The Piedmont Hotel

The Piedmont Hotel



In January of 1860, Benjamin Wilkes apparently decided to set Leyburn up in the hotel business in Lynchburg. It is possible that he felt sorry for Leyburn, who had lost his shirt in the Peaks of Otter business, or just was determined to see Leyburn be successful at something.

On the 25th of that month a bond (deed book W, p. 86) was recorded in Lynchburg for the following “loan” of furnishings from Benjamin to Leyburn to outfit the Piedmont Hotel near the depot of the Virginia and Tennessee railroad:

60 bedsteads
90 pair of blankets
120 spreads
150 pair of sheets
60 bolsters
120 pillows
240 pillow slips
30 bowls and pitchers
30 cooking (?) glasses
60 window shades
48 wash stands and tables
15 dozen chairs
2 sofas
Carpet for 26 rooms and intro passes
15 dinning tables

Benjamin reserved the right to remove the furnishings at any time during the three-year period of the loan. He obviously had his doubts as to whether Leyburn could handle the chore of running a major hotel, or at least wanted to exercise total control over the assets. There were no conditions placed on Benjamin’s right to revoke the deed. Leyburn clearly had to keep the old man happy.