FIXING UP THE OLD GOVERNOR’S MANSION!
Frequent toilet overflows, asbestos and lead paint in the historic Governor’s Mansion will be among the problems addressed when the residence undergoes a $10 million renovation set
to begin this fall. Gov. Rick Perry and wife, Anita, will move out of the 150-year old home for the duration of the project, which could take up to a year and a half. The Perrys have not yet settled on their new residence, but state law requires that he live in Austin while governor, spokesman Robert Black said. Rent for the Perrys was factored into the $10 million estimate.
Tere O’Connell, a preservation architect working on the project, said historic construction materials, like the hearty long leaf pine around the windows, would be preserved. Much of the wood is rotting and would continue to do so without renovations, she said.
“If we were to lose it, it really would be a tragedy because you can’t find wood like that anymore,” she said.
All of the plumbing also will be replaced, including some pipes that have been in use since 1914.
The home is designated a National Historic Landmark and is the oldest continuously occupied executive residence west of the Mississippi River, the fourth oldest in the nation and the oldest
to survive and function in its original form.
The majestic two-story mansion was built in 1856 in the Greek Revival style popular at the time.
