C.S. Davidson’s restoration of the historic landmark at Gettysburg National Military Park has made the battlefield site more navigable for all visitors.
With its huge dark granite boulders, sweeping views of Little Round Top, and numerous Civil War monuments, Devil’s Den at Gettysburg National Military Park is a place where history and natural beauty converge. Over the years, the heavy foot traffic of visitors and the unauthorized trails they created led to major erosion and safety concerns. In some spots, a misplaced step would lead to a drop of more than a foot off the side of the trail.
In 2018, C.S. Davidson signed a contract to restore this beloved site, ensuring its preservation and accessibility for future generations. Leading the work was Charlie Sterner, a C.S. Davidson Project Manager and Designer.
“This was one of the highlights of my career,” says Charlie, who celebrated 20 years with the company in 2023. “Being able to design and build something that’s going to be here for generations is truly rewarding.”
A path to restoration
C.S. Davidson’s involvement at Devil’s Den began with a topographic survey of the popular site, which revealed the extent of erosion and multiple unauthorized trails that visitors had cut instead of sticking to the marked walkways. Many of the trails posed a significant safety hazard.
The project tasked Charlie and his team with redesigning walkways to ensure safety and accessibility while preserving the historical integrity of the site. They weren’t allowed to cut into or move any of the boulders, which often jutted into the authorized paths.
The redesign included removing nonhistoric trails and creating new gathering areas at the top and foot of the hill on which Devil’s Den sits, making parts of the site more accessible to people with disabilities.
In his design, Charlie focused on finding durable materials that blended into the natural setting. He fashioned exposed aggregate concrete walkways and solid black granite steps with raw edges, both of which require minimal maintenance and have a long lifespan. He wanted to ensure that the improvements would endure for decades.
A project close to his heart
On July 2, 1863, Confederate soldiers from Texas and Alabama positioned themselves among the rocks at Devil’s Den and fired at Union troops atop Little Round Top before charging the hill in an unsuccessful bid to dislodge the Northern forces.
For Charlie, the Devil’s Den project was more than just another job.
“I was a little bit of everything for this. I was the lead designer. I was the project manager. I did construction admin inspector-type work,” he says. “I did it completely from survey through construction. I was intimately involved in this.”
His connection to the project was deeply personal. Growing up just two blocks from his office in Gettysburg and now living seven miles outside the town, where his dad had served as borough manager, Charlie has a strong bond with the area.
“It’s my community,” he says. “It’s nice to work locally and see an impact.”
An employee-owned company with deep roots
In 1991, C.S. Davidson opened its Gettysburg office. From its beginnings in York County in 1923, the company’s commitment to its employees and the community has set it apart in offering a unique career opportunity. For over two decades, Charlie has enjoyed the supportive work environment and the strong client relationships that the company has built over a century.
“We have clients that we’ve had for 40 to 50 years. To have those kinds of roots means something,” he says.
When C.S. Davidson began transitioning to an employee-owned company through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan in 2020, Charlie knew he was part of something truly special. It was another example of how C.S. Davidson fosters a sense of ownership and investment among its employees.
“We’re truly employee-owners,” he says. “We’re working for ourselves.”
As C.S. Davidson expands and takes on additional projects, its need for passionate and skilled individuals remains high. For those considering a career in engineering, Charlie’s experience reflects the opportunities and fulfillment that a company such as C.S. Davidson can provide. Whether it’s the restoration of historic sites or the improvement of local infrastructure, the work done by Charlie and his colleagues at C.S. Davidson makes a tangible difference in their communities. For Charlie, that’s what makes his job so special.