Gettysburg Chapel Destroyed In Fire

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GETTYSBURG, Pa. -- An early-morning fire destroyed a popular Gettysburg tourist attraction and severely damaged three other buildings in Gettysburg on Friday.

The fire broke out along the 100 block of Chambersburg Street.

The blaze started at about 3:30 a.m. and involved a private residence, a coffee shop, an Adams County Rescue Mission shelter and the Civil War chapel on the southside of the street.

The wooden chapel, which the U.S. Christian Commission owns, was destroyed. The chapel was a tourist destination for some Gettysburg visitors who attended Civil War era type services in the building. According to Gettysburg.travel the church was "built from research, letters and accounts of soldier chapels being built among the soldiers camps."

Additions to the chapel may have been built with illegal permits. Borough officials recently issued an order to vacate the property.

Fire officials said another blaze broke out in the chapel in 2004.

No injuries were reported. The cause is under investigation.

Six families, who were living in the shelter, were displaced. The American Red Cross is assisting them.

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Statement From Liberty Institute

The Liberty Institute released the following statement.

"Earlier this morning we were shocked to learn that the Gettysburg Log Chapel and several other buildings were destroyed or severely damaged by fire. The circumstances of the fire are under investigation, but it appears that the fire may have been deliberately set. We contacted the FBI and have been told that ATF and other officials from the National Church Arson Task Force are joining the investigation. Burning down a church is a federal crime under the Church Arson Prevention Act of 1996."

Chapel Taught People About War

The rebuilt chapel opened in 2006. Tens of thousands of visitors to Gettysburg have experienced an important part of our nation’s history including learning about a Civil War soldier’s life, his faith and reliance on God, by visiting the Civil War Chapel.

The original Chapel was a 12 foot by 20 foot log platform with a canvas roof, brick pavers and wrought iron fencing and landscaping. Complete with log benches, about 40 people could fill the Chapel for services.

In 2009, improvements were made to the Civil War Chapel to allow for the increasing number of visitors and to repair the roof and structure that were damaged from winter storms.
 
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