CITY FOLK
RESTORATION: The Bush home, on West Ohio Avenue in Midland, is both an inviting destination for learning about Texas — and American — political history, and an important historic restoration of a mid–20th century residence.
N
George W. Bush Childhood Home sheds light on two presidents, two first ladies, two governors
Midland by PAUL ST. HILAIRE WITH BARBARA BRANNON
NESTLED AMID a well-tended block of mid- 20th century middle-income houses in Midland is a modest three-bedroom, one-bath bungalow that could have been home to Wally and the Beav, or Andy Griffith and his son, Opie, or the Andersons of Father Knows Best. In fact, it’s the only residence in the nation other than the White House in which two American presidents, a first
lady, two governors, an ambassador to the United Nations, a director of the CIA and a vice president have lived. This house, in which 41st President George H. W. Bush and his wife, Barbara, raised four of their six children, is now painstakingly restored as a landmark to the stories of this par- ticular American political family as well as daily life in 1950s Midland.
Bush Family Timeline in Midland
In 1939, the original one-story wood-clap- board home was located in the wide open fields of the up-and-coming oil-industry city of Midland. Purchased in 2001, the home has been restored to the period from 1951 to ’55 when the Bush family returned to Texas. The physical restoration process proved to be a challenge, given the condi- tion of the home and the modifications that had
1950
George H. W. Bush cofounds Bush-Overbey Oil Development Company; Bush fam- ily returns to Texas.
1951, Nov. 7
George H. W. Bush and wife, Barbara, move to 1412 West Ohio Ave.., Midland.
1951–57
George W. Bush attends Sam .
Houston Elementary School in Midland— and plays baseball and participates in scouting.
1953, Feb. 11
John Ellis (Jeb) Bush born.
1953, Oct. 11 Bush daughter Robin dies, age four, of leukemia.
1955
An active communi- ty volunteer, Barbara Bush steps down from public service to care for growing family.
1955, Jan. 22 Neil Mallon Bush born.
1955, December Bush family move to another home in Midland.
26 AUTHENTIC TEXAS
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84