Looking back at Culpeper's history

By Jeff Say
Community Editor
History is around every corner, it seems, in Culpeper County. And for one weekend in April, history is at the forefront as the town hosts the fourth annual Remembrance Days.

Originally devised as Culpeper was becoming a Jamestown 2007 community, Remembrance Days was part of a legacy project devised by Culpeper’s tourism department as a way to establish a celebration of Culpeper’s history.

This year’s event is titled “Honoring Heroes and History,” and pays tribute to soldiers from Revolutionary War times to the present day.

“We brought to the table all of the groups interested in preserving Culpeper’s history,” Culpeper Tourism Director Beth Burns said. “They each do their own thing but Remembrance Days gives them an opportunity to come together.”

This year’s celebration marks the 150th anniversary of the building of the Graffiti House, and will also feature the dedication of the Wine Street Memorial Park and the unveiling of the Spilman Park Interpretive Panel.

Living history exhibit
Out of Time Teachers, Brandy Rifles Sons of Confederate Veterans and Sons of American Revolution will be hosting Revolutionary War and Civil War Living History at the Museum of Culpeper History Friday starting at 2 p.m. The Friday night history event will run until 11 p.m.

The reenactment will give rare insight into how soldiers spent their evenings during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars.

“We want to show people what we do,” head of Out of Time Teachers Susan Williams said. “Most reenactments close at 5 p.m. We want to keep ours open so people can see what goes on after hours.”

Revolutionary War reenactors will be setting up on the front lawn of the Museum of Culpeper History and will turn the Burgandine House into a period house with a section on children’s games and schooling and women’s life including camp followers.

The reenactors will also have six tents set up in front of the museum which will highlight the differences in classes of tents. According to Williams an officer’s tent would be of a higher-class which would include pallet flooring and even poster beds. When an officer’s wife would come visit they would use china tea service. The difference in classes will include a Fredericksburg refugee tent where a reenactor will explain why she was forced out of Fredericksburg and why she doesn’t have shoes on.

Williams and the reenactors always look forward to Remembrance Days as an opportunity to teach newcomers to Culpeper about the rich history of the area.

“April is Southern Heritage History month and that’s why this weekend is so important to us,” Williams said. “It allows us to reach new people moving into Culpeper and teach them about Culpeper history. Through five years of the Civil War there was only one town — Winchester — that had more fights than Culpeper.”

Graffiti House celebrates 150 years
It’s not clear on exactly what day or month the Graffiti House was built, but it’s a known fact that it was built in 1858. So the Brandy Station Foundation thought that Remembrance Days would be a good time to celebrate the milestone.

“Remembrance Days is a celebration of history in Culpeper County and this is a celebration of the birth of this little house,” Brandy Station Foundation member Della Edrington said.
The Graffiti House, which was used as a Confederate hospital and a Federal headquarters, has graffiti from both sides on its walls.

“I think it’s absolutely amazing the graffiti has survived for 150 years,” Edrington said.

The foundation will have a dinner, which is now sold out, at 6:30 p.m. Friday night at the Brandy Station Volunteer Fire Department.

“It’s going to be amazing,” Edgrington said of the dinner on Friday night. “We’ve invited back people whose family’s have been touched by the house. There will be families of three Civil War soldiers who spent time in Brandy Station.”

The man who discovered the Graffiti House, David Guinn, will also be on hand as will be Greg Habler who helped save the house from being razed.

The Little Fork Rangers and Fairfax Rifles will be at the house all weekend long, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Civil War authors visit the Depot
Authors Kim Murphy and James D. Russell will be featured at a book signing at 10 a.m. at the Depot Saturday.

Murphy, the author of four Civil War titles — “Promise and Honor,” “Glory and Promise,” “Honor and Glory,” and “Whispers from the Grave” — will be giving a presentation on reconstruction and the Civil War according to Gordon Dickerson, owner of the Corner Shelf Bookstore.

“She was a logical candidate for this event because of the emphasis on past history and the Civil War,” Dickerson said.

Russell, from Sperryville, is the author of three books —“Beyond the Rim: From Slavery to Redemption in Rappahannock County, Va.,” “Resting Rock,” and “Felicia.”

“”He’s in the somewhat unusual chronological position of having living long enough to have known his great-grandmother who was a slave,” Dickerson said. “He has from her, firsthand accounts as life as a slave from Civil War times.”

Remembrance Days gives the town a chance to recognize these authors who touch on history that directly impacted Culpeper. And keeping that history alive is important so generations can continue to appreciate it.

“If you become aware of how much history is here,” Dickerson said, “and if you don’t already know about it, it’s worthwhile to find out about. These annual events are one way to pick up on a lot of it. For those who know a lot about history and want to live it this is a good way to immerse yourself in it.”

Josie Ballato will also have a display of her postcards of historic Culpeper at the Depot throughout Saturday.

Wine Street Veterans Memorial Park dedication
The town of Culpeper dedicates the Wine Street Veterans Memorial Park Saturday at 2 p.m. Seven years in the making, the park honors the service of World War II and Korean War veterans. Its main feature, a pinwheel-shaped pathway of bricks, will be inscribed with the names of those who fought and died and at its center a monument will be erected.

According to the town, 41 Culpeper men died in World War II and three veterans died in Korea.

“They were going to need to do a dedication and we thought it would be a good opportunity to promote that as part of the weekend,” Burns said.

Former Secretary of the Army Jack Marsh will be the keynote speaker at Saturday’s park dedication.

A growing event
Several additional organizations joined Remembrance Days this year including Blue Ridge Chorale, the Brandy Station Volunteer Fire Department and the Young Eagles Program.
“We’ve had a lot of growth this year,” Burns said.

The concluding event is a concert at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church by the Blue Ridge Chorale.

“Their spring concert theme this year is a tribute to unsung heroes, so they will be putting on a mini-version of the concert,” Burns said.

The 5K race scheduled for 9 a.m. at the Brandy Station Fairgrounds is a new addition, as are the free flights at the airport for children ages 8-17 courtesy of the Young Eagles Program. Brandy Station Volunteer Fire Department will host an all-you-can-eat brunch and history display at the new fire hall from 9:30 to noon Saturday.

Jeff Say can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 115 or at jsay@starexponent.com.

Annual Culpeper Remembrance Days this Weekend
April 18
Visitors will enjoy demonstrations, tours free plane rides, and various other educational opportunities throughout the weekend. Most events are free. The weekend begins Friday with living history throughout the afternoon at the Museum of Culpeper History, and the Graffiti House in Brandy Station turns 150 years old at a dinner that evening.

April 19
The Echoes of Glory 5K Race kicks off the day at the Brandy Station fairgrounds. After the race, join the Brandy Station Volunteer Fire Department for an All-You-Can-East brunch and history display at the new Fire Hall. Throughout the weekend, enjoy aviation history by the National Capitol Squadron at the Culpeper Regional Airport in Brandy Station. On Saturday, youngsters ages 8-17 can enjoy free flights at the Airport provided by the Young Eagles Program. Civil War buffs can enjoy living history at the Graffiti House or join a driving tour of the Battle of Brandy Station. Civil War and Revolutionary War history can also be enjoyed firsthand at the Museum of Culpeper History with living history demonstrations that will delight kids of all ages. Join a house tour in downtown of the Civil War-era James G. Field home. At the Depot in Culpeper, two distinguished authors, Civil War-era novelist Kim Murphy and local author James D. Russell will delight fans at an Authors Meet-and-Greet and Book Signing. Visitors will also enjoy a look at Culpeper history through displays of vintage Culpeper postcards and quilts at the Depot. On Saturday afternoon, the Culpeper community will dedicate the new Wine Street Memorial Park to honor World War II and Korean veterans, with a keynote address by former Secretary of the Army John O. “Jack” Marsh.

April 20
The history continues at the Museum of Culpeper History, the Graffiti House and the National Capitol Squadron at Culpeper Airport. Quilters will enjoy the continuing display at the Depot. Enjoy a piece of old Culpeper history with the unveiling of a new interpretive marker at Spilman Park in northern Culpeper County. Later in the afternoon, the weekend concludes with a reception and historical display at historic St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church followed by a special, free Remembrance Days concert by the Blue Ridge Chorale.

Free event maps are available at the Depot or by calling 727-0611. The Culpeper Trolley has added a stop at the Museum of Culpeper History for Saturday only – so take the trolley from the Depot. For details, information and driving directions for all the Remembrance Days events, visit visitculpeperva.com and click on Remembrance Days.