Hey all.

 

I've always been curious when I've heard anything about the Carpenter's Shop that's long existed in the basement of The White House — but never manage to find any details about it. I randomly did find this one photo recently — and of all things, I spot a handsome long-arm DeWalt radial arm saw in the background (a tool I have some affection for) —

 

Photographed December 3, 1947 — "Photo of carpenter's shop, from an album of photographs by Abbie Rowe of the White House prior to the 1949 renovation."

 

I did some quick work to upscale and colorize the original (low resolution, black & white) photo —

 

Here's the original as I found it —

 

Found here: https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/photograph-records/82-54-108

 

I also found one more photo, at a different angle. I'm not certain if it's one taken around the same time, or years later — something about his shoes doesn't feel quite "1947" to me, but maybe I'm wrong about that. Again, I've tried to upscale it from the absolutely abysmal low-res original I found —

 

 

Original version:

 

For anyone curious, here's a large archive of photos from 1940-1969 by White House photographer Abbie Rowe (who covered 5 administrations from 1941 up until 1967, the year he died). This archive includes plenty of fascinating photographs he took during the Truman Reconstruction — a period of The White House's reconstruction from 1949 to 1952.

 

From Wikipedia —

 

The White House Reconstruction, also known as the Truman Reconstruction, was a comprehensive dismantling and rebuilding of the interior of the White House from 1949 to 1952. A century and a half of wartime destruction and rebuilding, hurried renovations, additions of new services, technologies, the added third floor and inadequate foundations brought the Executive Residence portion of the White House Complex to near-imminent collapse.

 

In 1948, architectural and engineering investigations deemed it unsafe for occupancy. President Harry S. Truman, his family, and the entire residence staff were relocated across the street to Blair House. For over three years, the White House was gutted, expanded, and rebuilt.

 

There's also this large collection of Rowe's photographs on Wikipedia Commons.

 

Here's a shot of Abbie Rowe amidst some interior renovation (taken March 3rd, 1950) —

 

 

I'm actually unclear about when the White House carpenter's shop came to exist — as the photo I found was taken in 1947, but the carpentry shop is also mentioned as being an addition during the reconstruction — which began in 1949. So that's a bit confusing.

 

From Wikipedia (White House Reconstruction > Changes in design) —

 

Additions to the ground floor included additional service elevators to service the upper floors, a bowling alley, expanded kitchen, broadcast studio, barber shop, medical and dental clinics, carpentry and upholstery shops, and large service and equipment spaces.

 

 

As for more photos or details on this (presumably very intriguing) carpenter's shop — I haven't come across much beyond these. But maybe more exists somewhere — if anyone discovers or knows more, I'd certainly like to know about it.

 

— David

Edited March 23, 20251 yr by David Walsh

Quick correction: the 2nd photo turns out to be a 2002 shot of White House carpenter Thomas Craven. Original photo found here: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/7431226

 

Slightly better edited version after to finding the source —

 

Edited March 23, 20251 yr by David Walsh

That's pretty cool....also a little disappointing. There's a "flower shop" and a "chocolate shop" in the White House? I hope DOGE catches that.

Amazing, Thanks!!

We started watching a Netflix show "The Residence" that takes place in the White House.  In the most recent episode, there was a brief scene in a carpenter's shop.  But it was much smaller than the photos.  Or maybe it was just a side room.  Or a manufactured scene.

5 hours ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

That's pretty cool....also a little disappointing. There's a "flower shop" and a "chocolate shop" in the White House? I hope DOGE catches that.

Clearly they have their priorities misplaced - no donut shop?

And here I was wondering what kind of planer that was - started scrolling through vintagemachinery.org's photo index and found Buss Machinery.  Duh.... sez it right there on the sheet metal adapter!

I inherited a mirror made in the White House carpenter shop in 1959 from my parents. They saved an article by Vera Glaser about Isaac Avery the chief carpenter, "He Was on Inside For 35 Years," from The Sunday Star, Washington DC January 16, 1966. I was looking for information and found this forum.

I will keep trying to find the article online, or take better pictures so you can read it. The paper is pretty fragile.

26 minutes ago, Howie in AZ said:

I inherited a mirror made in the White House carpenter shop in 1959 from my parents. They saved an article by Vera Glaser about Isaac Avery the chief carpenter, "He Was on Inside For 35 Years," from The Sunday Star, Washington DC January 16, 1966. I was looking for information and found this forum.

I will keep trying to find the article online, or take better pictures so you can read it. The paper is pretty fragile.

First and foremost, Welcome to The Patriot Woodworker Howie. Glad you found us and excited this thread brought you here.

What a great story and piece of American history and heritage you have. Hope you can find the article to post here. It would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for sharing with us.

Thanks Grandpadave52, appreciate the welcome. I am on it!

I agree, that is one cool story. Welcome to the forum.