A new monument to America’s Civil War history is proposed for Gettysburg: a gambling casino. The Mason-Dixon Resort & Casino would be located a half mile from Gettysburg National Military Park on what was known as South Cavalry Field, scene of fighting on July 3, 1863.
Historians are not pleased. On the 147th anniversary of the bloody Civil War battle, 276 American historians sent a letter to the state gaming control board, protesting the project. “This ground is as hallowed as any other part of the Gettysburg battlefield, and the idea of a casino near the fields and woods where men of both North and South gave the last full measure of devotion is simply outrageous,” said Pulitzer Prize winner James M. McPherson.
Groups in opposition to the casino project include the Civil War Preservation Trust, American Historical Association, National Coalition for History, National Council on Public History, Organization of American Historians, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Society for Military History and Southern Historical Association. Sixty-six local ministers and sixty-three businesses also object.
The casino project is touted as a revenue and jobs creator for southern Adams County. Another Pennsylvania casino has laid off 200 workers since it opened last May, however, and table games workers are often recruited from Atlantic City.
Casino principals are David LeVan of Gettysburg’s Battlefield Harley-Davidson and Joseph A. Lashinger, Jr., former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from Montgomery County (1978–1990). Mr. Lashinger was vice president and general counsel to Penn National Gaming and president of Chester Downs and Marina (now Harrah’s Chester Casino & Racetrack).
More:
“No dice on Gettysburg,” Editorial, Philadelphia Inquirer
“Still More on the Gettysburg Casino,” Eric J. Wittenberg, CivilWarCavalry.com.
Image by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com
Comments are welcome if they are on-topic, substantive, concise, and not boring or obscene. Comments may be edited for clarity and length.
Add to: Facebook | Digg | Del.icio.us | Stumbleupon | Reddit | Blinklist | Twitter | Technorati | Yahoo Buzz | Newsvine
Tags: Battle of Gettysburg, casino, Civil War, gambling, gaming, Gettysburg, Gettysburg battlefield, historic preservation, history, Mason-Dixon Casino, Mason-Dixon Gaming, Mason-Dixon Resort and Casino, Pennsylvania, slot machines, slots
NotionsCapital 
Leave a comment