The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1916-05-06
THE WHITE HOUSE
Its Architectural Restoration by
Charles Folien Mckim.
VAST CHANGES WERE MADE

Upon Even the Minutsst pstaiis-A
Criticism and q Story.
The White House, the work of the
architect James Hoban. burned by the
pleted by Hoban about 1880. remained
with little change In It's condition un-
I'll about 1865. From this period un.
til the administration OF Theodore
Roosevelt there were constant changes
in the Interior. made on authority Of
the presidential resident. which de-
stroyed the fitness and dignity Of this
beautiful building.
Roosevelt soon after he became pres
ident selected Charles Follen 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. remov-
ing the presidents public offices from
the residence to q separate structure.
restoring the interior from the ground
to the roof and refurnishing the prin-
cipal floor.
While McKim was maturing his de-
signs and the drawings were being
made the building as 1t existed from
the ground to the roof WINS being torn
out. leaving only the walls. windows
and upper floors.
AS the work progressed McKim
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 us 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 thoss
most appropriate.
The new holdings threw cornice or.
numents md the center out Of scale.
and these had to be removed and 9th.
crs secured after several trials before
he was satisfied with the room a. q
harmonious composition.
1t WINS necessary to build structure
for the public office separate from the
residence. McI<im determined to place
this at the end of the west terrace.
making 1t one story In height. no high
er than the terrace. thus making It In
every way subordinate to the main
building. While he considered 1t
temporary building, 1t contained all the
Office rooms needed for the conduct Of
the presidents business McKim's hope
was that an adequate office building.
with stately apartments. for diplomat.
ic md other functions might be built
some time in the near 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 1t did not com
pete with the White House and was so
simple in Its design.
At a private dinner in Washington.
among some dozen guests, Mckim and
. government official were present
The official began TO beiittle and to
ridicuie the office building Of the presi-
dent. McEfm said:
1.-THE conversation reminds me Of an
afternoon in St Gaudens studio
some years ago. The wonderful stat.
exhibition. and lady handsomely
dressed and stately In carriage came
in. retired. and st. Gaudens car.
ried her iu to see the statue. After q
short time st. Gaudens returned
with cheerful c0untenance and wills
thing merrily. said. Well. Gus, /
know she must have been pleased with
the stntue. us you are so gay NO.
he said: she did not like It. II she had
would have known 1t was bad"
A broad smile ran around the table.
The official Atiffened 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
hing study Of Italian and of the Geor.
gian adaptation Of Italian renaissance
made him the ideal man for its res
tOration again into dignifed resi-.
dence for the president of democratic
nation.-Glenn Brown In Architectural
Record