“Corporal Skelly, Jennie’s fiancé, never learned of her death.”

Mary Virginia “Jennie “ Wade was the only civilian killed during the battle of Gettysburg. During the morning of July 3, 1863, Jennie was kneading bread in the kitchen that she would feed to passing soldiers. The famous battle was taking place right outside the home and the house was hit with over 150 bullets, one of which would pass through two doors and strike Jennie, penetrating her heart and coming out to land on her corset. At 8:30 AM, Jenny’s Life came to an end.

Soldiers carried Jennie’s body to the cellar and she was buried later. The bread Jennie had been kneading would feed Union soldiers the next day. Jennie’s blood still stains the floor and the holes in the original door still remain.

“Corporal Skelly, Jennie’s fiancé, never learned of her death. He died in captivity just one week later, on July 12th, before the news could have reached him.” Because of Jennie’s stolen heart, the legend is if an unmarried woman places her finger in the hole of one of bullet holes in the doors that was penetrated when Jennie died, you will become engaged not long after.

Jennie is often seen in the home doing things she did in life. The cellar is said to be the most haunted place of all the home. Jennies story is kept alive as the home is a museum that has trapped the war time.

Address: 548 Baltimore St, Gettysburg, PA 17325