Last Saturday we went to Poplar Forest, Thomas Jefferson’s private retreat.
Jefferson’s Private Retreat
This retreat was so private, that the British didn’t even know about it!
During the American Revolution, the British descended on Monticello to capture then governor of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson.
However, Jefferson received word of their arrival, so he and his family fled for Poplar Forest.
As we drove onto a stony road, leaving a 21st century neighborhood and going back in time to the early 19th century, we saw three deer, two of whom ran alongside the van, as we passed a golf course!
Leave it to Jefferson to think of a private golf course! (Just teasing! Golf courses are 21st century methods of providing green space for historical homes.)
Touring the restoration of the destroyed house
After Jefferson’s death, his family needed to sell the former octagonal home.
In 1845, fire destroyed Poplar Forest, leaving only a shell.
The owner rebuilt the house in the Greek Revival style, closing up the many windows Jefferson had installed.
A future owner upgraded the house with electricity and plumbing.
Open walls reveal Jefferson’s genius
As we toured the inside, we saw all the old, incorrect elements that pulled out.
Smaller than Monticello, and quite unique in form, the architectural bones of the old house displayed the genius of Jefferson’s imagination.
Open before us were the layers of lathe and plaster and brick revealing how the walls were built.
Restoration Plan
With a blank canvas, the restorers carefully return the look to that of Jefferson’s lifetime.
We saw the wall niches the beds will go into, just like at Monticello.
Shaped like an octagon, the center portion is for a huge dining room that will have a window for ventilation, allowing cooler air to poor in during the heat of summer.
Meanwhile the dining room looks into the other rooms that have large windows.
Jefferson’s clever water egress system
One of Jefferson’s clever inventions is the water egress system.
Because the wing off the house has a flat roof, the wood underneath is susceptible to rot.
Therefore Jefferson designed v-shaped channels under the floor of the walkable flat roof to collect water that drains outside the house.
Those v-shaped channels are encased in those narrow boxes that look like ceiling beams on the porch of the following photo.
On the other side of this portico, the water pours out through the openings on the side.
At the edge of the photo you can just make out the railing to protect guests from falling off.
There were no railings there in Jefferson’s day.
Jefferson inspired by 16th century Italian
When Jefferson attended the College of William and Mary, he obtained a book of a famous Italian architect from the 16th century, Andrea Palladio, who inspired his future design style.
The hill you see on each side of the house is an idea that inspired Jefferson when he was in France.
The idea was to sit on top of the hill to enjoy the gardens below, which haven’t yet been recreated.
On each side of the hills are these privies.
The inside of the privys’ roof reminded me of our studies of Renaissance architecture…
Far in the distance, a brick wall kept catching my eye. Intrigued, I was drawn to the remains of a quaint 20th century rose garden.
Conversations in Democracy
Poplar Forest is home to the annual program, Conversations in Democracy, which feature Thomas Jefferson and a historic guest.
I found out that we can attend these tapings in person, so I’ll be watching the announcement for that.
I know the kids would love it.
Before we moved from Texas, we watched tapings of some of the programs, including Jefferson’s conversations with Napoleon, Lafayette, Aaron Burr, John Adams, and Meriweather Lewis.
Because Poplar Forest is a restoration work in progress, there is always something new to see.
