[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 85 (Thursday, June 29, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1147]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      IN TRIBUTE TO R. LEE TAYLOR

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. FRANK R. WOLF

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 28, 2000

  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, today I honor a man whose genius has touched 
many people in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and who, with the 
establishment of the Glass-Glen Burnie Museum, will continue to touch 
the lives of all Americans for centuries to come.
  In 1952, R. Lee Taylor was brought to Winchester, Virginia by his 
friend and employer Julian Wood Glass, Jr. to assess the state of 
Glass's ancestral home, Glen Burnie, which had been built by 
Winchester's founder, Colonel James Wood. Lee Taylor was charged with 
the restoration of the historic house and the creation of a landscape 
plan to enhance the site. By the time of his death in May, the 
landscape plan had been realized. Today, the 25 acres of expansive 
lawns and 14 individual gardens surrounding the 18th century house 
stand as testimony to Lee Taylor's vision, determination and hard work.
  For the last three years of his life, Lee Taylor participated in the 
transition of Glen Burnie from private home to public institution. 
Since opening in 1997, tens of thousands of people have visited the 
site now known as ``Glen Burnie, Historic House, Gardens & Julian Wood 
Glass, Jr. Collection.'' In the last days of his life, Mr. Taylor 
participated in the selection of renowned architect Michael Graves to 
design a new museum to be built on the property in celebration of the 
Shenandoah Valley. Called the ``Museum of the Shenandoah Valley,'' the 
new facility will interpret the region's history, art and culture and 
tell how, over three centuries, people have made their home in the 
Shenandoah Valley scheduled to open in 2003.
  Lee Taylor's talents were not limited to horticulture. He was 
nationally known as the creator of miniature houses and rooms. His 
genius had been recognized in articles in Nutshell News and Treasures 
in Miniature. Mr. Taylor bequeathed more than one dozen miniatures to 
the new Museum of the Shenandoah Valley.
  Mr. Taylor was a champion of preservation in the northern Shenandoah 
Valley. He served on the governing board of Belle Grove, the National 
Trust for Historic Preservation site in Middletown, Virginia. He was a 
charter board member of Preservation of Historic Winchester. Both of 
these organizations recognized Mr. Taylor's contributions with special 
awards. Mr. Taylor also served on the Winchester-Frederick County 
Historic Resources Advisory Board as well as the Community History 
Advisory Board of Shenandoah University.
  Lee Taylor will be remembered as a truly gentle man. When not helping 
others, he could generally be found in his garden. He was always 
generous with his time and horticultural knowledge--encouraging even 
the most timid novice gardener to turn the first spade of dirt, to 
plant the first seed.
  Today, because of Lee Taylor's vision, Glen Bumie is a peaceful 
refuge for all who visit.
  Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to R. Lee Taylor as Glen Burnie's 
first Curator of Gardens and creator of an experience of uncommon 
beauty. Lee Taylor took a seed and planted it, and all that has grown 
will enrich our lives for many years to come. In his honor, I encourage 
all to go to Glen Burnie in Winchester, Virginia and to discover the 
magic of the gardens that Lee Taylor created.

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