Evening star., 1954-12-26
By George Kennedy
Star Staff Correspondent


Citizens of Loudoun Valley,
that pleasant pastoral stretch
between the Catoctins and the
Blue Ridge, are divided in opin-
ion over the possibility of the
Atomic Energy Commission NOV
ing its Washington office into
the county.
John Eisenhard. managing ed
itor of the Blue Ridge Herald,
Loundoun County weekly pub
lished in Purcellville.. is all for
it. His newspaper broke the
story.
Representatives of the Acc
called on Mayor Maurice r. Low
enbach, jr., of Leesburg, the
county seat. Their interest was
real because they were back a
week later with questionnaires
for the Leesburg authorities to
| fill out concerning water supply.
sewer service, etc. The commits
sion in Washington refuses to
make any comment on this ac-
tiviity, but 1t is understood that
Warrenton, Va, and Frederick.
Md, also are under considers
ton. s.
Mr.. Eisenhard and some busi-
nessmen Of this community want
Purcellyille considered. But there
is opposition.
Fear Creating Target.
"when the story came out, "
| he said, "a lot of people were
disturbed. Some of them felt
that it would make Loudoun
County a target. The reaction
of others was that they like the
town Just as 1t is.
"Its increase in population
from 1910 to 1850 was 7S7 to
! Gas. The objectors say that We
| haven't the water supply. sewer
facilities and schools to take
| care of the increase in popu-
lation that would occur If the
Acc offices. with their 1,500 en-
ployes, were transferred to the
county. While property values
would go up, SO would taxes. they
argue.
"The fact is that we are better
fixed on water than Leesburg,
which was threatened with q
shortage before this summers
drought ended. Purcellville is
Just completing q 35-million-
/ gallon reservoir on the side OF
the mountain"
| Scouts Target Idea.
Mr.. Eisenhard was impatient
about the talk that Loudoun
would become a target II the Acc
offices were located in the county.
mo intelligent person will go
along with that" he said. He
believes Washington viii still be
the target
H. H. Huntley, a real estate
man who recently has hung out
his shingle in Purcellville. is all
| for it. He intends to go to WASH
ington and bring the advantages
| Of the town to the attention OF
Mai. Gen. K. d. Nichols, gen.
eral manager Of the Acc.
/ Mr.. Huntley Is enthusiastic
about the town. A broad-shoul-
dered. well-groomed man with
whitening hair, he retired from
selling real estate in the Falls
Church area and went to Florida.
| To his great surprise. he tired OF
fishing and came back to Vir-
ginia.
| He remodeled and repainted
one of the houses in the village
on Route 7, the road to Berry
i vile. With a relatively small In
vestment. he finished up with
an attractive home, including an
| upstairs apartment which he
| leases. Mrs. Huntley sells an
tioue glass in the inclosed sun
porch.
| Mountains Being Subdivided.
| The mountains are being sub
| divided. That was one Of the
local Developments Mr.. Huntley
wanted to call to the attention Of
| his visitors. Two large tracts on
the Blue Ridge. Shenandoah Re
treat and Bears Den. have been
ION the market for some time foI
people who wish to build week
end and vacation cottages. Pro-
moters have bought two other
| large tracts which they intend
/ to subdivide. The promoters
principal expense is the construc-
| ton Of roads on the mountain
side.
An advantage of locating on
| the mountains. in addition Il
relief from summer heat. IS thu
water supply. Most Of the spring;
1 and small streams on the Blue
! Ridge continued to now Iasl