Jump to content

Camp Meade Pennsylvania


pennsylvaniaboy
 Share

Recommended Posts

pennsylvaniaboy

When I attended Penn State's branch campus in Middletown Pennsylvania, I passed the small blue historic marker for Camp Meade. Finally, on one spring day, I pulled over and read the story of how this camp was established in 1898 for the Second Army Corp. President William McKinley revised the troops there and it was apparently one of the larger staging areas during the War. The close access to railroad and the PRR's hub at Harrisburg meant that it was convenient for moving troops. It closed when the Second Corp moved its operations to the South but then was later used for mustering out of troops after the war as well as training for troops during the Philippine Insurrection.

 

I have hunted for items over the years relating to the Camp but relatively few well-documented pieces have turned up. Here are a few from my collection

 

post-148661-0-62035300-1441585731.jpg

 

A photo stamped "Camp Meade Pa/ Betts and Ferguson/Photographers/Harrisburg Pa. and Washington DC" The reverse has an ink inscription "Susquehanna river/ Co. G. Taking a bath"

 

post-148661-0-14357100-1441585839.jpg

 

This is printed piece of stationary provided by local businesses for soldiers to use.

 

post-148661-0-43217900-1441585912.jpg

 

post-148661-0-80913000-1441585944.jpg

 

This is a small elongated photograph that shows troops being reviewed at Camp Meade. Undated but I wonder if this is when McKinley came.The figure in the center on horseback appears to be wearing some kind of military hat which makes me doubt it was McKinley but would love to be proven wrong.

 

 

 

post-148661-0-85798400-1441585894.jpg

post-148661-0-31159900-1441585924.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

pennsylvaniaboy

The sign used to sit out on the edge of school property. Not sure if the snow plows may have taken it out. I gather that the high school was where the camp was located but it spilled down over the hill including parts of Penn State Harrisburg and possibly Frey Village. I am guessing that when the schools and Olmstead were built that much was destroyed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...