Dog Trot at LBJ Birthplace
by Joan Carroll
Title
Dog Trot at LBJ Birthplace
Artist
Joan Carroll
Medium
Photograph - Digital Photograph
Description
While I drove around the dry, hot and dusty roads of the Hill Country in Texas, I had a hard time understanding why LBJ loved it so much. But love it he did, and he always delighted in coming home to the Pedernales. But a walk to the reconstructed birthplace, with the cool breezes under the big shady trees, and you can understand the allure. The reconstruction was careful to follow the same architectural style as the original house built in 1889 by the President's grandfather Sam Ealy Johnson, Sr. Although it is exactly where it was originally, what you see now is a much nicer rendition. The original house was torn down in the 1940s. President Johnson hired architect J. Roy White of Austin, Texas in 1964 to reconstruct the birthplace home. President Johnson and Roy White relied on old photographs of the original birthplace house as well as family members' memories to guide the project. The house represents how Lyndon Johnson wanted us to see his birthplace. Lyndon Johnson's birthplace has the distinction of being the only presidential birthplace reconstructed, refurbished, and interpreted by an incumbent President. The architect didn't forget to include the open hallway, or "dog-trot," (seen here) which was designed to provide ventilation in hot weather. He followed the original board and batten construction. A modern kitchen and bathroom, running water, and electricity were added, but the house has no central heat or air conditioning. The house was used between 1964 and 1966 as a guest cottage for overflow company from the Texas White House. It makes me laugh to think of the Washington 'suits' staying here!
FEATURED PHOTO, 50 Likes group, 11/11/14
FEATURED PHOTO, ALL Fine Art America group, 8/20/14
FEATURED PHOTO, Texas Landscape and Landmark Photography group, 8/7/14
Uploaded
August 7th, 2014
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