Celebrating President's Day With Plumbing Facts From the White House
President's Day is the day for every president, past and future. To celebrate, plumbers want to share some fun facts about the plumbing system in the United States' most famous home: the White House. From bathtubs to toilets, there's plenty to talk about.
Pennsylvania Avenue Got Indoor Plumbing in 1902
The White House never had indoor plumbing before 1902. Servants were responsible for bringing water by buckets from five blocks away in Franklin Park.
Indoor plumbing was first installed in 1902 when the White House underwent a $500,000 renovation project. This renovation brought bathrooms, electrical wiring, and plumbing pipes. After that, the country did more and more renovations to keep up with its indoor plumbing demands.
When 1948 rolled around during the Truman administration, the White House got another facelift. This was an even bigger project that cost roughly $5.7 million. Before this, the plumbing was unsanitary and makeshift. It was impractical and needed an upgrade. This upgrade included better piping made from brass, hot and cold lines made from red brass, and vent, waste lines, and heating lines made from brass and copper tubes.
President Taft's Unique Bathroom
It's no secret that President Taft was the heftiest in U.S. history. He weighed a whopping 340 pounds, so people could only imagine how much of a hard time taking a bath and showering were. The tub that was placed before his presidency was too small for him. He needed to have an extra-large tub created especially for him, one so large that there is a picture showing four adult men sitting in it.
Luckily for Taft, that bathtub was one that he was already familiar with. It was actually aboard the ship he took during the construction of the Panama canal.
The "Plumbers" of the White House
Most history buffs are aware of the Pentagon Papers. The individuals who released those papers were chosen as the "plumbers." They weren't there to do plumbing. Rather, they were there to keep sensitive information from leaking out.
These individuals were James W. McCord Jr., Bernard Barker, Frank Sturgis, Virgilio Gonzalez, and Eugenio Martinez. The concept of "plumbers" is the same since they are responsible for stopping leaks, but not the type of leaks that involve water.
About A & W Plumbing and Heating, Inc.
A & W Plumbing and Heating, Inc. is a company based out of Murphysboro, Illinois. They offer 24/7 emergency services, a satisfaction guarantee, same-day service, fast turnarounds, and they're family-owned and operated. Contact them for help with expert plumbing service today!
