Second Restoration Phase, 1998-2009
By 2001, restoration of the house reached a milestone when interior structural restoration was completed. Floors of polished oak replaced the pine boards from the 1840s, the 14 hearths and fireplaces were restored, and the walls for Jefferson’s bed alcove went up.
Now the restoration has entered a new chapter with the start of the finish work. The restoration team is conducting this phase of the restoration in the same sequence as Jefferson's own craftsmen.
Applying plaster to the parlor ceiling. |
In 2002, carpenters prepared for the plaster sequence by installing hand-split strips of wood known as laths on the ceilings and the walls of the bed alcove in Jefferson’s chamber. The gaps provide an anchor for the first coat of plaster.
The masons followed by applying three coats of plaster composed of traditional materials, including horse hair. A lime plaster tutor from the Scottish Lime Centre Trust provided guidance at the start of the project. |
In order to allow for the continued illustration of original construction and modern restoration, Poplar Forest is leaving the two rooms on the east side of the house unfinished. One wall in the east room off the front entryway is being used as an exhibit; it displays the brick nogging used for soundproofing, the laths, and the three layers of plaster.
In spring 2003, masons completed the ceiling plastering and began work on the walls.
Wing brick work |
Outside the octagonal portion of the house, the restoration team is reconstructing the wing of service rooms that housed cooking-related activities. The work began in 2000 as carpenters dismantled the two buildings that had been constructed over the original wing foundation in the 1840s. In January 2001, masons began laying brick to rebuild the wing. With the walls finished, the masons completed rebuilding the kitchen in 2002. Although Jefferson talked of serving “plain plantation fare” at Poplar Forest, his kitchen housed not only the usual oven and hearth but also the more rare set kettle for constant hot water and stew pots for cooking sauces.
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| Now it’s the carpenters turn in the wing once more. Their largest project is framing the roof. They've installed large timber plates on top of the brick walls to help support the roof. They next installed 300-pound joists atop the plates on opposing walls. Several of these joists were carved with channels to channel rain-water off the wing roof. Next, carpenters added blocking to support the ridge joists.
The model of the roof below shows examples of these ridge joists (left) and gutter joists (center). Over the winter, the restoration carpenters completed their work carving the more than 4,000 shingles for the roof. They are now putting up the fascia boards that form part of the entablature of the wing. |
Carving a gutter joist
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Completion of the wing will add greatly to the understanding of Jefferson’s overall architectural design at Poplar Forest as well as accommodate a lift for handicapped visitors. |
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