McMillan Woods explained

McMillan Woods
County:Adams County
Region:Pennsylvania
Country:United States
Fauna:Northern Piedmont ecoregion

McMillan Woods is a Gettysburg Battlefield forested area used during the Battle of Gettysburg and for camps after the American Civil War, including a CCC camp and the subsequent WWII POW camp at Gettysburg. The woods includes Rifle Pits and Earth Works from the battle.[1]

The cast iron site identification tablet for the woods was placed in 1920, and the woods is the site of a youth campground.

History

Chronology! Date! Event
1906-07-16Camp Henderson of the PA National Guard used 95acres in McMillan Woods and the Trostle, Klingel, Sherfy, McPherson, and Codori farms for the encampment through July 16. Maneuvers were conducted from Zeigler's Grove to Devil's Den. (the joint maneuver camp followed at Mount Gretna's Camp Roosevelt.)[2]
1934-02-03CCC camp NP-2 had opened in McMillan Woods[3] (Charles Heilman was the 1936 commander).
1942-03The McMillan Woods CCC camp was to be abandoned after becoming the 1st under an "all colored staff" in 1939.
1944-11-15POWs moved to the former McMillan Woods CCC camp converted to the Gettysburg WWII POW Camp to replace the stockade.[4]
1949-08-09The site of the former POW camp was used for the camporee of the Black Walnut Boy Scout district.
1966Boy Scout summer camps formerly held at Pardee Field began at McMillan Woods.
1989Improvements were completed at the McMillan Woods Youth Campground for hosting 5500 campers each year.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: List of Classified Structures. 36. United States Department of War. 6 shallow dish-shaped depressions in ground. 2' deep, 7'11" diameter. Overgrown & filled w/ decomposed leaves. Located ca 20' form E edge of McMillan Woods, 60' from West Confederate Ave..
  2. News: July 25, 1906 . An Imaginary Battle Fought at Gettysburg . Google News Archive . . 2012-02-03 .
  3. Web site: Camp Information for NP-2-PA . https://archive.today/20121225114906/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/ccc/Camp.aspx?ID=142 . dead . December 25, 2012 . Pennsylvania CCC Archive . Department of Conservation and Natural Resources . 2010-02-01.
  4. Web site: June 29, 1995 . Out of the Past: 50 Years Ago . 2010-02-01.