ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Friday, July 5, 1996                   TAG: 9607050098
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: B-1  EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MICHAEL CROAN STAFF WRITER 

ON THE 4TH, A TOUCH OF JEFFERSON

PEOPLE GATHERED AT Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest to hear patriotic readings that originated from the third president's pen.

``May it be finally to all the signal rousing men to burst the chains under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings and security of self-government."

Thomas Jefferson penned those words in reference to his most quoted document, the Declaration of Independence, more than 170 years ago in what historians believe was his last letter.

On the 170th anniversary of Jefferson's death and the 220th anniversary of American independence, they were read aloud again - echoing off the trees and hills that filled the back yard of Jefferson's Poplar Forest in Bedford County.

The reading was the highlight of the eighth annual Independence Celebration at Poplar Forest, a celebration that featured arts and crafts demonstrations, entertainment and several family-oriented activities. But at the end of the reading, not even a cannon blast could break the crowd's silence, which came seemingly out of respect for the document and its impact on the formation of a nation.

"I mean, the greatest document of freedom in the world, and at this place," remarked Roger Dowdy, who read the document to the crowd while dressed in Colonial gear. "There's a tremendous basic respect, even among the young children."

Dowdy said he gets a little choked up every time he reads the document, in spite of the two readings he gave Thursday and others at the last three Independence Celebrations from Jefferson's personal retreat.

"The mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately by the grace of God," Dowdy read from Jefferson's letter dated June 24, 1826.

"When you think about what a risk these men were taking, they were going against Great Britain and King George," the Lynchburg resident and Poplar Forest tour guide said. "Would we be brave enough to do that if we found ourselves under a tyrant?''

The holiday celebration, filled with historical significance, held the interest of all age groups.

"One of the nicest things about this festival is seeing all these families out here together, having a good time," said Janet Shaffer of Lynchburg.

Shaffer, a tour guide at Poplar Forest for the last nine years, said the added variety in the festival makes it more appealing to more people.

"It's just a better festival every year," she said.

"It started up as a local [festival], and now I think it's more regional," said Poplar Forest Director of Interpretation Sheryl Kingery. "We try to convey to people what was going on when Jefferson would come down here."

For Kingery and other members of the nonprofit Corporation for Jefferson's Poplar Forest, that meant setting up numerous displays of Colonial life, including basket-weaving, candle-making, horseshoe-making, wool-spinning, barrel-making, Colonial dancing, period clothing, Colonial military drumming, period music, storytelling and more.

There were Holstein dairy cows to watch, a calf to pet, and several Merino sheep on display. Wagon rides, Colonial games and even face-painting helped keep children and parents happy.

"What's going on here are things that would be going on at a primarily Colonial festival," said Annie Eagan, Poplar Forest's director of marketing and public relations.

It's nice "getting people out, getting people interested," Kingery said. "They learn history, but they have a good time, too."

LENGTH: Medium:   76 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  DON PETERSEN/Staff. 1. Colonial-costumed dancers from 
          the Virginia Academy of Historic Dance entertain onlookers Thursday 
          at Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest in Bedford County. 2. Decked out
          in period clothing, Roger Dowdy of Lynchburg reads the Declaration 
          of Independence. color. 3. Anne Carter MacPherson of Lynchburg and 
          son Eric, 6, listen to the reading of the Declaration of 
          Independence.