The Borough office building was first built as the Adams County jail, and was home of the Adams County Library from 1949 until 1992. This building was constructed after the previous Adams County Jail caught on fire and killed two prisoners on January 7, 1850. One prisoner died of suffocation. The other prisoner’s body was almost entirely consumed by the flames. The present structure was built in the summer of 1851 for a cost of $10,000. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 4:20 PM on Tuesday, November 4, 2008.
Voting at our Gettysburg polling location was steady, but no long lines when we showed up. Our location is the Gettysburg Borough Building on East High Street. The Voting took place on the right, or west side, of the building in the Borough Office Chambers. It was overcast and lightly raining this afternoon.
During the Primary Election on April 22, 2008 by 4:20 PM 226 people had voted here at Precinct #1. There wasn’t a lot of interest by Republicans in the Primary Election.
By 4:20 PM today, during the General Election, 667 people had voted at Precinct #1.
See our post on primary voting in Gettysburg on April 22, 2008.
Voting took place in the addition on the right, or west side, of the building. The 1860 federal census shows Sheriff Isaac Lightner living in the prison with eight members of his family and five prisoners. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:20 PM on Tuesday, November 4, 2008.
Voters entered here, and proceeded into the Gettysburg Borough Council Chambers to cast their ballot. This view was taken facing south at approximately 4:20 PM on Tuesday, November 4, 2008.
This is a historic election. We will either have the first female Vice-President, or the first African-American President. Gettysburg resident Salome “Sallie” Myers wrote of another historic election, on November 7, 1860: “Hurrah!, for Lincoln and Hamlin. Every one is rejoicing over the great triumph which, it is said the Republican party has achieved. (I mean of course all the Republicans and those who supported Lincoln). The poor democrats– but I will wait until I am sure of our victory before I boast of it. For once I am prudent. Wonderful it is worth recording…” This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:20 PM on Tuesday, November 4, 2008.
We’ll see if National Park Service Seasonal Historian and Historic Gettysburg and Adams County Inc. President, Chuck Teague, is rejoicing after this evening is over. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 4:20 PM on Tuesday, November 4, 2008.