Stafford Farms Shell Station

This is a gas station that we stopped at in Virginia. It was inspired by Fallingwater. Nothing too exciting, but it does stand out as being more interesting than your average gas station. The gas seemed to work well enough. One of the attendants knew that it was inspired by Wright and that it had some publicity on the web. Evidently it used to be a Mobil station, but it is now a Shell station.

Luis Marden Residence

This house is a private residence and is not open to the public. It is located in a wooded area that evidently overlooks the Potomac river. The driveway is not well marked, and I did not want to disturb the owners, but I did take two pictures from the driveway. 

No carports, but full garages. I don't know if they were part of the original house.

In July of 2000 I was contacted by someone (who preferred to remain anonymous) about their experience at the Marden Residence. Here are the excerpts from their e-mail to me:

It is no wonder to me that FLW wanted the Marden sight for his son. Who wouldn't???? <s> The river at that point is flowing rather rapidly over large boulders. Always wanted to go to the opposite bank to have a look but could never figure a way to get there...not being "into" white water rafting.

 

Gads, David, as to using my observations, it has been over THIRTY years since I was there and they are few and of little value to anyone. You may tell what I have said, but I would rather you not use my name.

 

The most striking thing to me in the interior was the fact that some of the walls did not go to the ceiling. Not being schooled in architecture, I found that extremely unusual. Also the huge expanse of windows on the front. Of course, the walls that display the beautiful paintings were also unusual, I thought.

 

This was a dinner for only the Mardens, my roommate from Germany who they sponsored for entry to the U.S. and myself. It was very nice and the first time I had salad as a last course. <s> Was very young and naive.

 

We did not see any more of the exterior than you have in the color photos you took. If I knew then what I know now, you can bet I would have seen more of it and paid MUCH more attention. Unfortunately, when you are 19, many things escape you. At the time of my visit, I was totally unfamiliar with FLW's work.

 

In my heart though, the house left such a lasting impression. A warm feeling like you would give anything to spend more time with it and really get to know it. Make any sense? Probably not. <s>

I appreciate receiving first-hand accounts of encounters with Wright architecture. If you are interested in having your comments published, either credited or anonymously, please contact me. 

The entryway to the house. I don't know the significance of the boulder.
I'd guess it is part of the original site.

Pope-Leighey Residence

The Pope-Leighey house is located on the grounds of the Woodlawn Plantation just south of Arlington, Virginia. The entrance to the plantation is easy to miss and there was a lot of traffic on U.S. Route 1 on the Saturday we visited the house. Laurene, Samantha and I were on our way to meet other family at Williamsburg for vacation, and I twisted their arms to visit this Usonian house that I had heard about from Thom Holmes. He and Shaina had visited the house a few weeks earlier and said their visit was very worthwhile. Our visit certainly was too. Touring the house gave me the first clear feeling I had of Wright's mastery of space. I'm sure I will notice it more the next time I visit Fallingwater too. Our guide Christopher was very knowledgeable.

Samantha was not the most patient, but Laurene was more interested than I thought she would be. Of course she likes to house shop. Maybe if we win the lottery some day we'll own a Frank Lloyd Wright house.....

This Usonian house cost $7,000 when it was built by a master craftsman in 1939.

The house was relocated two times to its current location.

It has forced air vents added in the floors for air conditioning, but otherwise it seemed to be a faithful restoration.

The entryway is located on the left side under an overhang. The lowered roof brings you into the interior space while you are still outside the house.

Photograph courtesy Shaina Holmes.

Looking towards the entryway from the living room.
Notice the box lighting which was made very simply.
Cyprus wood was used throughout the house.

Photograph courtesy of Shaina Holmes.

Looking from the entryway side of the living room. The sunroom is on the right.
This room feels very large, especially after having come from the relatively compressed space in the hall and entryway.

Photograph courtesy of Shaina Holmes.

A corner desk in one of the two bedrooms.
There was also a study/den so it might be considered a small three-bedroom house.
There are only 1,200 square feet in the house.

Photograph courtesy of Thom Holmes.

Plywood was used extensively. It was a relatively new construction material when the house was built.

The cutouts that were used throughout the house like a border were a substitute for the stained glass that Wright used in more expensive houses. Our tour guide told us that each Usonian house has a different pattern.

Copper tubing was used to frame the screened sunroom.

The bedroom wing is on the right and the living room is on the left.

Photograph courtesy of Shaina Holmes.

The house was relocated from its original site, and then relocated again, but only a short distance.

The official site for the Pope-Leighey House can be found at the National Trust for Historic Preservation.