Poplar Forest carriage turnaround restoration complete – Lynchburg News and Advance

Archaeological and scientific analysis of the original surface determined quartz was the primary material used to pave the carriage turnaround. More than 40,000 quartz fieldstones were donated by Bass Sod Farm in Campbell County to incorporate in the restoration. The surface was laid by expert masons from Charles Funk Masonry of Colonial Heights.

With quartz a plentiful, native rock to the area, the choice of using it for pavement is not surprising, said Eric Proebsting, director of archaeology and landscapes at Poplar Forest. Slaves likely used quartz found in the fields to lay out the carriage circle, he said.

The level of effort that went into creating the [original] carriage road at Poplar Forest was exceptional for this area, Proebsting said.

The carriage turnaround restoration is an extremely significant project for Poplar Forest, he added.

In recreating it, we are able to get inside of Jeffersons design for Poplar Forest and also how he had envisioned for it to be experienced, Proebsting said.

Jefferson, a prolific writer among his other widespread interests, left behind detailed notes about many things, including recorded plans for a carriage turnaround at the White House, as well as one for Monticello, his primary residence in Charlottesville. However, Proebsting said so far no archaeological evidence of such a carriage turnaround has been discovered at Monticello. Poplar Forest is Jeffersons first residence evidenced to bring the design to fruition, he said.

View post:
Poplar Forest carriage turnaround restoration complete - Lynchburg News and Advance