About 80 city officials, teachers, students and community members stepped back in time for a couple of hours Monday to celebrate the city's namesake and America's third president, Thomas Jefferson.
The community celebrated Thomas Jefferson's belated birthday with cake, student presentations and a Thomas Jefferson impersonator at Avenue HQ, at 621 E. Capitol Ave. Organizers and attendees said the celebration honors not only the city's namesake but the Founding Father, who was born April 13, 1743.
"I don't think we would be where we are today if it wasn't for our history and the fact that he had a really big founding part of getting us to where we are today as the U.S. - good or bad, you've got to have both sides of it - but without that history, we would not be who we are today," said Holly Stitt, owner of Avenue HQ.
Earlier this month, students submitted essays and multimedia presentations to a contest asking "Why Thomas Jefferson should matter today." A judging panel selected five winners - Thomas Jefferson Middle School students Maggie Hilty and Kourtney Highfill, Helias High School students Madalynn Berkey and Ben Stumpe, and Simonsen 9th Grade Center student Rani Patel. They received $275 each and busts of Thomas Jefferson.
The five students read their winning essays and showed a multi-media presentation, explaining Thomas Jefferson's role in the country and state, all touching on the Declaration of Independence, Louisiana Purchase, his presidency and the city's namesake. Many of them mentioned while he may have had some flaws, his governance and principles guided the country and helped with the creation of Missouri and Jefferson City.
"He really impacted our society and did a lot of things that just changed the face of the country and what he did, it really moves you if you learn about the message behind what he did," Highfill said.
It's important for the younger generations to learn about the country's history and Founding Fathers, both organizers and students said.
"If we forget how hard they worked, then we won't be thankful for what we have because we've come a long way from British ruling to now," Patel said. "Plus, his love for education was really important. A lot of people don't get to go to school, and we have the right to an education because that's what he believed in."
Thomas Jefferson impersonator Patrick Lee also made an appearance at Monday's event, relaying the Founding Father's "10 Rules of Life" before answering audience members' questions as Thomas Jefferson may have. Donning knickers and jacket, he spoke of the former president's best advice to living a happy life, which includes, "Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today," "Never spend your money before you have it," and "Pride costs us more than hunger, thirst and cold."
Lee also spoke of the three things Thomas Jefferson most wanted to be remembered by, which were written on his tombstone: writing the Declaration of Independence, authoring the Virginia statute for religion freedom and founding the University of Virginia. Lee noted it does not mention he was the nation's third president or his role in the Louisiana Purchase because Thomas Jefferson wanted to be remembered for his services not "items or opportunities that other people had bestowed" on him.
Ward 2 Jefferson City Councilman Rick Mihalevich started a Thomas Jefferson Day committee earlier this year in hopes of having the birthday celebration annually. Many organizers said they were impressed by how quickly the celebration came together since they only started planning a couple of months ago and hoped it would continue for future years.
The city, the Jefferson City Cultural Arts Commission, the Jefferson City News Tribune, the Historic City of Jefferson, Jefferson Bank and Schulte's Fresh Foods sponsored the event.