A Soldier's Home

Gen. George C. Marshall -- commander of U.S. Army forces during World War II, architect of the postwar recovery plan for a ravaged Europe, secretary of state, secretary of defense, special envoy to China, president of the American Red Cross and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize -- might never have thought much about the color of the morning glories on the living room wallpaper at his home in Leesburg.

But nearly a half-century after his death in 1959, a team of architects, historians, curators and artisans has overseen a meticulous restoration of Dodona Manor, the 19th-century house his wife, Katherine, bought in 1941 as their weekend retreat from Fort Myer.

Once again, his red leather recliner is back in the library next to the old Zenith TV, the way it was when the great man relaxed while watching "I Love Lucy." Once again, there are dishes in the kitchen cabinets and bed trays in the master bedroom. Once again, the gracious yellow house with its white-columned porch and red metal roof appears as it did when it drew a stream of distinguished visitors, from President Harry S. Truman to financier Bernard Baruch.

Tomorrow, Veterans Day, more than 100 visitors will cross the threshold for a private viewing of the five-year, $5 million restoration. Many invitees are old soldiers who knew the general during World War II, and diplomats from European nations rescued by the Marshall Plan. They will be joined by politicians and some of those who helped transform the neglected house and grounds. Public tours begin next month.

By all accounts, the general loved the property: four acres with vegetable and ornamental gardens plus a Federal house dating from 1826 and later expanded to 16 rooms. Indeed, Marshall called Dodona Manor -- which cost a then-hefty $16,000 -- "a real home after 41 years of wandering."

After the general's death, his widow moved to North Carolina and gave Dodona to her daughter. By 1995, it had been bought by the George C. Marshall International Center for use as an educational facility and house museum.

There was much to do. A new roof, wiring, plumbing, heating and cooling systems were installed. Experts were brought in to research Dodona's paint, wallpaper and decor.

"The idea is to fix the rooms like essays," said restoration historian William Seale of Washington, who has been closely involved with the project.

The couple furnished Dodona from several sources. At first, "they used to take furniture from Marshall's Quarters Number One at Fort Myer," said Seale. "Katherine's sister married and sold them the entire contents of her New York apartment for $500. He had been widowed and had old Chinese things. She was also widowed and had Colonial Revival furniture from her home in Baltimore, lots of overstuffed things. Everything there was sturdy and comfortable."

Gifts from world leaders were also part of the decor, including yellow silk from Madame Chiang Kai-shek, wife of the Nationalist Chinese president, which was made into living room curtains. A Moroccan landscape painted by Winston Churchill hung in the living room. So did a Russian winter scene given to Marshall by Soviet diplomat Vyacheslav Molotov. (Today, Dodona displays copies; the family retains the originals.)

Nearly all their furniture --from his simple wooden Pentagon desk to an elaborate Chinese chest -- was returned to the house by the family, who had inherited the well-worn pieces. The disintegrated silk curtains were reproduced.

A few pieces were retired, said Seale. "To make a house into a museum, some things have to be put in the barn and stored to accommodate the public, some of those little side chairs have to go on vacation."