West Virginia Governor's Mansion
Encyclopedia
The West Virginia Governor's Mansion (or West Virginia Executive Mansion) is a historic residence located next to the Kanawha River
in Charleston
, West Virginia
and is the official residence of the Governor of West Virginia.
The Colonial Revival
(Georgian Revival) building was completed during 1925 by Charleston architect Walter F. Martens and is part of the West Virginia Capitol Complex
, which also includes the West Virginia State Capitol
. The building itself has a red brick exterior, with a columned portico
at the entrance. The foyer was inspired by the White House
, with checkered black-and-white marble flooring and dual staircases. The first floor of the mansion includes the drawing room
, ballroom, state dining room, library, and a sitting room. The second floor houses the governor's own rooms, as well as those of his family, while additional bedrooms are on the third floor. In all, the structure has 30 rooms. The mansion also features walled gardens, a separate garage, and servant quarters.
The total cost of the mansion, including land, construction, and furnishings, was approximately $203,000 at the time of its construction.
created a seven-member "Capitol Building Commission". On July 23 of that year, Cass Gilbert
was chosen to direct construction for the new complex, which was to include a capitol building as well as an executive mansion. The location for the complex was chosen on December 20, 1921. Groundbreaking for the complex occurred on January 7, 1924, and the entire state capitol building was completed during 1932. Three parcels of land for the actual mansion were acquired on July 7, 1921, at a cost of $64,270, and construction began during 1924 and ended during 1925. The work was overseen by local architect Walter F. Martens, but he was not greatly involved in the design of the neighboring capitol building. Compared to Gilbert, who was already an accomplished architect, Martens had less experience and had never worked on a project of this size. However, Martens had traveled to New York
to talk with Gilbert about designs for the project, and both had similar ideas for the building's Georgian style. Martens also traveled to see the White House, which was to be a model for the new mansion. His visit allowed him to learn how to create a floor plan
able to accommodate heavy traffic of guests, as many as 2,000 visitors at once.
The building's first occupant, Ephraim F. Morgan
, who had first proposed to the state the construction of a new residence, only lived in the new mansion for one week because his term expired during 1925. During 1926, servant's quarters were added atop a garage, along with private gardens. Since its completion, the mansion has had several redecorations, including one during 1937 and one during 1958. The original building plans for the mansion included a third story, but one was not added until much later, during 1946. Before this addition, the second floor had been covered with a roof composed of tin, but it was replaced by one made of slate.
From 1965–1969, during the term of Hulett C. Smith
, the mansion underwent a thorough renovation process, with a total of $300,000 spent in both structural improvements and historic preservation efforts. In 1985, during Governor Arch Moore
's third term, First Lady Shelley Moore
established the West Virginia Mansion Preservation Foundation, which raised funds for the maintenance of the mansion's interior and furnishings. Later, during 2005, Governor Joe Manchin
found structural defects for repairing and remodeling the mansion. Their efforts, which cost an estimated $1.2 million, used both leftover campaign money as well as private funds. During 2006, the addition of a large banquet hall was proposed. The hall, which would be able to hold 335 guests, would be connected to the mansion and also have barracks for the governor's security personnel
in its basement. Later that year, in July, it was announced that the total cost of renovations to the building had exceeded $3 million, excluding furnishings.
Kanawha River
The Kanawha River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately 97 mi long, in the U.S. state of West Virginia. The largest inland waterway in West Virginia, it has formed a significant industrial region of the state since the middle of the 19th century.It is formed at the town of Gauley...
in Charleston
Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
and is the official residence of the Governor of West Virginia.
The Colonial Revival
Colonial Revival architecture
The Colonial Revival was a nationalistic architectural style, garden design, and interior design movement in the United States which sought to revive elements of Georgian architecture, part of a broader Colonial Revival Movement in the arts. In the early 1890s Americans began to value their own...
(Georgian Revival) building was completed during 1925 by Charleston architect Walter F. Martens and is part of the West Virginia Capitol Complex
West Virginia Capitol Complex
The West Virginia Capitol Complex is a historic district located along Kanawha Blvd., E., in Charleston, West Virginia. It dates from 1925 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974....
, which also includes the West Virginia State Capitol
West Virginia State Capitol
The West Virginia State Capitol is the seat of government for the state of West Virginia, and houses the West Virginia Legislature and the office of the Governor of West Virginia. Located in Charleston, West Virginia, the building was dedicated in 1932...
. The building itself has a red brick exterior, with a columned portico
Portico
A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls...
at the entrance. The foyer was inspired by the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
, with checkered black-and-white marble flooring and dual staircases. The first floor of the mansion includes the drawing room
Drawing room
A drawing room is a room in a house where visitors may be entertained. The name is derived from the sixteenth-century terms "withdrawing room" and "withdrawing chamber", which remained in use through the seventeenth century, and made its first written appearance in 1642...
, ballroom, state dining room, library, and a sitting room. The second floor houses the governor's own rooms, as well as those of his family, while additional bedrooms are on the third floor. In all, the structure has 30 rooms. The mansion also features walled gardens, a separate garage, and servant quarters.
The total cost of the mansion, including land, construction, and furnishings, was approximately $203,000 at the time of its construction.
History
The first West Virginia Governor's Mansion was bought by the state during 1893 from a private company, using $22,000 appropriated by the state with the help of outgoing governor A. B. Fleming. The first governor to live in this mansion was William MacCorkle, who succeeded Fleming. The building, a large, wooden, white, two-story structure in the Queen Anne style, was built originally as a private residence for local merchants. It served eight different governors, from 1893–1925. Prior to its purchase, governors of West Virginia were responsible for their own housing. A fire on January 3, 1921 resulted in the destruction of the old state capitol building in Charleston. As a result, a 1921 session of the West Virginia LegislatureWest Virginia Legislature
The West Virginia Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of West Virginia. A bicameral legislative body, the Legislature is split between the upper Senate and the lower House of Delegates. It was established under Article VI of the West Virginia Constitution following the state's...
created a seven-member "Capitol Building Commission". On July 23 of that year, Cass Gilbert
Cass Gilbert
- Historical impact :Gilbert is considered a skyscraper pioneer; when designing the Woolworth Building he moved into unproven ground — though he certainly was aware of the ground-breaking work done by Chicago architects on skyscrapers and once discussed merging firms with the legendary Daniel...
was chosen to direct construction for the new complex, which was to include a capitol building as well as an executive mansion. The location for the complex was chosen on December 20, 1921. Groundbreaking for the complex occurred on January 7, 1924, and the entire state capitol building was completed during 1932. Three parcels of land for the actual mansion were acquired on July 7, 1921, at a cost of $64,270, and construction began during 1924 and ended during 1925. The work was overseen by local architect Walter F. Martens, but he was not greatly involved in the design of the neighboring capitol building. Compared to Gilbert, who was already an accomplished architect, Martens had less experience and had never worked on a project of this size. However, Martens had traveled to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to talk with Gilbert about designs for the project, and both had similar ideas for the building's Georgian style. Martens also traveled to see the White House, which was to be a model for the new mansion. His visit allowed him to learn how to create a floor plan
Floor plan
In architecture and building engineering, a floor plan, or floorplan, is a diagram, usually to scale, showing a view from above of the relationships between rooms, spaces and other physical features at one level of a structure....
able to accommodate heavy traffic of guests, as many as 2,000 visitors at once.
The building's first occupant, Ephraim F. Morgan
Ephraim F. Morgan
Ephraim Franklin Morgan was born on a farm near Forksburg, Marion County, West Virginia, a descendent of the first white settler of western Virginia, Morgan Morgan, and his son David Morgan. He studied at Fairmont State Normal School and graduated from the West Virginia University law school in 1897...
, who had first proposed to the state the construction of a new residence, only lived in the new mansion for one week because his term expired during 1925. During 1926, servant's quarters were added atop a garage, along with private gardens. Since its completion, the mansion has had several redecorations, including one during 1937 and one during 1958. The original building plans for the mansion included a third story, but one was not added until much later, during 1946. Before this addition, the second floor had been covered with a roof composed of tin, but it was replaced by one made of slate.
From 1965–1969, during the term of Hulett C. Smith
Hulett C. Smith
Hulett Carlson Smith served as the 27th Governor of West Virginia from 1965 to 1969.The son of West Virginia Congressman Joe L. Smith, Hulett C. Smith was born in Beckley, West Virginia. He served in the Navy during World War II. Active in community service and civic affairs, he served as...
, the mansion underwent a thorough renovation process, with a total of $300,000 spent in both structural improvements and historic preservation efforts. In 1985, during Governor Arch Moore
Arch A. Moore, Jr.
Arch Alfred Moore, Jr. was the 28th and 30th Governor of West Virginia from 1969 until 1977 and from 1985 until 1989. He was a Congressman from 1957 until entering the governor's office. He is a member of the United States Republican Party. He ran for reelection in 1988, but was defeated by...
's third term, First Lady Shelley Moore
Shelley Riley Moore
Shelley Riley Moore is the wife of former Governor of West Virginia Arch A. Moore, Jr. of West Virginia and served as that state's First Lady from 1969 to 1977 and 1985 to 1989. She was born in Miami, Florida, on July 15, 1926. While earning a degree in education at West Virginia University, she...
established the West Virginia Mansion Preservation Foundation, which raised funds for the maintenance of the mansion's interior and furnishings. Later, during 2005, Governor Joe Manchin
Joe Manchin
Joseph "Joe" Manchin III is the junior United States Senator representing West Virginia. Manchin, a Democrat, was Governor of West Virginia from 2005 to 2010...
found structural defects for repairing and remodeling the mansion. Their efforts, which cost an estimated $1.2 million, used both leftover campaign money as well as private funds. During 2006, the addition of a large banquet hall was proposed. The hall, which would be able to hold 335 guests, would be connected to the mansion and also have barracks for the governor's security personnel
Security detail
A security detail more often known as a PSD, standing for Protective Services Detail, Personal Security Detachment, or Personal Security Detail is a protective team assigned to protect the personal security of an individual or group. PSDs can be made up of military personnel, private security...
in its basement. Later that year, in July, it was announced that the total cost of renovations to the building had exceeded $3 million, excluding furnishings.