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Issue 40: 54 Years Ago: County Purchases Leesburg Inn for Office Space

photo of historic Leesburg Inn
 The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors took steps to address a shortage of county government office and meeting space 54 years ago, on October 5, 1953, when it completed the purchase of the Leesburg Inn.

The building had served as a hotel for many years at its site on North King Street
in Leesburg, adjacent to the courthouse square.

On August 18, 1953, the Board voted unanimously to purchase the hotel building and land from Mr. and Mrs. S. W. Keesee for $76,000, and directed the County Treasurer to sell bonds to cover the purchase price.

After the sale closed in October, members of the Board held an informal meeting at the Inn to look over the property, and to discuss office space needs with other county officials.

The Loudoun Times-Mirror quoted Chairman Irvey W. Baker as saying he was “very well pleased” with the purchase. “There is plenty of room,” he said. “A little more room than we need at this time, but the county is growing, and I don’t know where we could get so much room for the money we paid for it.”

Initial plans called for a meeting room, Trial Justice Court, and Health office on the first floor; and the County Agent, Home Demonstration Agent, Welfare office, Soil Conservation office, and additional Health Department offices on the second floor.

The Leesburg Inn building housed county offices for about two decades. By 1969, the building was falling into a state of disrepair. It was reported that plaster had fallen from the ceiling in several offices, and the County Engineer told the Board that the second and third floors were unsafe.
The county began developing plans for a new county complex, which included razing the old hotel building and replacing it with a new county administration building.

The old hotel building was finally demolished in 1974. A new Loudoun County Administration Building – now part of the courts complex – opened on the site of the old hotel in 1976.

Sources: Loudoun Times-Mirror
 Board of Supervisors Meeting Minutes

Image: Historic Photo of Leesburg Inn


 

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