Check out the squirrel-he’s all over the place. The symbol of Stratford Hall Plantation he graces the Lee family heraldic crest, perched above the Latin reminder Be Not Unmindful of the Future. He’s even engraved on the nice heavy flatware set for you in the Dining Room. You might actually like to begin your visit here where flavor is the operative word. Their country ham, absolutely unsurpassed, is offered on homemade biscuits accompanied by their own strawberry preserves. A selection of excellent soups and entrees presented in either the cozy log cabin dining room or the large screened porch, hung like a tree-house, ease one into the spirit of the place and demand a return. Open every day from 11:30 to 3 (except Dec. 23 & May 21) special dinners are presented for Thanksgiving with the Christmas Candlelight Buffet delighting 739 patrons last year. On that evening candlelight is the only illumination on the plantation and the Great House and out buildings are staffed by costumed interpreters.

     A self-sufficient community was Stratford. With indentured servants and slaves the Lee family grew all their own food plus tobacco for export, dripped thousands of candles to light all dwellings, made soap to do the laundry and cleaned and cooked every plant and beast they consumed. The kitchen fireplace is sized to roast a whole ox and a medicinal still stands poised to render an elixir.

     There was a mill as well close to the wharf. A miller maintains it today and you may watch him grinding the corn or wheat as the creaking mill wheel powers heavy gears. The mill will be closed from May 14 through June 2002 for restoration and replacing of the mill wheel. The new shaft and arms are being hewn from two white oak trees cut from the plantation.

     Wharf and river were the razzle dazzle of plantation life. Deep draft ships unloaded life’s luxuries—tea, metalware, porcelain, tools—into lighters that ferried them to the wharf. Hogsheads of tobacco rolling down their own path filled returning ships. “Green gold” they called it. 

     No doubt the Stratford squirrel and his progeny watched Indians study the river from the cliffs. By 1670 a wooden manor home stood in their stead. Built by the Pope family and protected by a palisade, in 1717 Thomas Lee purchased it and the 1442 acres surrounding. A busy man Mr. Lee, acting Governor of Virginia, a member of the governing Council of the colony, it was he who built the wharf, gristmill and the Georgian Great House called Stratford. Land speculator, successful tobacco planter with more than 16,000 acres in Virginia and Maryland, his greatest accomplishment was his remarkable family. He and wife Hannah produced six sons and two daughters. Two sons were the only brothers to sign the Declaration of Independence, another helped write Virginia’s resolves for independence, two others were diplomats working to secure European support during the Revolution and the eldest, Philip Ludwell Lee, inherited and enhanced Stratford.
Lee women made their mark as well. Thomas’ daughter, Hannah Lee Corbin, was a proponent of women’s rights and her sister, Alice Lee, married the chief physician of the Continental Army hospitals. Philip’s daughter, the next inheritor of Stratford was known as “the divine Matilda”. She married her cousin, the Revolutionary War hero “Light Horse” Harry Lee, a superb soldier but poor manager. At her death she left him a life interest in the plantation. Lucky in love, three years later he married Ann Hill Carter of Shirley Plantation. Their son Robert E. Lee, the future General in chief of the Confederate Army, was born at Stratford in 1807. His walnut spindled crib remains in The Chamber and is hung with netting as was done then to protect the infant from insects. The Chamber, the most private room in the house was the private domain of the plantation mistress. Not only did she birth her babies here, she enjoyed entertaining her friends at tea in this spacious, airy room. You’ll understand why when you tour the Great House.

     Everyone remembers the Great Hall, described as one of the most beautiful rooms in America. The most public area of the house and large enough to accommodate dances and receptions, the family loved it best in summer for its doors opened north, south, east and west inviting refreshing breezes. 

     Explore the multi-purpose Dining Room and learn all about the two course meals served where presentation was as important as the food. The Parlor and Library magnificently furnished in period pieces, envelope one in eighteenth century ambiance but especially endearing are the Nursery and Schoolroom. The schoolmaster, ever teetering between paid employee and member of the household, lived and slept in his classroom.

     There are many other buildings to explore at Stratford but nothing remains of the homes of servants all of whom lived on the plantation. A unique feature of slave homes was the “cuddy hole” a small hole under the floor, about three feet all the way around and frequently lined with boards. Sweet potatoes generally shared space with gifts or ‘found’ items best hidden from inquisitive eyes. Philip Lee, second owner of Stratford frequently complained by letter of the shenanigans of Sawney, a slave of whom he obviously was very fond.
“He waited table dressed in an old pair of dirty leather breeches with his shirttail hanging to his knees and was discovered after dinner asleep on the dresser with a pipe in his mouth.” Sawney also drank liquor out of the bottles behind one’s back and ate meat out of the dishes he bore to the table “tho he has his regular meals”.
Col Phil was such a lover of music he kept a “house band”. Made up of slaves and indentured servants, they not only entertained the master and his guests but also from a perch on his coach heralded his arrival at neighboring plantations.

     After you’ve strolled the gardens, viewed the livestock and hiked the trails you must take something home. The Plantation Store presents a variety of delectable Stratford products as well as carefully chosen gift items. Cornmeal, grits and pancake flour from the gristmill are the freshest you’ll find and the preserves, peanuts, wine and cider are nearly as popular. These delicacies plus others are included in gift baskets done up to custom order or available in themes of Stratford Dinner, Stratford Party, or Pride of Stratford. The Plantation Store is open daily from 9 to 5 and offers gift certificates, bridal registry and gift-wrapping. Orders can be placed by mail or phone (800-LEE-5066) Credit cards are accepted and the store will ship your gift baskets or prettily wrapped gifts via UPS. You can visit the dining room and gift shop whenever you wish without paying the entrance fee.

     The Visitor Center welcomes and educates with galleries displaying artifacts from the plantation and depicting the history and preservation of Stratford. The Robert E. Lee Memorial Association itself is fascinating and deserves a salute for its excellence. Be sure to read about the fascinating female founders and the things they did to raise funds! We haven’t even talked about festivals and events. Visit the excellent web site www.stratfordhall.org for information and a schedule. Being not unmindful of the future we must celebrate this excellent example of our past. 

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© 2001 Ann Sale. All rights reserved.