The Elk Run Meeting House- Luray, VA

There are many Civil War “Graffiti Houses” located in Virginia, but I was unfamiliar with this one in Luray, Virginia. It is located in the Shenandoah Heritage Village which is part of Luray Caverns on Cave Hill Road. The Elk Run Meeting House was a church established by the Mennonites around 1825 in Leaksville four miles south of Luray. In 1846 its ownership was transferred to the Dunkers (Brethren Baptists). In 2008 the church was sinking due to the deterioration of its foundation logs. It was purchased from the Modisett family, moved to its present location and placed on a new foundation. During the Civil War the building was occupied by troops from both sides including the 12th Virginia Cavalry and men from Stonewall Jackson’s 1862 Valley Campaign. After the battle of Cross Keys, Union General Kimball’s brigade camped near the church when it was located near Leaksville and used as a hospital. Troops from Ohio and Illinois left graffiti on the wall. Locals also wrote on the walls up to about 1915. The building is open to the public and I could view the interior from behind a glass wall. There is a locked door that allows entry into the interior but I was told at the museum desk that the public was not allowed access. The pictures of signatures were taken with my lens right up against the glass but even then it was hard to photograph the walls.

According to the website link to the meeting house Civil War soldiers names on the walls include: Will Robins, Co. C, 7th Regiment Indiana Volunteers; Capt. W. C. Bantee, Lieutenant Lvon, Lieutenant Luke, L.N. West, A. M. Walton, Will Stephens, Joseph Deitz, William Hess, William Craig, Will M. Wix, 66th Ohio Regiment; N. N. Titus, 67th Regiment, Co. G. Ohio Volunteers., U. S. A., William Spellman, Co. C, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, June 7, 1862; William Crervy, 66th Ohio; Jacob Bowers Co. Y, 14th Regiment B. Indiana Volunteers; Jacob Rosser Co. Y Regiment Indiana Volunteers 1862; Benj. Engle, Jefferson, Va.;J. Sam’l Harmmel Co. A. 12th Va; Jacob S. Painter Co. A. 12th Division Cavalry.

According to an article in Blue and Gray Magazine (see sources) written by Gary Ecelbarger he was able to identify the names shown in the picture below.