Cedars History - From Original Henderson Family
History of “The Cedars,” Williamsburg, Virginia
Background: On or about 1928 T. Brantley Henderson, M.D. had a sunstroke while playing golf in Goldsboro, N.C. Fortunately, he had an insurance policy which paid him $500. per month while he was unable to practice medicine. Since 3 of his 7 children would be in college he decided to move to Williamsburg, VA in 1931, where they could attend William & Mary, and where he could resume his practice when his health permitted. In 1932 during the “Great Depression,” he voluntarily surrendered his insurance policy back to the company which paid him $14,000 and he resumed his practice. Only several months later, the insurance company failed.
Design: In 1933 Dr. Henderson purchased the site on Jamestown Road with its large space behind filled with cedar trees and employed George Anner, with the Colonial Williamsburg architectural department, to design a brick Colonial-type home to be known as “The Cedars” with 7 bedrooms and 3 baths including den, side screened porch, space for a large family room in the basement, and a 3-car garage with unfinished space above for a future apartment.
Materials: The home was to be built with the best available materials including brick walls on tile, a slate shingle roof, all copper piping and gutters. The used brick were purchased at 2 cents each (to be hauled away and cleaned by the purchaser) from the Wren Building at the College of William and Mary when it was restored by John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
Construction: The contractor was Ben Painter of Williamsburg and the total contract was in the amount of $12,000. The brickwork was by the master bricklayer Jake Shinholser of Toano and the contractor’s carpenters and the bricklayer’s were paid the prevailing depression wage of 10 cents per hour.
Residence: It was the happy home of the Henderson Family until most of the children were either married or away at school. In l938 Dr. Henderson sold the home for $38,000 to two ladies who converted the residence into a “Tourist Home,” and they added 2 baths to the second floor, finished an 8th bedroom on the 3rd floor, completed the family room in the basement, and finished an apartment over the 3-car garage.
To-Day: “The Cedars” at 616 Jamestown Road, Williamsburg, Virginia 23185 is well-known as the largest and finest Bed & Breakfast accommodations in the Colonial Williamsburg area (Telephone 800-296-3591.
Horace E. Henderson
Son of Dr. T. Brantley and Maude Duke Henderson
January 21, 2003
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