Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-03-01
BY MARY L. VAUGHAN

al Tile Il6dTb VI virginia 5
traditional Culpeper County
in contrast to the country
sides myriad Colonial-style
mansions.
The home belongs to the
: former Commissioner of the
Atomic Energy Commission
and Mrs. Lewis L. Strauss
who bought the 1500-acre
Brandy Rock Farm" nearly
80 years ago. Their residence
was built about six years
later.
Warm woods and inornate
lines Of French Provincial
furnishings give their home
a simple charm that has
been enjoyed by many a
weekend guest including
President Eisenhower.
The Chief Executive ex-
pressed his pleasure over a
memorable stay at the
Strauss country home in a
hand-written, two-page let
ter to Mrs. Strauss. The
framed message is displayed
in the living room. along
with separate autographed
photographs of President
and Mrs. Eisenhower, Queen
Elizabeth and Primes Philip.
Long DeliberatiOn
Admiral and Mrs. Strauss
built their home in non-con-
forming fashion to neighbour
ing mansions after delibera-
ton. I'VE did not want it to
appear to be an old house
that we had inherited" Mrs.
Strauss explains. And we
both like French architec-
ture."
AS a result, their Y-shaped
stone structure is not anthem
tic French Provincial. I'VE
took a lot of liberties with
it," Mrs. Strauss relates of
the architecture, I'VE built it
to suit our needs"
Mr.. Strauss was born in
West Virginia and reared in
Richmond. Va. where he at
tended public schools. BY
coincidence, a part of the
Strauss farm includes land
that at one time was the
property of his grandfather,
Leopold Strauss.
A narrow blacktop road
winds beneath an archWay
Of maple trees to the entrance
Of the home. Mr.. Strauss
planted the trees. He tucked
dozens of twigs in his pockets
nearly "a years ago." recalls
Mrs. Strauss, then he put
a shovel over his shoulder
and went down the road
planting them on both sides"
The private drive ends in
a crushed stone parking cir
Gle at one wing of the home.
Inside the thick, panelled
chestnut door is an unpreten-
tiouS entryway with lofty
ceiling, cream color plaster
walls and carpeting of pale
green. Directly before the
door is hung large engrav-
ing of Richmond from the
Hill Above the WaterWorks"
over French Provincial
table. On another wall is a
pewter planter. A powder
room and walk-in coat closet
open of the entry.
On down the five-foot-wide
hallway are the living and
dining rooms opposite each
other and further along,
around a corner, the hall
way ends in a bedroom wing.
Mr.. Strauss Office is located
in this wing.
Despite its immense size,
the step-down living room
has a coy air. There's a
great open-beam ceiling,
chestnut panelled walls, three
ceiling-high built-in book
cases and an enormous 10
foot-high stone fireplace that
holds logs up to five feet.
Conversation Groups
Seating areas have been
arranged in conversational
groupings. There are nu-
merouS floor and table
lamps making it a room for
a quiet evening of music or
reading. Colors include gold
wall-to-wall carpeting, mel
low chestnut walls, touches
of blues and rose.
Easement windows and
French doors open from
three sides of the room. On
each side is an outdoor flag
stone terrace trimmed with
giant pin oaks and flourish
ing lockwood.
From the living room and
terrace is magnificent view
of the distant Blue Ridge
Mountains and down the hill
are tennis courts and a
swimming pool. The farm is
the scene of one of the most
famed Civil War battlefields.
The Battle of Brandy Sta
ton" fought here was the
biggest cavalry fight in Amer
lean history when Jeb Stu
arts 10000 mounted troops
met Pleasanton's Yankees
nearly 10000 strong.
Mr.. Strauss most priced
Civil War memento is dis
-@syyed on a living room wall
above President Eisenhower's