Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-07-26
The Home of Jefferson.

Crjab P. Levy, the owner Of more than
e. coo. coo worth OF real estate in this
city, where he IS now prachcing lswy er.
In response 10 questions by reporter OF
the Sun, Mr.. Levy said: Monilte clio
comprises 223 acres in Aibemarle County,
Virginia. it is on tie Chesapeake and
Ohio Railroad, and the Midland, Virginia
md Great Southern Railroad, three miles
from the University Town OF Chsrlottes-
vile. 10 miles from Washington, and
ninety-slx miles from Richmond. AT the
foot of the mountain runs the Riyans
River. which Jefferson used to call the
muddy stream IL Is mountainous
place, $50 feet above the level OF Char
lottesville, snd 500 feet above the sea. III
is ON a spur of the Blue Ridge Mountains,
and is surrounded by other spurs. In clear
weather the view is magnificent, and
Willis Mountain, eighty miles distant, IS
MAINLY visible. Monticello was com
menced by jefferson in 1894. by levelling
off the apex of mountain. The house,
which is of brics and stone 10 The Dorlc
and Ionic style of architecture, was built
IN I77I, The shape OF the house and lis
attachments Is that oil three sides OF a
square. The central or maIn building Is
l25 feet by 100. The wings extend 100
feet. and there are galleries running 10 the
colored peoples quarters and carriage
house, about 200 feet long, Thete CALLER
les are somewhat on the plan of the sub
terranean passages built by jerome Bona
parte at Bordentown, y. j., only more
expensive -oo ooo
Mr.. Jefferson spent more than s400, 600
in constructing and beautlfylng thls place,
and it's care and cost we're very great
burden to him. The house contains
thirty five rooms. In front it has the ap
pearauce of low building, but the rear is
yery high. There is grand entrance
hall. a saloon fitted with Louis NV. glass,
a ball room, a dining room, tea-room
and breakiasi-room. Two CT the rooms
are known as the Madison and Monroe
rooms on account Of their frequent occu-
nancy by them on their long vsts 10 MI
Jefferson. On each side Of the mantel-
pieces In the grand dining-rcom are little
dumb walters, on which food and Drink
were sent up from the Kitchen and cel.ars-
The ballroom is large Totunda, md there
are galleries for pictures. At the front OF
the house are columns. SIX feet high, sup
porting the east ard west portico. IEe
ceilings in the grand saloons are twenty
seven feet high.
The graveyard where Jefersou's body
lies is about /. 200 feet from the house, on
a slope OF the mountsin. The spot was Sc
lscted by jefferson himself when lie AMI
Dspuey Carr were schOolmates together
They determined that both should be bur
led there. When Dabney Carr died Jeffer-
sen was in France, but on his return he
found that Cars remains had been buried
Mt Shadwell. Mr.. jefferson had them re-
moved to Monticello. That was the origin
of the family bUryng ground jefferson
at his death left written directions Tor his
burial there. He gave special directions
for the size and shape Of his monument.
In the same graveyard lie the bodies OF his
wife. Mrs. Eppes, Mrs. Martha Jane Ram
delrh, his daughter, Col. Thomas Jefferson
Randolph, his grandson, and those OF
many of the families of the Dukes, Kan
dolpbs. Ruffins, and ,ther relatives
Dir. Jefflrson's monument at present Is
a plain obelisR six feet g3, mounted on
bust four feet nigh, 1t Is Of New Hamp-
stlre granite. lime and the sandal zeal
of relic hunters have maued the monu-
ment somewhat, tut it is 81 on TO be re-
placed by an, ther. Congress recently ap-
proprlaled $40, coo to purchase new
monument. winch Is beng conStTuc ed
under the supern eudency Of l. cut -COl
Casey, A former appropriation oi $4,000
was not carried out because il WAS cup I'd
l.T Slpfs-H l.
lInuuish tile 20 the plot. Inc last appTo-
priatlon wus rot coupled with any such
conditions.
Monticello was purchased soon after Mr.
Jeffersons death, II 1928, by the late
Flec Officer of the United states Navy,
Commodore Unah p. Levy. The story
goes that President jackson sent for Com
modore Levy and SAID, MOntlcelio'ls for
sale, and want you 10 buy It, and the
Commodore said, 1 always oi'ey my SUI
perlor officer and went and bought 1t.
There has not been any want of care OF
reverence for the memory OF jefferson II
the hclding of the place, except that,
during the Rebellion, some yancals carried
off a large part OF the movable property.
But both Commodore Levy and the present
owner, his nephew, have sought 10 pre-
serve the place and contents as nearly as
possible as Mr.. jefferson tt them The
Commodore had great reference Tor 1ir-
Jefferson, and, IN 1884, presented to the
United States statue Of Jefferson, by the
celebrated French sculptor David. This
statue cost $40, GOO, and rep slned thirty
wears in the grounds surrounding the Ex-
ecutive Mansion. During Grani's S Admin
istration II was removed, by act OF Co..
sress, to the rotunda of tue old House oi
Representatives, ID Statue Hall, where II
now remains. A cast OF this bust was
presented tn the city of New York. II
now stands IN the Governor room. There
was q copy also at Monticello.
During the War the rebels advertised
Honucello for ssle, on September q, 1864.
At the same time they advertised Buck
Island for sale lhis was also the property
OF Commodore Levy, and Was c0niiscated
by the Confederate Government on The
ground that the Commodore was an alien
enemy. There were then about 5fty
slaves on the place, the descendants of the
slaves that Jeffgrson owned. The real e.
tate property was bought by MIR. FIcklin
for SS5, 600, Confederate money. The
personal property was scattered far and
wide among hundred purchasers. who
took the opportunity to get mementoes Of
jefferson. The rebels cut a good deal OF
timber from the Buck Island property. but
respected Monticello enough not to mar II
much. They left the famous old towe-
clock that jefferson built with its 13O
pound cannon balls for weights. The
Louis XVI. mirrors in the saloon were left.
and the famous old gig IN which Jtferson
rode to Philadelphia to sign the Declaration
of Independence. They left also some
chars and tables and a so ID many fixtures.
When Mr.. Jefferson N. Levy inherited
the property fIoEl his uncle. he set ahou
recovering the valuable memeno O. If JET
ferscn. He advertised extensively that he
would pay fair pricss for the return Of any
of the articles, and IN tins way he re-
covered many. The sale OF the real estate
was not recognized at the close OF the War.
so that Mr. Fi1hlin did lot make very
profitable purchase. OF course. Mr. Levy
hod the same right TO reclaim the personal