Mr. Madison's Temple

This graceful, classical, structure—Mr. Madison's Temple—is used to represent Montpelier. It is a fitting symbol for Madison, encompassing his intelligence and love of the classics, his appreciation of natural beauty, and his understanding of the useful and practical ways of men. For while the Temple is classic in form, and beautiful in its setting, beneath it lies an ice well—two stories deep—that provided the Madisons with cool drinks and ice cream all summer long, a luxury in the 1800s.

Madison's Temple illustrates different sides of James Madison's personality: the visionary choosing the civic architecture of the ancient republic of Rome to symbolize his dreams for the new American republic; and the practical man wanting to serving cool refreshments in summer—the aesthetic beautifying the functional.

The Temple was placed in the north yard so that it could be seen by guests from the north wing roof as they sipped their cool drinks. (A boxwood grove is symmetrically placed in the corresponding location in the south yard.)

The original sketch of Mr. Madison's Temple was made in 1802 by William Thornton, architect of the nation's Capitol, but construction was delayed for at least eight years. Thomas Jefferson, Madison's good friend and colleague, suggested two carpenters—James Dinsmore and John Neilson—for the job of building the temple. They first dug a hole 24-feet deep for the ice well, and spread the earth over what had been the blacksmith shop. Local bricks were used to line the well to the ice house, and the Temple was built on top. The brick columns were covered with stucco so they would resemble the marble columns of ancient Rome.

At the base of the Temple, facing the pond is a small brick arch. This is the top of the original entrance to the ice well; the soil level around it is higher than it was in Madison's day. Today the entrance, which is sealed, is through the floor.

Several ice ponds were scattered around the plantation—one still exists just down the hill to the east of the temple. In winter, a special saw cut the ice into pieces that were then hauled up the hill by horse and wagon. The ice was lowered into the well and packed in straw. Come summer, there was ice for punch or juleps or for making ice cream.

Ice cream then was made in much the same way as we make it in our homes today. Flavoring, sugar, and thick cream were mixed together, poured into a metal container and placed in a bucket filled with ice and salt (ice lasts longer in saltwater). The creamy mix in its icy jacket was stirred, a long, long time, until it turned into ice cream.

"A short walk from the house was a beautiful temple. It was built over the icehouse, which made it very cool; close to it was an immense mulberry tree. This building was intended, but never used for [the President's] study. "

– Mary Cutts, Dolly Madison's niece