Meet Mary Jo Browning, a friend with an important role in the historic preservation of Culpeper. Over the years, she has led historic tours and rallied to save many of the landmarks and storefronts that contribute to the charm of today’s downtown.
Mary Jo Browning and writer at the Piedmont Steak House, 2018
Main and Davis streets are prime locations for small boutiques and restaurants. There is rarely a vacancy, which Mary Jo say is a “sign of a healthy place.”
The Culpeper Historic District (1982) and Culpeper Renaissance (1988), part of the Virginia Main Street Program, have focused on a mixed-use downtown, walkable communities and residential zones, which combine to create a “sense of place.”
The appreciation for a walkable community and historic significance draws people to vintage homes along with craftsmanship and comfortable lifestyle. And everyone wants to learn about generations of previous residents and share in those memories.
No one debates replacing a rutted board on the porch. “Keep it. It must have a story,” they say. Later, they come upon someone who remembers the old gentleman who rocked on that front porch. All those legends carry some element of truth. The large brick house lost in a late-night card game.
The family silver hidden behind a large mirror during the Civil War.
The Victorian house where owner Crimora Waite opened the first kindergarten in the post-WWII period.
Today, digital access to the Virginia Chronicle provides a glimpse into a small town where an earlier society column recounted visits and travel, tea parties and hospitalizations, all part of the fabric of an older community. Today, the town welcomes diversity and newcomers who are interested in protecting the historic character while repurposing buildings for contemporary demands.
Florida artist Margaret Ross Tolbert enjoys coffee at the Raven's Nest
