to see what was on it, and determine if they could do well on this year's version. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 9:30 AM on Saturday, December 6, 2008.

National Park Service Supervisory Ranger Clyde Bell crated the test, and the current Licensed Battlefield Guides thought the test was a good overall examination of questions that future guides should know. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 11:00 AM on Saturday, December 6, 2008.

LBG Fred Hawthorne surveys the scene in the Community Room. Clyde Bell allowed us to share sample questions from some of the categories on the test. The Short Answer section consisted of 126 general questions, which were all fill in the blank, and no word bank was provided. We have given you a sample question below. This view was taken facing east at approximately 6:00 AM on Monday, December 8, 2008.

Question #27. Name one of the monuments sculpted by Henry K. Bush-Brown. Answer #27: Lincoln Speech Memorial, George G. Meade Equestrian, John F. Reynolds Equestrian, John Sedgwick Equestrian.

The multiple choice section consisted of 16 questions, and again we have given you a sample below. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 6:00 AM on Monday, December 8, 2008.

Question #137. How many reburials in the Soldiers' National Cemetery are completely unknown? A. 675 B. 878 C. 979 D. 1065 E. 1664 Answer #137: C

There were 16 True/False Questions which needed to read carefully, and we have given an example of one below. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 6:00 AM on Monday, December 8, 2008.

True False Question #145. The Peach Orchard at the intersection of the Taneytown and Millerstown Roads formed the blunt point of Sickles' salient. Answer Question #145: False. The Peach Orchard is located at the intersection of the Emmitsburg and the Millerstown Roads.

A section of Matching consisted of four questions, but there were five parts to each question. Our example is below, and yes there are five individuals in the left column, but six possibilities with which to match them in the right column. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 6:00 AM on Monday, December 8, 2008.

Match the name in the left column with the regimental monument in the right column. Question # 157. A. Sgt. William Lilly 1. 13th VT B. George Warner 2. 20th CT C. Lt. Stephen Brown 3. 21st PA Cavalry D. Pvt. George Sandoe 4. 5th NH E. Color Sgt. Ben Crippen 5. 149th NY 6. 143rd PA Answers #157: A-5, B-2, C-1, D-3, E-6.

Participants were allowed from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM to take the test. One person left at 10:20, but did not finish half the test. Most individuals stayed at least two and a half hours. Here is the Community Room. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 11:20 AM on Saturday, December 6, 2008.

It appeared that individuals in the smaller rooms stayed longer than individuals in the large Community Room. This view was taken facing west at approximately 11:30 AM on Saturday, December 6, 2008.

Here is the Community Room at 11:30... This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 11:30 AM on Saturday, December 6, 2008.

... and here is the Community Room at 11:45. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 11:45 AM on Saturday, December 6, 2008.

We don't know if it was peer pressure or just not giving up, but Room 108 received the prize for most individuals staying for the longest time. Nobody had left this room by 11:45. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 11:45 AM on Saturday, December 6, 2008.

By 11:58, it was time to start packing up. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 11:58 AM on Saturday, December 6, 2008.

The test takers placed all their materials back in the blue packets, and turned them in as they left. Clyde Bell hopes that he has the tests graded and the results back to everyone by Christmas. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 12:00 PM on Saturday, December 6, 2008.