Virtual Tour
The
home of George Washington Shriver has been restored to it's original 1860's
appearance to preserve its history for future generations. It is located in the
heart of the historic district... where some of the heaviest fighting took place
during the Battle of Gettysburg. Tours include all four floors of the
Shrivers home - from the Confederate sharpshooters nest in the garret to the cellar that
housed Shriver's Saloon.
About the rooms:
The Parlor
The parlor was the most formal room of the Shriver's home. It was used for special occasions. When the minister, friend, or family would call George and Hettie would receive and entertain them in this room. At Christmas time the tree would be placed on the table in the center of the room~ the most important spot in the house.
The Sitting Room
The sitting room is the "heart" of the Shriver's home. It functioned much the same way as our "family room" does today. The table would serve many purposes. Besides meals, Sadie and Mollie's school work could be done there at the table, and George's family time would be spent there.
Hettie's Kitchen
The kitchen is conveniently located just behind the sitting room. Hettie spent most of her day here keeping the stove burning, preparing meals, baking bread, churning butter, putting up fruits and vegetables, and teaching Sadie and Mollie some of the skills needed to run their own households someday.
Sadie and Mollie's Bedroom
Around the room are dolls, a tea set, jacks, and pick-up sticks. These are some of the same toys little girls play with today. The chamber pot under the bed, however, shows how much has changed in the last 140 years.
George & Hettie's Bedroom
Hettie Shriver would be sure to leave some of George’s personal belongings around her bedroom while he was away at war. This was one small way to keep George in her heart while he was gone.
The Work/Storage Room
Since closets were not common at this time, the fourth room on the second floor was used as a work and storage room. A quiet spot for George to keep the family books and Hettie to store sewing things. Her sewing machine is located in the center hall by the window which provided good light.
The Garret
Confederate sharpshooters commandeered the Shriver's home. They set up a sharpshooters nest in the garret and for two days exchanged fire with their Union adversaries on Cemetery Hill through portholes they knocked through the wall. It is documented that at least two soldiers are known to have died in the Shriver home.
The Cellar Kitchen
The cellar kitchen would be used to prepare meals to be served in the Saloon which is located in the next room. Since Hettie had two kitchens, she would perform some of her sloppier jobs in the cellar. It stays very cool in the summer so cooking, laundering, and ironing would be more comfortable done here.
The Saloon
A saloon in the 1860's functioned much like a barroom today. It was a place where men would go drink whiskey, catch up on the latest news, play cards, checkers, or dominos. If a customer wanted some liquor to take along with him, the bartender would fill a small glass flask with whiskey, gin, or whatever the customer's choice.
The Garden
The garden in the back yard represents a typical in-town garden which provided enough vegetables to feed the family as well as enough to "put up" and preserve for the winter to follow. In addition to the garden, the Schrivers had an orchard of fruit trees to the south side of the house.
Come tour the Shriver House and see every room in their home to understand what everyday life was like in the mid-19th century and learn how one family became affected by the Battle of Gettysburg and the Civil War.