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Museum of Culpeper History dedicates marker honoring Anne Slaughter Wingfield
Summary
The Museum of Culpeper History unveiled a two-sided historical marker recognizing Anne Slaughter Wingfield as an early founder of public education in Culpeper County; museum leaders and local officials attended the dedication and credited community partners for saving and repurposing the school building.
Elizabeth Hutchins, a member of the Museum of Culpeper History board and a retired teacher, opened the ceremony and introduced the marker dedication that honored Anne Slaughter Wingfield and Culpeper’s educational heritage. "I'm Elizabeth Hutchins, a member of the museum board of directors, a retired teacher," she said as she welcomed officials, museum volunteers and community members to the unveiling.
Jay Harrison, the museum’s executive director, said the plaque is part of a broader initiative to bring local history into public view. "This marker is the 10th to be installed by the Museum of Culpeper History," Harrison said, thanking the marker committee, volunteers and partners who supported the installation. The marker is two-sided: one side summarizes Wingfield’s life and the other provides a brief history of Culpeper County Public Schools; each marker carries a QR code linking to additional background.
Speakers at the event traced Wingfield’s local role: the marker text recounts that Anne Slaughter Wingfield began private classes in her home after the Civil War, helped found public schooling in Culpeper in 1871 and taught for decades. Dr. Anthony Bridal, superintendent of Culpeper County Public Schools, and David Lee, the county board supervisor representing East Fairfax, spoke about Wingfield’s long service and the school’s continuing legacy in the community.
The ceremony concluded with a brief invocation and an invitation for attendees to view the marker and take photographs. Museum leaders said the marker program will continue with additional dedications planned in coming months.
