“Certainly the governor, like all Texans, really wants to see the mansion restored to its original luster, but there’s going to be a long process here,” said Robert Black, a spokesman for the governor. With no state money set aside for such disaster contingencies, Perry’s office has indicated they’ll explore all their options, including seeking money from the Legislature and private sources. Michael Holleran, an expert in historic preservation, said enough of the landmark remains to restore it. Holleran said the first priority of the restoration should be to repair breaches in the roof or enclosure to prevent wind and rain damage. Drying out the water and dampness also must be done quickly, he said. He called the majestic mansion a “treasure of Texas.” “If you’re able to picture what a little frontier town Austin was (when the mansion was built) you really can see in that building the ambition of this state, the demand to do something that was as good as any place in the world, and just to wield Texas into greatness,” said Holleran, director of the historic preservation graduate program at the University of Texas school of architecture.
The Associated Press
Burned Texas Governor’s Mansion Had No Sprinklers
June 9
