White House Gavel Relic from Truman Era of Reconstruction

Substantial 13" wooden gavel with two plaques on the front. One reads: "Original White House Material Removed in 1950". This is the plaque typically seen on these 1950 gavels issued in the wake of Truman-ordered renovations. The second, silver-colored plaque, reads: "Presented to Hon. James C. Connell From His Friends Nov. 17th 1954", which would have been shortly after President Eisenhower nominated James Connell for the United Stated District Court, which was later confirmed the Senate on August 10, 1954.  Expected dents along the gavel heads.

The White House Reconstruction, also known as the Truman Reconstruction, was a comprehensive dismantling and rebuilding of the interior of the White House between 1949-1952. A century-and-a-half of wartime destruction and rebuilding, hurried renovations, additions of new services, technologies, an 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 and President Harry S. Truman, his family, and the entire residence staff were relocated across the street. For over three years the White House was gutted, expanded, and rebuilt. Various pieces of the White House left over from the renovation were re-purposed into various relics

James C. Connell (September 20, 1897 – October 30, 1973) was a United States federal judge. Connell was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He received an LL.B. from John Marshall School of Law in Cleveland in 1918. President Dwight D. Eisenhower nominated Connell to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio on June 24, 1954, to a new seat, later by the Senate on August 10, 1954, and received his commission the same day. He served as chief judge from 1960 to 1967 and assumed senior status on September 21, 1971. He remained on the court until his death on October 30, 1973.

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