For Mother’s Day my kids took me to a place I have longed to visit, Tuckahoe Plantation, boyhood home of Thomas Jefferson near Richmond, Virginia.
It’s also where one of my favorite movies was taped, Hallmark Hall of Fame’s: The Love Letter…a love story between Scotty and Lizzie that crossed the miles of time.
As we drove the winding road, I imagined Scotty on his bike…then I imagined Thomas Jefferson playing with his friends.
THOMAS JEFFERSON
Built in the 1730’s by the Randolph family, William Randolph and his bride, Maria Judith Page, resided here for many happy years with their 3 children.
Upon the early death of his own wife, Randolph wrote into his will: Whereas I have appointed by my will that my dear only son Thomas Mann Randolph should have a private education given him in my house at Tuckahoe, my will is that my dear and loving friend Mr. Peter Jefferson do move down with his family to my Tuckahoe house and remain there till my son comes of age with whom my dear son and his sisters shall live.
After William Randolph suddenly passed away the following year, Peter Jefferson arrived with his wife Jane Randolph Jefferson (she was a cousin of William Randolph) and their three daughters and two-year-old son, Thomas, from their home of Shadwell in Charlottesville.
For the next seven years, the Jefferson children grew up with their Randolph cousins at Tuckahoe.
Meanwhile, Peter Jefferson managed the plantation while continuing his survey work in the west.
While touring the house and gardens, my imaginations intermingled between Thomas Jefferson and my favorite Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, The Love Letter.
THE LOVE LETTER – HALLMARK HALL OF FAME
This is a masterfully written (and acted) time travel movie set in 1998 (the year the movie was made) where Scotty, a Civil War buff whose day job is to create a computer game simulating the Battle of Gettysburg, also antique shops.
Purchasing a Civil War era desk at an antique shop, Scotty discovers a secret compartment, where he finds a letter dated from1863, written by Lizzie.
Intrigued, he can’t stop thinking of her.
Enter Scotty’s mother, an eccentric fun-loving lady, who upon learning of the letter in the antique desk, has an idea.
Bringing an antique stamp from 1863, along with period accurate parchment paper, and ink, she instructs Scotty to write a letter to Lizzie, then take it to the oldest post office in town, which happens to date back to the Civil War: Oh, and go at midnight. I don’t know why, but somehow it sounds so mysteriously perfect!
Unable to sleep that night, Scotty pulls out the quill, ink, and parchment to compose a note to Lizzie.
Then in the quiet darkness of night, he drives to the old Civil War Era post office and drops the letter in the “Local Area” chute.
Walking away, he shakes his head in disbelief.
As the setting fades to 1863, a carriage drives up a tree-lined lane (of Tuckahoe Plantation).
Pulling correspondence from his bag, the postmaster delivers the mail to the maid at the door.
After she places the mail on a table in the parlor, the camera pans to the envelope on top that has Lizzie’s address across the front, written in Scotty’s hand.
PRODUCTION
My VHS copy of the movie has a behind-the-scenes feature where the cast and director speak about the making of this wonderful movie.
By the way, Scotty is played by Campbell Scott, son of George C. Scott (the best Scrooge ever in A Christmas Carol) and Colleen Dewhurst (the best Murilla ever in Anne of Green Gables).
It is from my VHS production notes that I learned that the setting for Lizzie’s house was Tuckahoe Plantation, boyhood home of Thomas Jefferson.
Located outside Richmond, which experienced the Civil War, Tuckahoe made a convenient setting for this time-travel movie.
Interestingly, the production notes describe how they adapted the house to change appearance from mid-19th century pristine to modern era disrepair, for the different time-travel scenes.
Several of the other scenes were shot around other parts of Richmond, such as the ballroom dance scene which was filmed at the Jefferson Hotel, and the final poignant scene at St. John’s Church, where Patrick Henry gave his infamous “Give me liberty or give me death” speech.
TOURING THE HOUSE
Since this is a privately owned home, it’s not generally open to the public, unless for specially arranged tours.
On this Mother’s Day, tours of the main floor were given, which we happily partook, though no indoor photography was allowed.
While learning about its 18th and 19th century history, I enjoyed imagining Lizzie and her family in the rooms…and imagining Scotty on the staircase.
Lizzie’s room was shot in the room where Thomas Jefferson slept, which I wish we could have visited, but those are private sleeping quarters.
TOURING THE GARDENS
In the extensive gardens, I imagined Lizzie writing her poetry…
…then we found this arbor, where I had replicated her pose, even though I was not bedecked with flowers as Lizzie was. Had I known I’d have this opportunity though…
MOTHER’S DAY PEONY PARTY
Apart from all the Thomas Jefferson and Hallmark Movie moments, we thoroughly enjoyed the peony gardens, where we were invited to cut flowers at a price to take home.
In between other special public events through the year, the grounds are available for self-touring for a small fee.
Meanwhile, group tours can be arranged ahead of time, as well as opportunities to rent the lovely Tuckahoe Plantation for a grand event such as a wedding.
