Virginia Department of Historic Resources Virginia Department of Historic Resources
For additional information, read the Nomination Form PDF
VLR Listing Date 03/13/2002
NRHP Listing Date 05/29/2002
NRHP Reference Number 02000596
Green Pastures is a 236-acre hunt-country estate containing a Colonial Revival–style main house, stable, barns, cottages, and agricultural outbuildings. Designed by New York architect Penrose V. Stout for industrialist Robert Earl McConnell and built about 1931, the house displays bold ornamentation in its hand-carved entrance pilasters, cantilevered spiral staircase, and rare pecky cypress paneling and classical columns on the interior. McConnell amassed great wealth in the early 20th century as a mining engineer and financier, but is best known for accumulating and developing vital materials for the nation’s war effort during World War II. He served as CEO of the former German subsidiary General Aniline and Film Corporation for the Treasury Department, developed a logarithmic security chart to monitor industrial stocks, and financed groundbreaking communication inventions. Located in Fauquier County’s Little River Rural Historic District, Green Pastures represents McConnell’s interest in agricultural pursuits and foxhunting in the Virginia Piedmont.
Many properties listed in the registers are private dwellings and are not open to the public, however many are visible from the public right-of-way. Please be respectful of owner privacy.
Abbreviations:
VLR: Virginia Landmarks Register
NPS: National Park Service
NRHP: National Register of Historic Places
NHL: National Historic Landmark
Updated: January 25, 2022
