We weren't able to leave town for our typical Independence Day jaunt this year, so we decided to visit a place just down the road from our house. A mere five miles from our house is the retreat home of Thomas Jefferson, Poplar Forest.
Poplar Forest is a beautiful place with rolling hills, wide open spaces, lots of trees, and Thomas Jefferson's unique architectural stamp on the house that he built there. It looks like a smaller version of Monticello. The large open field behind the house is expansive and was where the Fourth of July festivities took place.
An American Legion honor guard marched down the center of the field toward the house with the flags. They presented the colors just below the rear porch of the Poplar Forest house. A man sang a fantastic rendition of the National Anthem. And then a woman dressed in period garb read the Declaration of Independence after providing some context by way of interesting anecdotes and historical analysis.
There were many period-people scattered around the property showing the visitors how things were done in our nation 200 years ago. The woman pictured here had a delightful presentation style and was very entertaining as she explained to those gathering around how the people worked flax to make material. She had a wealth of stories about Thomas Jefferson, Captain John Smith, and other American heroes. Her whole family was there in their period garb. Her son played a military drum and marched with the color guard when they presented the colors.
We love the festivities here in Lynchburg because they are not so overrun with people that it becomes dangerous and unpleasant. In Washinton, DC, it is so hard to get into the city and then out again that whatever enjoyment you may have when you're actually there tends to be overshadowed by the aggravation of the commute. There are usually many drunks and other unpleasant people to deal with at the big city events as well.
But in Lynchburg, there are always enough people to make it festive, but few enough that they don't get mad at each other and become unpleasant. In fact, David loves to meet the other kids and play with them. He always runs up to us, tells us the name of the person he's just met, and declares, "this is my new best friend." And then the other child beams.
Being photographers, my wife and I have also noticed that the people here in Lynchburg doing something a little different when you point the camera in their direction—they smile. In Washington, DC, people are so afraid of each other that they suspect that you're some sort of stalker if you try to take their picture. Sometimes they get downright nasty about it. And heaven forbid that you try to take a photo of one of their children. If you do, you're likely to end up showing your photos to a police officer and explaining that you're a photographer and are just documenting the event.
As I strolled around the Independence Day event at Poplar Forest, many folks actually directed their children to smile at me when I pointed the camera their way. It makes for some nice photos.
Then we drove home. We didn't wait in any traffic. We didn't get stuck behind accidents or massive merges of too many vehicles. We didn't even get flipped off. Not one time! And we were home within about 10 minutes.
Lynchburg is such a wonderful place. Did I mention I love Lynchburg?
Is this where they have the Renaissance festival? It looks familiar.
ReplyDeleteThe Maryland Renassiance Festival is in Crownsville, Maryland. That's the really good festival. The Virginia festival was held in Fredericksburg, but it is now defunct. I've heard that there are a few other Renaissance festivals around Virginia, but none of them are big.
ReplyDeleteAnd this place (Poplar Forest) is a current archeological dig, so they would not allow such an event to take place on the grounds. Poplar Forest was actually a private residence until 1980 and has been under the influence of the Historical Preservation Society only since around 1988. They are in the process of restoring it to the way it was when Jefferson owned it and used it as a retreat.
We went back today to take additional photographs without the crowds there and we took the tour of the house restoration. It was really interesting and we found some great quotes from Jefferson and some others. I think our nation would be well-served to have such men as our founding fathers around today.
I just saw through Facebook that my nephew has joined a group supporting Barack Obama. I'm demanding a DNA test immediately.
Cindy - I don't know if you ever saw this post, but thought you might find it interesting. It's from our last visit to the Maryland Ren Fest.
ReplyDeleteMaryland Renaissance Festival
I lived about 30 minutes from Crownsville, and I loved that festival. The one they used to have in Lynchburg used to be considered one of the nicest on the East Coast and I've been to that one a couple of times. I learned some Scottish Gaelic at that faire and danced and bought a coat there. I can't believe they don't have it anymore. I used to go to that Southern Maryland one as well. (I used to do Irish set dancing from time to time with that group in Rockville.)
ReplyDeleteThey have a very nice one here in Michigan, but it's pretty pricey. We didn't go at all the past two years.
Wow - I can't believe there was a Renaissance festival right here in Lynchburg and we haven't heard about it. I'm sure it's not held here anymore because we've talked to quite a few folks from around here about the one in Crownsville and none of them have mentioned anything at all about one here in Lynchburg. Many people have seen photos from the Crownsville Renaissance that are hanging on the walls of our home. And a couple families have even accepted a tentative invitation to take the trek to Crownsville with us this year.
ReplyDeleteOf course, maybe none of our friends here even knows about the Lynchburg one. The church we attend here is very, very conservative and these folks may have been shielded from the terrible cleavage revealing event lest they discover that the difference between men and women may have actually been something that God intended.
Hows that for a segue to something completely off topic?
Cindy - it just dawned on me that Poplar Forest may very well be the place where they held those festivals - if they were prior to 1984. This was a private residence until 1980 and they didn't begin archeological studies or historical reconstruction until 1984. So if you attended prior to that time, it may very well have been there.
ReplyDeleteAlthough there are many, many places around Lynchburg that would be well suited to such an event. There are trees and field everywhere. Not at all like DC.