#thegaslightinn

You’ve probably heard by now, one of the most famous groundhogs In Pennsylvania has predicted an EARLY SPRING!  While, there is still time to enjoy all of the wonderful winter activities in and around the Gettysburg Area; here at #thegaslightinn, we couldn’t be happier. 

This all got me to thinking, where did Ground Hogs day come from anyway? The Editors at The Encyclopedia Britannica provided the answers to my curiosity.  Read all about Ground Hogs day on their website  at www.britannica.com/topic/Groundhog-Day.

Here are the top 5 things I found interesting.

1. February falls roughly halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.

2. The lore of animals emerging from their hibernation to “see their shadow” dates back to the Middle-Ages.

3. German immigrants brought the lore to the United States, where in Pennsylvania the Ground Hog was substituted for the Badger.

4. Punxsutawny Phil started his career in 1887.

5. And possibly my favorite of all...  During Prohibition, Phil threatened to impose 60 weeks of winter on the community if he wasn't permitted a drink. 🤣 (according to visitpa.com)

(photo courtesy of www.atimetolaugh.org)

We’re Open! Memorial Day might look and feel a little different this year without the Gettysburg Memorial Day Parade or public gatherings over 25 people. However, The Gaslight Inn is open and we are following the recommended guidelines provided by The CDC and The State of Pennsylvania. 

Adams County was approved to move to the yellow phase of reopening on May 22nd and we’re starting to see Gettysburg come back to life, safely! The most important thing to us is to keep everyone safe and healthy. As the owners and Innkeepers, when you stay at The Gaslight Inn, you know you’ll be dealing with us directly and we will be overseeing every detail of operations from sanitizing to social distancing. We’ve spent a lot of time training for our reopening, attending educational webinars and developing our COVID-19 policies for ourselves, our employees and our guests. You can read the policy on our website at www.thegaslightinn.com.

While you consider what your next vacation or getaway may be (when you feel it is safe to travel) please consider a stay at The Gaslight Inn, located in the most famous small town in America, Gettysburg PA!

At The Gaslight Inn, we pride ourselves in comfort and cleanliness every day. We do recognize that the spread of the common cold, influenza and Covid-19 may cause concern. Please be assured that we and our staff take extra care to ensure that all rooms are cleaned and disinfected between every stay. All common areas are also cleaned and disinfected, and during this time of heightened concern we are taking extra precautions to ensure this is done multiple times a day. We use high temperature dish washers and launder all of our linens to ensure complete sanitation. We want ourselves, our staff and our guests to remain healthy. 

At this time there are no confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Adams County, PA. 

The Gettysburg National Military Park remains open. “Visitors can be assured that facilities and services in national parks, including lodges, restaurants, and shuttles, continue to monitor conditions and maintain high standards related to the health and wellness of staff and visitors. Park and concession staff are working to maintain clean and healthy facilities in parks in accordance with CDC guidance.”  Visit their website for up to date information at https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/news/public-health-update.htm

The CDC has provided the following guidelines, which all of us at The Gaslight Inn are adhering to:

Clean your hands often

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid close contact

Avoid close contact with people who are sick

Put distance between yourself and other people if COVID-19 is spreading in your community. This is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.

Stay home if you’re sick

Cover coughs and sneezes

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.

Throw used tissues in the trash.

Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Clean and disinfect

Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, counter tops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.

If surfaces are dirty, clean them: Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.

Today is a day of thanks and Mike and I are thankful for all our supporters and guests over the last 17 months (or so). If you have not met us yet, we moved from upstate NY in May of 2018 to purchase and operate The Gaslight Inn. It’s been exhilarating and scary all at the same time, but we’ve met wonderful people in the time we’ve been here which makes it all more exhilarating. We’re also thankful for the staff we consider family. Without these amazing people we just wouldn’t be able to do it ourselves. So for today we enjoyed a morning serving breakfast to the guests that are visiting and taking time to enjoy Gettysburg and our Inn for their holiday. Later today Mike and l will have our meal and take a moment to reflect; likely ending with some pie :) Tomorrow we’ll be back at it getting ready for the holiday season that is kicking off here in Gettysburg tomorrow with the tree lighting ceremony. Visit and like our Facebook or Instagram page to see pictures and posts of what we’re up to. And if you’re in the area please consider staying with us (again for some of you). Having this Bed and Breakfast is really our dream and we’re lucky enough to be able to pursue it. Give thanks today and everyday. The below information was obtained courtesy of https://www.britannica.com/topic/Thanksgiving-Day

Plymouth’s Thanksgiving began with a few colonists going out “fowling,” possibly for turkeys but more probably for the easier prey of geese and ducks, since they “in one day killed as much as…served the company almost a week.” Next, 90 or so Wampanoag made a surprise appearance at the settlement’s gate, doubtlessly unnerving the 50 or so colonists. Nevertheless, over the next few days the two groups socialized without incident. The Wampanoag contributed venison to the feast, which included the fowl and probably fish, eels, shellfish, stews, vegetables, and beer. Since Plymouth had few buildings and manufactured goods, most people ate outside while sitting on the ground or on barrels with plates on their laps. The men fired guns, ran races, and drank liquor, struggling to speak in broken English and Wampanoag. This was a rather disorderly affair, but it sealed a treaty between the two groups that lasted until King Philip’s War (1675–76), in which hundreds of colonists and thousands of Native Americans lost their lives.

The Gaslight Inn in Gettysburg, PA prides itself on our support of our Veterans. Not only is our Innkeeper, Michael, a Veteran of the Marine Corps, we also have the pleasure of hosting many Veterans as our guests throughout the year.  So it makes these recognitions even more special. Thank you to all who have chosen to stay with us.

100 years ago, in November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…" On June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars. Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. (va.gov)

Happy 100th Anniversary to the American Legion. The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization. Focusing on service to veterans, service-members and communities, the Legion evolved from a group of war-weary veterans of World War I into one of the most influential nonprofit groups in the United States.(legion.com).