The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1916-06-02
The WHITE HOUSE
Its Architectural Restoration by
Charles FoIlen Mckim.
VAST CHANGES WE'RE MADE.

The Interior Was Practically Remade,
and the Greatest Care Was Bestowed
Upon Even the Minutost Details-A
Criticism and a Story.
The White House, the work OF the
architect James Hoban, burned by the
British in 1892 and restored and COM
pleted by Hoban about 1880, remained
with little change in it's condition I'M
til about 1865. From this period I'M
til the administration of Theodore
Roosevelt there were constant changes
In the interior, made on authority or
the presidential resident, which de-
stroyed the fitness and dignity of this
beautiful building.
Roosevelt soon after he became pres
ident selected Charles Fo1len McKim
to restore instead of to enlarge the
building.
McKim gave his whole attention to
design, from the broadcast principles
controlling the relations and unity be-
tween the larger elements of halls and
rooms down to the minutest details of
mantels stucco ornaments and light
ing fixtures.
The broad principles of the work
consisted in restoring the terrace on
the east removed during Grants ad-
ministration; removing the green
houses and propagating beds, remoy-
ing the presidents public offices from
the residence to separate structure,
restoring the interior from the ground
to the roof and refurnishtng the prin-
cipal floor.
While McKim was maturing his de-
signs and the drawings were being
made the building as it existed from
the ground to the roof was being torn
out, leaving only the walls, windows
and upper floors.
AS the work progressed McKtm
gave each detail his attention as it
went into place. He did not hesitate,
although the time was SO limited, to
alter or change details which he found
did not appear just as he had expected.
This seeking the best results was
well illustrated in finishing the private
dining room. The nodded panels and
cornices of this room Mckim thought
were too coarse In scale when he saw
them on the wall. He had portions
of them made more delicate. New
holdings were made and put up, then
others, until he finally selected those
most appropriate.
The new holdings threw cornice or
naments and the center out of scale,
and these had to be removed and 9th
ers secured after several trials before
he was satisfied with the room as a
harmonious composition.
1t was necessary to build n structure
for the public office separate from the
residence. McKim determined to place
this at the end of the west terrace,
making it one story in height, no high
or than the terrace, thus making it In
every way subordinate to the main
building. While he considered it a
temporary building, it contained all the
office rooms needed for the conduct of
the presidents business. NJ cKim's hope
was that an adequate office building,
with stately apartments, for diplomat
ic and other functions might be built
some time in the ne6r future facing
the capitol at the executive mansion
end of the avenue. thus restoring the
original idea of reciprocity of sight be-
tween the executive and Legislative
branches of the government
This one story Office building was
much ridiculed because it did not COM
pete with the White House and was so
simple in its design.
At private dinner in washington,
among some dozen guests, McKim and
a government official were present
ne ohicldl began 10 D0l1ftle and to
ridieule the office building of the presi-
dent. McKim said:
THE conversation reminds me of an
afternoon in st. Gaudens' studio
some years ago. The wonderful stat
lie of Farragut. just finished, was on
exhibition, AID a lady handsomely
dressed and stately in carriage came
i'll. | retired. and st. Gaudens car
ried her in to see the statue. After
short time st. Gaudons returned
with cheerful countenance and whis-
Ting merrily. l said, Well, Gus. /
know she must have been pleased with
the statue as you are so gay No.
he said; she did not like 1T If she had
would have known it was bad"
A broad smile ran around the table
The official stiffened up, but finally
gave way and Joined in the laugh.
McKim's refinement, good taste.
keen appreciation OF the beauty of the
OLD White House, together with his
long study of Italian and of the Geor-
Sian adaptation of Italian Renaissance.
made him the ideal man for its res
lorat1on again into a dignified resi-
uence for the president of a democratic
nation.-Glenn Brown in Architectural
Record.