Constructed in 1868 for John Rupp. Described as one of the finest on Baltimore Street, if not the town, this Gothic Revival style cottage reflected the success of Rupp’s Valuable Steam Tannery.
Location history
A full narrative history section
Constructed in 1868 for John Rupp. Described as one of the finest on Baltimore Street, if not the town, this Gothic Revival style cottage reflected the success of Rupp’s Valuable Steam Tannery. This house was built after the Battle of Gettysburg since the Rupp's original house that was present during the battle saw heavy damage. Mr. Rupp sent his wife and children away during the battle and he stayed in the cellar with the Union Army on one porch and the Confederate Army on the other on the opposite side of the house.
In a letter to his sister after the battle, Rupp noted that "Our men occupied my porch, and the rebel men the rear of the house, and I in the cellar... our house is pretty well riddled."
Though none of the Rupp family died during the Battle of Gettysburg, many men died upon its grounds. Many visitors who have stayed at the bed-and-breakfast next door claim to hear artillery fire, knocking, and even wailing coming from outside. Some have taken photos of ghostly faces of male soldiers peering out from the windows.
Museum staff frequently hear steps creaking and shuffling along the floorboards in the middle of the day. The spirits trapped in the Rupp House are so active, they don’t even wait for night to fall to come out and haunt.