Private fund set up to preserve governor's house

By Ed Sealover, Rocky Mountain News

Friday, July 25, 2008

Ken Papaleo / The Rocky

Daisies beautify a fountain in the garden at the mansion.

Former Gov. Bill Owens had to beg the legislature for money to fix the Governor's Mansion carriage house in 2004 when the structure was on the verge of being torn down because of neglect.

The General Assembly granted the funding then, but first lady Jeannie Ritter wants to make sure that saving a historical building no longer has to hang on whether taxpayer money is available. On Thursday, she announced the creation of a private fund to preserve the state's most prominent home.

The Governor's Residence Preservation Fund aims to endow $10 million over the next 10 years for future work at 400 E. Eight Ave. There are no immediate needs for the 100-year-old, 27-room mansion, Ritter said, but by building a bank account, the money will be there when cracks and creaks surface.

"For every governor from the Ritters on, this will alleviate the problem of having to bring more money in (from the state budget)," former first lady Frances Owens said at a news conference with Ritter.

Built in 1908, the 25,000- square-foot mansion was given to the state in 1959 and has been home to the past seven governors. While the state budget provides money for everyday upkeep and routine maintenance, major renovations can be done only if extra money is found in the budget.

Ritter announced four businesses and one couple who have seeded the fund by pledging $100,000 each. To attract smaller donors, the mansion will sell special 100-year anniversary note cards, Western hats, holiday ornaments and tea towels as well (available only at the mansion).

The preservation fund committee also will reach out to cities and counties to cross-promote any schoolhouses, public buildings or historical sites that also are celebrating their century anniversary, Ritter said. And it will reach out to groups that don't normally visit the mansion to learn about the structure, she said.

sealovere@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5438

The Governor's Mansion

1908 Mansion built as a private home.

1959 Mansion becomes official residence of the governor's family.

7 governors have resided there, every chief executive since Stephen McNichols.

25,000 is the approximate square footage.

27 rooms

11 fireplaces (although only one is in working condition)

4 current occupants: Gov. Bill and Jeannie Ritter and their high school-age children, Sam and Tally.

100 average weekly tour takers.

211 visitors who came through Tuesday after the airing of a television special on the 100th anniversary of the mansion.

• July 25, 2008

  7:31 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  hlucki writes:

  Does this mean our taxes will decrease? I thought taxes paid for the upkeep to the Gov's pad.

• July 25, 2008

  1:07 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  jacka writes:

  Well who are the 4 businesses and an individual???