Preserving the Cunningham Law Office: NHF’s headquarters
September 9, 2008
In 1994, NHF purchased one of Natchitoches’ most storied structures, the old Cunningham Law Office. NHF restored the building and now uses it for its headquarters.
It’s a white clapboard, green shuttered building on the Northwest corner of Second and Trudeau Streets which was built in 1860 by Henry Safford. Interestingly, there are still in place the 36 foot long richly lightered virgin pine sills. They’re still held in place by those wooden pegs and remain as sound as when they were fitted together by hand labor.
Another matter of interest is that five generations of lawyers have occupied that building, including the son of the former owner, W. Payton Cunningham, Jr.
Soon after the building was completed in 1860, Safford sold an undivided half interest in the lot and building to lawyer James Gregg Campbell, the son of the noted lawyer and jurist, J.G Campbell. The sale was for $1,883.44, and the divided ownership lasted 67 years.
Originally, they used white plaster on the walls, but when the building settled and ruined the plaster, they replaced it with twin pine panels. Unique twin chimneys are in the center with fireplaces back-to-back giving all the necessary heat for the offices.
While the law offices were in use, the furnishings consisted of two roll top desks, bookkeeper desk which was a revolving one where the on using it would either stand or sit on a tall stool, and an old plantation desk with tavern chairs. Also there was a collection of old law books, French, English, and Louisiana, along with others pertaining to Louisiana and Natchitoches history. It seemed to be a habit of the lawyer to keep supply of maps of the parish and some Caddo Indian artifacts, and a French flintlock fowling piece plus a sword of circa 1725.
Today, the foundation owns and rents, and preserves this old office building. The rental income gives NHF funds for its other preservation projects projects. The building is also used for NHF board meetings and for special exhibits, such as the mourning exhibit held during the foundation’s annual Sacred Places Tour.
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