The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1910-04-30
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BUILT By MONS LE//ZRSlV

Built By MONS .H//[RSOW LII
vous for statesmen, but this stately IlR
mansion, designed and built well III
as occupied by Thomas Jefferson I
stands to-day in perfect state OF
preservation, the finest remaining ex- n
ample of the old southern plantation IN
manor house of the colonial period. lbs
This noble seat. which ranked
the most imposing in Virginia at XIX
period when the Old Dominion was lE
dotted over with baronial holdings. -
Is situated in the broken and pictur- ) fwI
esque Piedmont region and is reached I lM1j
from the quaint little city of Char \ l@sxxa
lottesville via winding road that has
sharp incline. En- route to the emf
nence on which the mansion stands
the visitor passes the tomb In the
woods where repose the remains of -
the famous master of Monticello. LDDGI
The nucleus of Thomas Jeffersons
Virginia estate he inherited from his
father. the tract comprising some 1000 acres.
At that time "the best highlands of Albemarle"
we're rated as worth not more than 50 per acre.
but the earning capacity of the property is indi-
Gated by the fact that from the outset it Melted
Jefferson not less than $4,000 a year. The found
er Of the Democratic party gradually increased
his holdings and in the year 1774 possessed
more than 5000 acres. Then several fine farms
came to him as his wife's dover and thus the
period of the Revolution found him one of the
richest landed proprietors in the south.
Jefferson chose as the site of his home the
crest OF hill which he designated Monticello.
the Italian for Little Mountain. Assuredly no
more beautiful or inspiring location could be
imagined and veteran travellers all agree that the
magnificent panorama which lies spread out be-
fore the gaze of the observer on this height is
unsurpassed anywhere in the world The little
mn pfaiu fho IF uhic Io6a
his residence is $50 feet high and in the form
of cone. 1t slopes eastward one and onehalf
miles to the Rivanna river.
Jenerson's birthplace is in sight of the por-
tico at Monticello. Seemingly almost directly
below is the University of Virginia. which was
founded by Jefferson President Monroe lived
eight miles down the valley and the home Of
President Madison was but few miles north.
incidentally 1t may be mentioned in passing that
these three ex-presidents of the United States
assembled at Monticello to welcome Lafayette on
the Occasion of his visit to the United States.
From the cupola of his mansion Jefferson could
gaze upon IL of the richest counties of Virginia
and in direction the view extends to the
Blue Ridge mountains. nearly so miles away.
The top of the hill which Jefferson had desig-
mated Monticello he had leveled of for build
ing site. 600 by 200 feet in size. On this he
erected his spacious mansion. which, with its
letter E. The center of the letter is the man.
sion proper. while extending from it in positions
corresponding to the arms of the
are wings. the fat roofs of which form prone
nades. The arrangement of the house in far
as these wings or colonnades are concerned is
very similar to that OF the restored White House
at Washington in the designing of which Jeffer-
son had hand.
The mansion at Monticello is of the Doric or
der of Grecian architecture, with heavy cornices
and massive balustrades. The interior is in the
Ionic style and 1t must be admitted that there
is little about this magnificent home suggestive
Of Jefersonian simplicity The front hall re-
cedes six feet within the wall of the building
and portico projects about 25 feet. with stone
pillars and steps.
In the interior the hall or main room of the
house extends to the full height of the building
and is typical Of the spaciousness of the house
There is gallery under the ceiling where the
ladies' of the household could observe all that
went on at the receptions which Jefferson fire.
luently gave and where the band was stationed
when he gave ball Opening from this hall are
he salon or drawing room. the library, where JEFF
erson housed the major portion of his famous
collection OF $4,000 books. the dining room and