Trip Day 39, June 1,2021  At Morris Meadows Farm, Freeland ,MD

Another beautiful day we awoke to and we are thankful. The sun was hazy obscured by a few high clouds but it was warming up from 54F and reached 72F by afternoon.

Our goal today was visit Codorus State Park ,which we realized later was only three miles from  the battle scene of the Civil War at Gettysburg. (More on that later).

Marburg Lake at Codorus State Park, PA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 We were a bit earlier today  so that makes for better birding and it was, as we realized 29 species for the day and that was a daily high for the  trip. (93 Species total)

A few goslings at the Park

Codorus State Park surrounds a Reservoir that is owned by the state of Pennsylvania and the dam that holds the water is owned and operated by Glatfelter Industries (Paper mfg.) so it is a cooperative arrangement. The nearby town of Spring Grove  also benefits from water and recreation. The Paper Company can draw water for use in the mill. The Marburg Lake holds some 2,500 surface acres of water, and the surrounding property of the Park is more than 3,500 acres owned by the state of PA. It is a large chunk of Park.  About 17th in size in PA.

We stopped at the Visitor center, found a good map, as there are dozens of venues in the Park and a good map is a handy tool.  If you have a GPS at least you can find the names especially if you are a stranger to the area.

We did find a half dozen sites an did get some birds, two of which were new to our list this trip. Namely the BLACK VULTURE and the OSPREY. At one point we stopped where the Eagles nest was  located looking all the way  across the reservoir (Lake Marburg). We could not see it, but was encouraged by an 85 year old lady, Linda,  who knew her birds and especially these Eagles. She knew their names and their handlers as well. Like they were her own. Seems she checked on them every day since the young ones birth and it was "her baby", the young one. She did lead us to a bird feeding site nearby in her car, so that was a plus. Linda was a great find. She had cancer, recovering and is watching here activities to not slow down if she can help it.

We did find a few birds at the trailhead where  they had a number of bird feeders located and the birds were plentiful .

Rummels Barn at site.

 

We turned off looking for birds  at the Rummel Farm and I'll let the story continue with this excerpt from Wikipedia.

 The farm of John and Sarah Rummel is about four miles east of Gettysburg and a short distance north of Hanover Road. It covered 168 acres which included rolling fields and a dense woods on the north side of the property. The Rummels lived in a log house which no longer stands. The complex of farm buildings included a blacksmith shop, wagon shed, spring house, and a large wood and stone barn which still exists today. The current stone house was built after the battle, in 1870.
Stuart’s Confederate cavalry occupied the farm on July 3,  (This was during the battles at Gettysburg) piercing the planking of the barn for loopholes. John was taken prisoner for the day and held in the woods behind the barn, although Sarah was allowed to leave and go to a neighbor’s house.
Violent hand-to-hand fighting broke out on the farm between Stuart’s Confederate troopers and Union cavalry under David McM. Gregg and George A. Custer. Charges and counter-charges left the fields filled with bodies, the crops trampled and the fences wrecked. After the Confederates withdrew John found two sets of men, Union and Confederate, who had died struggling with each other. One of the pair still had their fingers tightly clenched in each other’s flesh. Over 30 dead horses were scattered about his property. But pails of milk from the morning’s milking remained undisturbed throughout the hot, humid day by the Rebels, who had been ordered to respect citizen’s property. This order didn’t extend, however, to Rummels’ mare, which left with the Confederates.
John placed a claim after the battle of $219.95 for losses. It was disallowed as they were caused by Confederates. 

Built in 1762, Mary Ann Furnace next door,  is believed to be the first charcoal furnace built on the western side of the Susquehanna River. The furnace supplied cannonballs and grapeshot for the continental army and employed Hessian prisoners to run the ironworks while many of the available workforce were off fighting the British. Nothing remains of the ironworks except memories.

Next to the Rummel Farm is the First Furnace (above) built in these parts.It was put into service by George Washington to make cannonballs for the Revolutionary Army. George Fitzgerald  was in charge and kept Washington supplied with these and other weapons.

We stopped for some real ice cream at Glenview on the way home before supper but well before the 3:00PM ,deadline!!!

Supper was simple (rice and chilis) and the evening was calm and warm, at 70 F.

We will be going back to Codorus tomorrow to see what else wecan find.