It's no Union defense against Pickett's charge, but the Gettysburg Electric Map has been preserved thanks to a last-minute stand.

Hanover businessman Scott Roland purchased the famed map for $14,010, saving it from the trash heap.

The federal General Services Administration, auctioning the 12-ton, steel-and-plaster behemoth on behalf of the National Park Service, had said they'd "dispose" of the map if no bidders were found.

More than he bargained for: According to the online auction description, the "scrap Gettysburg Electric Map" needs asbestos abatement, comes without a warranty, is sold in four pieces, and is about 29 square feet.

Roland said he admired the map as a boy years ago when it was at the old visitors' center at Gettysburg National Military Park, and so thought he'd put in a small bid for it.

He already had purchased the old Wachovia Bank building in downtown Hanover in the spring for about $220,000, planning to eventually turn it into a heritage and conference center.

The map, he thought, would be the centerpiece.

He put in an initial bid equaling $5 a week ago. An unnamed bidder drove up the price until Roland found himself the winner of a piece of local lore for $14,010 by the end of the week.

"It has so much notoriety and popularity," said Roland. "Everyone has gone there since we were all little kids."

Roland, who owns Blue Ridge Holdings, and the Hanover Chamber of Commerce have big plans for the map. The map has been out of commission since 2008 after about 45 years and, according to some estimates, millions of visitors.

The topographical map uses electric lights to display key events during the three-day Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. Park officials didn't want to bring the map to the new visitors' center, and it has languished ever since.

Gettysburg National Military Park Superintendent Bob Kirby could not immediately be reached for comment.

Downtown draw: Gary Laird, president of the Hanover Chamber of Commerce, predicts the map will be a downtown draw.

"It has a strong brand identity. It's a stop everyone made when it was at the old visitors' center," he said.

The chamber has been working to revitalize the downtown area, which is an official Civil War Trail community. Roland and Laird said there are plans to create a similar map detailing the Battle of Hanover of 1863, which hopefully will create local interest and promote walking the trail and patronizing local businesses. The heritage center would be a public-private partnership.

First, though, the map and the building have to be ready. There's no timeline yet, Laird said, since a marketing plan is still in the works and renovations need to be completed.

Roland said the map is in a "secret location" he hasn't been made aware of yet - he bought it based on photographs supplied by the federal government - and he has only 30 days to get it.

He wants to move it to the second floor of the Wachovia building, located on Carlisle Street. A 12-ton map on the second floor?

"We'll need a crane," he said.

The asbestos in the plaster will be encapsulated, he added.

The first floor of that building will eventually be used for conferences and banquets, Laird said.

- Reach Andrew Shaw at ashaw@yorkdispatch.com.