Local Blacksmith Forges Ahead With Quality Wine Racks

The Gettysburg Pennsylvania area is full of creative craftsmen. One such crafts person is blacksmith Robert L. Meckley, who owns and operates Pigeon Hill Forge near Abbottstown, which isn’t far from Gettsyburg Borough.

Among the fine handcrafted wrought iron products Meckley makes are wine racks, wall hooks, dinner bells, and other wine-related products. These home decor items are all hand forged using the best wrought iron available and Robert Meckley is the man behind the blacksmithing.

Be sure to visit Meckley’s website and take home a few handmade wrought iron products from Gettysburg Pennsylvania.

Steinwehr Avenue Traffic Is Dwindling

Located on the south side of Gettysburg is Steinwehr Avenue, what once was the location of the Gettysburg Visitor Center. Before moving to the other side of town, on Baltimore Pike, the visitor center drew lots of visitors to Steinwehr Avenue. But now the Gettysburg roadway gets little traffic and businesses there are hurting. So borough officials are discussing a revitalization plan.

The Gettysburg Visitor Center and Museum relocated last April. Since then, Gettysburg businesses on Steinwehr Avenue have seen a decline and the borough has not seen the revenue from the new center that it thought it would. So borough officials are trying to get a handle on the money.

Well, at least they’re not saying that tourism is dead. People are still coming to Gettysburg. They’re just not going to Steinwehr Avenue.

7 Things To Do In Baltimore, Maryland

Travel – Eat – Sleep had a great blog post recently on things to do in Baltimore, Maryland. Of course, Baltimore is just a couple of hour drive from Gettysburg and so it makes a great day trip. I’ve talked about day trips to Baltimore before. But I like these suggestions:

• Lexington Market – Truly a site to see, this is the country’s longest running market. Historic and cultural. Don’t miss it.
• St. Mary’s Park – One of nature’s many blessings.
• Washington Monument – Didn’t know Baltimore had a Washington Monument? Well, now you do. Check it out.
• Mount Vernon Park – Home of the Washington Monument.
• Walters Art Gallery – Statues, paintings, displays of knights’ armor … there is no gallery like it.
• Maryland Science Center – Worth a trip just to see the giant dinosaur out front.
• The Light Rail – Of course, Baltimore has one of the best public transportation systems in the world. And why you want to drive?

The Gettysburg Farmer’s Market – For Visitors, Friends, And Neighbors

If you like fresh produce then you might want to come by the Gettysburg Farmer’s Market. Right on the square from 7 a.m. to noon from April through October, local farmers offer their fresh cut flowers, fruit, baked breads, and other locally farmed goods. This is not pesticide-drenched supermarket stuff. This is real, fresh out-of-the-garden fruits and vegetables.

But it’s about more than just getting good food. It’s also about good fellowship. Locals show up to socialize and commune with the neighbors over a cup of coffee and enjoy the quiet conversation among friends. If you like that too then the Gettysburg Farmer’s Market might be for you. They do accept visitors.

Among the many awesome goods you’ll find in the square at the farmer’s market in Gettysburg are:

• Fresh red apples
• Asparagus
• Beets (and this beet season, by the way)
• Carrots
• Cucumbers
• Eggplant
• Green beans
• Nectarines
• Onions
• Peaches and pears
• Potatoes
• Radishes
• Raspberries (from June through August)
• Sour cherries in July
• Strawberries (you better hurry for the biggest and the best!)
• Sweet cherries (now in)
• Tomatoes
• Turnips
• And a whole lot more

This is just a small sampling of the foods and stuff you’ll find at the Gettysburg Farmer’s Market. Available of these items is based on the season, the vendors, and whether or not someone beat you to it! Hope to see you there on the square.

Open Air Markets Of Gettysburg

Open air markets have been around as long as there has been open air. Well, almost. But even if you aren’t into breathing cool mountain air, at least you’ll love the great experience of shopping at one of Gettysburg’s open air markets.

You can’t shop like this in the big city. Personable and friendly, the local people are willing to stop and talk to you as if you are truly human. You are, aren’t you?

One of my favorite markets in Gettysburg is run by Nick Pappas, proprietor of Markets of Gettysburg. You can find great antiques, crafts, and wares of all types, including vintage collectibles, with indoor and outdoor vendors. This promises to be one of the best markets in town.

“I love setting up my booth when the sun comes out,” Theresa Taylor, owner of Grammie’s Dolls says (with a laugh), “But when it rains, I run for the hills.”

Theresa makes her own cloth dolls and accessories. She sets up an outdoor booth at the market when the weather permits. Usually, she says, there is a steady flow of traffic at the market, which is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday. The market is located on Biglerville Road in Gettysburg. The address is 2145 Biglerville Road. Be sure to stop by when you’re around.