SUMMARY:
When historic preservationist expert Dan Riedemann, owner of Nineteeth Century Restorations, first realized that London House, the childhood home of American legend Woody Guthrie, had been torn down, he knew immediately that this was a tragic wrong that needed to be corrected. Having recently restored the birthplace of television legend Johnny Carson, Riedemann knew that nothing short of architectural, factual and historical accuracy would do. When Riedemann first proposed the project to the Okemah Community Improvement Association (who, as the beneficiary of the completed project, would ultimately operate and maintain the museum), he was in for a pleasant discovery. When Guthrie's house was demolished, the original materials were stored in town... and were available for the reconstruction project. The childhood home of an American icon, rebuilt using the original plans and the original materials? It was a historic preservationist's dream... and a dream of fans worldwide.
Long before there was Bob Dylan or Bruce Springsteen, the original anti-establishment hero emerged in the form of Woodrow Wilson "Woody" Guthrie. Activist, artist, singer, songwriter, and legend, Guthrie had a string of achievements unlike any other: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member, Grammy Lifetime Achievement award winner, Songwriters Hall of Fame member, Grammy winner in 2010 (almost fifty years after his death), and he has been praised as a primary influence by everyone from Jackson Browne and John Mellencamp to Bonnie Raitt and Bob Dylan. Counting John Steinbeck as one of his friends, Guthrie helped inspire the novel "The Grapes of Wrath", often regarded as Steinbecks' finest achievement. In fact, when Bruce Springsteen was chosen to give the keynote address at the annual SXSW (South By Southwest) festival, he chose to use the opportunity to speak of Guthrie and his never ending influence.
In one of the greatest tragedies in American music history, Guthrie's childhood home, the London House (discussed in-depth in his autobiography, Bound for Glory, and named for the London family who occupied it previously), was torn down in 1979, with the home dissected board by board and the materials stored across town. Now, more than a century after Woody's birth, we have the opportunity to right this wrong. This campaign is dedicated to reconstructing the London House to complete and total accuracy, providing not only a physical piece of the Guthrie legacy for fans, artists, and historians to tour, but to allow all future generations the opportunity to learn more about the original American legend, Woody Guthrie.
WHAT WE NEED AND WHAT YOU GET:
Obviously, a project of this magnitude takes funding. While we do have the original materials use to build the London House, we obviously have modern codes and regulations we need to account for. As such, a project like this will need items such as: concrete, lumber, plumbing, roofing, guttering, storage, masons, plumbers, HVAC and duct work specialists, carpenters, electricians, painters, skilled labor, landscaping, etc. All of that, of course, does not even include furnishings like beds, wardrobes, a stove, an icebox, dining table and chairs, lanterns, etc. Keep in mind, all of the items mentioned above must be era-specific and geographically appropriate. The structure will be designed to be as cost-efficient and self-sustaining as possible, utilizing items like solar panels and water cisterns placed on the compound site where available.
While we are embracing the true spirit of Woody Guthrie and designing this campaign so that anyone and everyone can participate, we understand that from time to time, people need a little motivation to donate time, money, materials, etc. While we can all agree that the rebuilding of Woody Guthrie's childhood home is cause enough, we have included a few perks to help you make your giving decision. The perks, outlined to the right, include everything from limited edition merchandise available only through this campaign to an actual piece of the London House itself... and almost everything in between! Perhaps most importantly to some, as all donations will be given to Woody Guthrie London House, Inc., an not-for-profit organization registered in the state of Oklahoma, all donations are tax-deductible and you will receive a donation verification letter to receive the applicable tax credits.
As mentioned, upon completion, the London House will be donated to the Okemah Community Improvement Association, a local non-profit that has been helping to develop the Okemah community since its inception. While all proceeds will go directly to this project, our budget also includes maintenance and operating costs for two years. Any funds raised over and above our goal will be split equally, with fifty percent going into an operating fund for the London House and the other fifty percent being donated to the Huntington's Disease Society of America, founded by Woody's wife Marjorie upon his death from Huntington's Disease.
THE IMPACT:
As one of America's greatest singer-songwriters, Woody Guthrie has been an inspiration to hundreds of millions of people throughout his life and since his death. Each year, thousands of people visit Okemah to visit the site where the house once stood and we think it is only fitting for Woody's legacy that they have the opportunity to tour the home Woody grew up in as a child. In America, we celebrate the man who defends the underdog and we celebrate the artist who uses his talents to help others and not himself. Woody Guthrie was both of these. This is a chance to celebrate the man, the artist, and his legacy by providing the world's only home museum for Woody Guthrie. Woody Guthrie London House, Inc. hopes you'll join us on this journey to create a true American monument to a true American legend.
