Evening star., 1963-04-15
ADisoppeoring Kitchen Is Feature
BY MARY L. VAUGHAN
Star Home FURNISHINGS Writer


A disappearing kitchen in
q home converted from a
more than l00-year-old law
office will be one Of the fas-
cinating points Of interest in
the group of eight Leesburg
houses and estates open to
the public during Virginia's
Historic Garden Week, April
81, % and %.
The charming brick house
served for many generations
as a law office on Cornwall
street in Leesburg for q sue
cession of the towns most
prominent attorneys.
1t was made into q home
BY Attorney william j. Cox,
who kept the traditional at
mosphere while overseeing its
conversion to a modern-day
nveable house.
The homes front door, on
the street, opens into o tiny
hall running back to an out
side terrace with a door cut
through. The original mar
row stairway was converted
with a series Of cupboards
built-in underneath from
stair to floor, set flush with
the staircase.
Two large rooms, one OPEN
ing on the other, comprise
the downstairs from front to
back. They are separated by
floor to ceiling double doors
that open out or can close
off the areas completely.
The rear room contains
many built-in shelves. one
case displaying Mr.. Cox's coll
lection Of coral and shells.
The length of the long wall
holds sliding floor to ceiling
stained pine doors that roll
back to reveal an up-to-date
sink, oven, range and cup
boards for food and dish
storage. The house also re-
veals other decorating ideas
including the vinyl flooring
that looks like large bricks
in the Kitchen" office
room. Original wide flooring
was kept In the living room
and the one upstairs bed
room.
The law office originally
was built by Leesburg's Rich
ard Henderson about 1920.
Mr.. Henderson was an out
standing lawyer in that COM
munity more than 100 years
ago.
He was q prominent mem
Der Of the local committee
formed in 1925 in Leesburg
to handle details of cere-
monies there honoring Gen.
Lafayette's visit. The famed
French visitor was accompa-
MED by President John Quin-
cy Adams on the occasion
when both were received by
the then former President
James Monroe at his nearby
Oak Hill estate.
An elaborate procession Of
carriages conveying the hon.
ored guest and other digni-
taries from Oak Hill to Lees
burg was escorted by local
troops Of Cavalry and Ar
tillery.
Richard Henderson, builder
OF the lovely Georgian law
office. rode In the carriage
with Gen. Lafayette and
President Adams on the his
toric trek. q
Following Mr.. Henderson /
as owner was another prom
i1ent Leesburg lawyer, John
Janney. member of a we'll
known family Of the area.
He was one Of two delegates
elected to represent the peo-
pie of Loudoun County at
Virginia's Secession Conven-
ton held in Richmond in
April, 1861. Mr.. Janney, who
had studied law under Attor-
ney Henderson, was elected
chairman of the convention.
Both men lived in the large
brick house adjoining the law
office, now painted a match
ing, quiet gray shade. Mr..
Cox's son, Mr.. Thomas E.
Cox, now lives in the large
house with his family, which
also will be open on the
house and garden tour.
A folder giving all details
OF the tour with a map and
travel directions is available
through the American Auto
mobile Association here or
the Virginia Travel Bureau.
l7l6 H street NV.