Finally. The Texas Historical Commission has approved a modified plan for an addition, much smaller than that which caused controversy last fall, to the torched Texas Governor’s Mansion. The sooner we restore the historic mansion the better.
Texans of today and tomorrow were fortunate that the priceless collection of early American furniture and irreplaceable art work of our early Republic had been removed and placed in storage when the dastardly deed of arson was done.
The Mansion, quite tiny by today’s housing standards, is the constitutional home of Texas governors and is used extensively for receptions and events which celebrate our great land. It needed some updating in the living and kitchen quarters and it seems that a compromise between historic preservation and function has now been reached.
Reports are that the new addition will add a fire-exit stairway that meets modern safety codes, a new bedroom or office, bathroom and storage areas, along with a new elevator. Walls are to be thickened to provide some protection against bombings.
The work of rebuilding needs to get underway as soon as possible. And the work of finding and prosecuting the despicable, criminal, sub-human cockroach who threw the Molotov-cocktail that started the fire, needs to be ratcheted up into a statewide public priority.
Robert Pratt is host of the top rated Pratt on Texas radio program which can be heard at www.PrattonTexas.com
