RESCUE BEGINS FOR LAST ADJACENT LAND
Poplar Forest Newsletter, Spring 2005

In a dramatic move to forestall imminent development of Jefferson's last adjacent undeveloped acres as a shopping center, the Corporation for Jefferson's Poplar Forest secured a loan to buy the time to rescue the land Jefferson knew as his "Lower Field".

"It is now or never.  It is up to our generation to decide how much of Thomas Jefferson's retreat will survive for future generations to experience," said Judith Schulz, Board Chairman.  "His Lower Field clearly should be part of that heritage."

Jefferson's Lower Field, along Tomahawk Creek, is clearly delineated on the 1813 plat drawn by Joseph Slaughter.  It abuts the site of Jefferson's prize barn where his tobacco crop was packed into barrels for shipment to market.  The nonprofit corporation had purchased the archaeological site of the prize barn three years ago. 

"What makes the Lower Field so important is that it is an integral part of the heart of Jefferson's retreat.  But its location today also positions it to play a strategically key role as the setting for the future tourism infrastructure needed for this National Landmark," said Schulz.  Today, Poplar Forest is land-locked in a maze of subdivision roads designed for a residential neighborhood.  "Because the Lower Field today is adjacent to the new road known as Enterprise Drive, it is possible to use part of this land for an entrance that is both far easier for the public to access and ideal for providing the experience of traveling into the agricultural environment of Jefferson's 19th century plantation retreat."

In recent years the Lower Field was divided into two tracts totaling 72 acres.  Both halves were being marketed by Lynchburg's Industrial Development Authority for industrial use until the city's interest changed to commercial.  The total cost of both halves is $3 million - $2.4 million for the commercially prime east half fronting on Enterprise Drive, and $600,000 for the west half behind it.  Developers were vying for the east half for a shopping center development when the nonprofit made its successful bid to purchase it.  

The Corporation first took title to the west half which is important to effective educational use of the adjacent prize barn site, the hub of Jefferson's tobacco-farming operation.  In November the nonprofit obtained title to the east half.