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The Wharf

Fishtown Historic District

Written By: Theresa Meeker Pickett

The Wharf, located to the northeastern corner of downtown Culpeper, Virginia at the intersection of the lower end of East Davis Street and Commerce Street, is a historic area that played a pivotal role in the town’s commercial development. In the 19th century, this district served as the warehousing and loading section, particularly around the railroad station. The arrival of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad in 1853 transformed Culpeper into a bustling center for the transportation of manufactured goods and agricultural products.

During the Civil War, The Wharf was a key location due to its proximity to the railroad depot, which was vital for controlling the transportation of soldiers and supplies. Subsequently, the area endured military occupations and occasional bombardments. Buildings in the vicinity, including churches and warehouses, were repurposed as hospitals and storage facilities. After the war, Antioch Baptist Church, the oldest Black congregation, repurposed one of these warehouses as their place of worship from 1867 to 1886, with a brief relocation from 1870 to 1873. The original structure still stands today.

As Culpeper rebuilt in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, The Wharf became a center of African American enterprise, fostering a vibrant Black business district. Black-owned businesses thrived in this area, contributing significantly to Culpeper’s economy. The businesses were predominantly owned or operated by Black residents for Black residents, though some were frequented by members of the white community for their quality of service.

Today, The Wharf remains a visible link to Culpeper’s storied past, reflecting its transformation from a bustling 19th-century transportation hub to a thriving center of African American enterprise in the 20th century.


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