The Philip Pry House, Headquarters of Major General George B. McClellan: Historic Structures Report, Antietam National Battlefield
Scott G. 1980. The Philip Pry House, Headquarters of Major General George B. McClellan: Historic Structures Report, Antietam National Battlefield. Historic Structure Report. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. National Capital Region [Washington, DC]
This report documents the history of the Pry House and the restoration project undertaken by the park in 1978 and 1979 after a section of the structure was damaged by fire. It also addresses the work done to the outbuildings, including the barn, springhouse, springhouse ruin, well, fencing, and smokehouse. The report notes maintenance standards, remaining work, and potential uses. Historical research sections are included as appendices. The Pry House was built by two brothers, Philip and Samuel Pry, in the summer of 1844. There is evidence that the structure which was documented at the time of the report had virtually no structural changes from the original configuration of the house. Features such as the original front porch and central doorway are rural versions of classic Greek Revival. The house interior remained much the same during its succession of owners, until remodeling in 1978 for park quarters. Beginning on September 17, 1862, the Pry property was occupied by Major General George B. McClellan for several days and served as a Union headquarters during the Battle of Antietam. For several months following the battle, the house served as a hospital for Union officers, and its barn was used as a hospital for the enlisted men. The property was sold to the U.S. Government in 1974. Pry House was damaged by fire two years later, and restoration of the fire-damaged area began in 1977. The decision was made to restore its appearance to the time of the Battle of Antietam. The restoration of the Philip Pry house was largely aided by two historic photographs, one taken by Alexander Gardener soon after the 1862 Battle of Antietam and a small carte-de-viste photograph taken by independent Hagerstown photographer E. M. Recker during the Civil War period.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Scott, Gary
- Date of Issue
- 1980-11
- Publisher
- U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
- Units
- ANTI , NCR
- Keywords
- Alexander Gardener, battle, Civil War, Civil War hospital, DeBrie, E. M. Recker, fire, George B. McClellan, Greek Revival, headquarters, Israel B. Richardson, Keedysville, Mathew Brady, outbuilding, Pennsylvania German, restoration
- Subjects
- CRIS-HS: 008038: Pry, Phillip, Farm; House