Photo By John Hughel | Building 118 at Camp Murray, Washington is the Headquarters Building for the...... read more read more
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CAMP MURRAY, Wash. - Tucked beside the Washington National Guard Headquarters Building One and behind a row of maple and other large deciduous trees, “The White House” has nobly stood along Infantry Drive now for one hundred years.
According to the National Register of Historic Places, it was constructed in 1921 at a cost of $10,172 and was proposed and built as the residence for the Washington National Guard Adjutant General. Its modest design is one-and-one-half stories in height, and built along a slope to the rear elevation with a wooded backdrop along the Murray Creek.
Though simple in design, several architectural details make the building attractive, especially the side door stoop entry and the use of French doors that still adorn the building both inside and out. Natural light fills the space from all expanses with a rear sunroom and study area that now functions as a small office.
For nearly forty years from 1922 to 1962, the adjutant general’s residence served as both a home and place for important social gatherings. The first resident was Maj. Gen. Maurice W. Thompson, who lived in “The White House” for 22 years.
Although Thompson is closely linked with the home’s early history, he was also the Washington National Guard’s longest serving adjutant general. He first enlisted in 1898 and rising through the ranks to become Brigadier General of the Guard in 1914. He served briefly in the regular army during World War I and was reappointed in 1917 as adjutant general by Governor Lewis Hart, and held the responsibility until retirement in 1947.
Mr. Rick Patterson, who works for the Washington National Guard Museum, said that after Thompson’s departure, several other adjutant generals resided in the building.
“It was of course the adjutant general’s residence from the time it was built until about 1965 when then Maj. Gen. George Haskett retired. The Haskett family was the last to live in residence.”
After 1966, Patterson noted that the building was considered in, “fair condition and had an expected future life of about 20 years.”
In these later years it was occasionally used for important state and military official functions but no longer served as the official residence of the Washington National Guard Adjutant General.
“I guess after 1986, the Military Department decided to keep it. That might be about the time the Air Guard claimed it,” Patterson said. “It was remodeled several times over the past 50 plus years, with the addition of the Air Guard Commander’s wing to the north end of the building.”
Currently the building is the home for the Washington Air National Guard Headquarters, with original interior design elements now as work office space and former bedrooms now as snug offices and even a conference room in the former main bedroom.
Over the past four years, Lt. Col. Alyson Teeter has used one of the small offices in “The White House,” serving as the Washington ANG Public Affairs Officer. She has grown to welcome the distinctive features of working in a historic building.
"I appreciate how our staff and leadership have embraced the history of Building 118 because it's a unique place to work while supporting an important mission,” said Teeter. “Brig. Gen. Horn (retired), gifted a historical building photo and plaque when he retired a couple years ago, and that gesture started a tradition of gifting a photo of the building for farewells."
During the COVID-19 pandemic the expansive front lawn has accommodated retirement and promotion events, giving a natural space for social distancing in an outdoor environment. The events helped add another new chapter to the building’s history.
Officiating over many of these formal events, Washington Air National Guard Commander Brig. Gen. Gent Welsh carried on many of the military traditions for guardsmen associated with the building.
“My desire is for anyone who visits the HQ in Building 118 to find an Airman-centered, welcoming, and friendly place. Back in my earlier days as a squadron commander, getting summoned to visit the HQ building wasn’t always a positive experience,” Welsh said, recounting his past experience growing up in the Washington Air National Guard.
Like many past leaders that called “The White House” home, he said that there is a sense of legacy and stewardship with working in the building.
“We’re the current caretakers of this building for the next generation of Washington Air National Guard leaders, so please feel free to swing by and check out your Air HQ. You may end up calling the building home at some point in your career.”
| Date Taken: | 12.07.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 12.06.2021 19:53 |
| Story ID: | 410568 |
| Location: | CAMP MURRAY, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 557 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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