Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, December 19, 1993 TAG: 9312190107
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C3 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LYNCHBURG LENGTH: Medium
As suburban sprawl crept up to the property line of Poplar Forest, many historic groups in the area tried unsuccessfully to find a way to save Jefferson's retreat in Bedford County.
On Dec. 18, 1983, nine local business and civic leaders formed the Corporation for Jefferson's Poplar Forest.
"I sort of was interested in making sure nothing went wrong with Poplar Forest," said Peter O. Ward Jr. of Lynchburg.
There were fears the property's owner would sell it for development, he said. "We decided to find out what could be done."
Ward, Lynchburg News & Advance publisher T. George Washington and seven others formed the first board of directors for the nonprofit corporation.
A contract to buy Jefferson's second home was signed 10 years ago this weekend.
"That was the start of it," Ward said.
The purchase of the house and about 300 acres for nearly $1.8 million was completed in 1984. Since then, the corporation has purchased about 200 additional acres, bringing the value of the property to $3.4 million.
During the past 10 years, it has cost more than $7 million to purchase the land, stabilize the buildings, open the house to the public, maintain the property, conduct research and begin restoration of the octagonal house.
"Our goal was certainly to do what we're doing," Ward said. "It's progressed at a better rate than any of us anticipated."
The corporation has raised more than $9 million in the past decade to pay for all the work, Ward said.
The $5.5 million restoration of the main house will return the building to the third president's original design.
In April, workers began the first phase of that project, renovating the foundation, roof and exterior walls.
"One key was the conclusion early on to make sure it was done correctly," Ward said.
In 1989, Bill Kelso, director of archaeology at Monticello, took a two-year leave of absence to design and establish the excavation program at Poplar Forest. Following him in 1992 was Barbara Heath, acting director of archaeology at Monticello.
by CNB