Culpeper in Culpeper County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Lawrence-Payne-Chelf House
605 South East Street
| | South East Street Historic District | |
is a contributing building to the
South East Historic District
designated as a
Virginia Historic Landmark
and placed on the
National Register of Historic Places
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • War, US Civil.
Location. 38° 28.161′ N, 77° 59.737′ W. Marker is in Culpeper, Virginia, in Culpeper County. It is on South East Street just south of East Chandler Street (Virginia Route 699), on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 605 S East St, Culpeper VA 22701, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in Northern Virginia. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Eastham-Leavell House (within shouting distance of this marker); Fountain Hall Bed & Breakfast (within shouting distance of this marker); Wisteria (within shouting distance of this marker); 509 South East Street (within shouting distance of this marker); The Old Fray-Rixey House (within shouting distance of this marker); St. Stephens Episcopal Rectory (within shouting distance of this marker); William J. Shotwell House (within shouting distance
this page online
Also see . . . National Register of Historic Places Historic District Nomination Form.
The form mentions the house in a couple locations. On page 9, it mentions:
Construction of the 605 South East Street Lawrence-Payne-Chelf House in 1852 initiated a trend toward constructing more ornamented houses on South East Street. It is a well-preserved example of the Carpenters Gothic style of cottage architecture that Andrew Jackson Downing made popular nationally and is a unique use of its style in Culpeper. The house is attributed to builder Philip Tazewell Moore. The one-and-a-half-story house features a jigsaw porch railing as well as elaborate jigsaw work in the central gable. The house, which appears to be a small cottage when viewed from East Street, is actually very deep and is a quite large house that retains much of its original interior detail. A large gable-roofed, wood-clad log outbuilding that still stands to the rear once served as the detached kitchen; some believe that the kitchen may predate the house.
Additionally, there is a profile of the house on page 25:
The Lawrence-Payne-Chelf House at 605 South East Street is a well-preserved Carpenters(Submitted on September 12, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.)Gothic cottage, the only example of its type in Culpeper. Believed built by Philip Tazewell Moore in 1852 on land formerly part of the Captain Thomas Hill holdings, the 1 1/2-story, wood frame house features a jigsaw porch railing as well as elaborate jigsaw work in the central gable. The house extends deep into the lot, and is much larger than it appears from the street. It retains much of its original interior detailing, including stairways. A large gable-roofed, wood-clad log outbuilding, which still stands to the rear, once served as a kitchen; some people believe that it may predate the house. The house, which was built for Alexander Lawrence, was occupied by Union troops during Grants 1863 occupation of the town. Charles Payne, Culpeper County Clerk of Court, bought the house in 1878 for $1,500, and later his daughter Genevieve and her husband Dr. Hugh T. Chelf owned the house. Today, the house remains in the estate of their daughter U.S. Navy Nurse Corps Commander Josephine Chelf who undertook a complete restoration of the house in the 1960s prior to her retirement from the U.S. Navy and occupied the house for many years. Although there have been two additions to the house, it retains much of its original character.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 13, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 11, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 327 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 11, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. A clearer photo of the plaque • Can you help?
