Leaving her mark

Katie Dolac / Culpeper Star Exponent
Published: May 2, 2007

Lifelong Culpeper resident Kayla Pelkey had never even heard of Graffiti House before she began volunteering there in March. Now she's working to match a $15,000 state grant for its preservation.

The 18-year-old Culpeper County High School senior chose to work with Graffiti House for her Leadership Career Academy project, because she's into art, and preserving what's left of the fading walls seemed to jibe with her interests.

The more hours she logged at the deteriorating Civil War hospital, the more she sympathized with the Brandy Station Foundation's plight.

The foundation's budget just isn't large enough to cover the extensive TLC the house needs to survive. The relatively new organization saved the house from commercial use less than five years ago, with high hopes of preserving its rich history.

However, 149 years can take a toll on a building. Years of vibrations from passing trains caused the walls to crack and the Civil War-era graffiti is rapidly disappearing.

"I didn't think the train would go by that much, but it really does," Kayla said from her dining room table. She had a sunburn outline of sunglasses from working at a Graffiti House yard sale the week before.

"We have to do something, or the history isn't going to be there anymore," her mother Shirley Cleer chimed in from the other side of the table. Kayla nodded.

That's what made the two hours Kayla spent addressing 100 envelopes worth her time. She was mailing letters to all known descendants of the Civil War soldiers who passed through the house, seeking donations for Brandy Station Foundation to match the $15,000 grant.

The state grant, approved by Gov. Tim Kaine in April, will fund a professional evaluation of the historic home's current architectural condition, as well as outline a plan for its preservation, a critical step for Graffiti House to receive future grants and gain credibility in the historical community.

Not even Kayla's mother, also a longtime Culpeper resident knew of the house before March. Now the mother-daughter duo are strong advocates.

Kayla plans to continue volunteer work even after graduation.
"It's really weird that it's here in Culpeper," Kayla said.

"Culpeper is really boring until you learn more stuff about it."

Katie Dolac can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 138 or .