06-09 Poplar Forest

From 06-09 Poplar Forest

Did you know Thomas Jefferson had a second home called Poplar Forest? We did not but learned about it during our visit to Monticello. It is about 75 miles south of the campground. So we drove down Wednesday. It was another beautiful drive. This may be the prettiest area we have visited so far in our RV travels.

Jefferson’s wife Martha inherited the Poplar Forest plantation in 1773. It had just over 4800 acres and was located near Lynchburg. VA. They visited Poplar Forest periodically, but it was not until 1806 during his second term as President that Jefferson started building a home there. It is a unique octagonal shape. The whole structure, including interior walls, was built of brick. The interior walls were covered with lathing, and this was then covered with plaster similar to other colonial homes with traditional wood framing. It has large windows and a long skylight in the middle dining room. So it is very bright and pleasant inside.

The house has one main story with a basement below.

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The basement was used for storage. This room held his wine.

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Now the basement has an excellent display explaining the history of the house, story of the renovation, things found in archeological digs, etc.

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They are still doing archeological digs on the property. A group of college students arrived during our visit to work there during the summer.

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Jefferson later added a “Wing of Offices” similar to those under the patios on each side on Monticello.

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The “Wing” contained the kitchen, smoke house and other work spaces. The kitchen was very modern for its time incorporating features Jefferson had seen in France and were already in use at Monticello. In the right corner in the photo below there is a large round opening and 3 square ones. The round one was to keep a pot of hot water constantly available. The 3 square ones were for simmering pots. Hot coals were taken from the fireplace and placed on a recessed grate. Ashes fell below and could be removed from the opening at floor level. Then pots were placed on a grate at the counter top height to simmer. Jefferson installed the same cooking arrangement in the White House when he was President.

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There are two “necessaries” (out houses) on each side of the house. Jefferson had 3 inside toilets at Monticello but none at Poplar Forest. The necessaries are also Octagon shaped.

From 06-09 Poplar Forest

Jefferson’s will deeded Poplar Forest and 1,000 acres to a Grandson who later sold the property and moved to Florida. It has passed through several owners since. One family kept the house for 118 years. During their ownership the house burned in 1845. Because all the walls were originally built of brick, they were able to rebuild in the same shape but with significant changes to Jefferson’s design.

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In the 1990’s local businessmen formed a foundation to buy and protect the home. They have acquired 600 acres of surrounding property including a golf course they own but do not manage. Without the foundation’s intervention, significantly more development would have occurred.

From 06-09 Poplar Forest

They are slowly doing research and restoring the house and property to the way it looked in Jefferson’s time. They do not have near the funding as the foundation at Montpelier. The interior and exterior walls have been restored to Jefferson’s design and the office wing rebuilt. There is much remaining to be done to finish plastering and painting the walls plus adding all the molding and other finishing touches. They have examples of how it will look when finished.

Some day they also plan to restore the garden, lawn and trees to Jefferson’s design. It is pretty now, but I would love to see it with all the flowers, shrubs and trees like we saw at Monticello.

From 06-09 Poplar Forest

He planted Mulberry trees at Poplar Forest just as he had done at Monticello. We had a picnic under one. I did not realize the berries look much like blackberries or boysenberries.

From 06-09 Poplar Forest

We were glad we visited Poplar Forest. It was interesting to see more of Jefferson’s work, and we enjoyed another drive across the Virginia countryside.