Why did Ronald Reagan move out of the Governor's Mansion after only 4 months and why was it unoccupied for the next 50 years?

quasimodoca

The reason the Reagan's moved out of the downtown Governor's Mansion was due to Nancy Reagan proclaiming it a fire hazard and refusing to live there. When they moved in originally it was in a fairly dilapidated state. The wallpaper was peeling off the walls, the air conditioning/heating system was constantly breaking down and most of the buildings features were not up to current building code. This move elicited no small amount of public comment in the local papers that she was being prudish and snobby.

The Reagan family then moved to East Sacramento. They lived in a neighborhood known as the Fabulous 40's on 45th street. A rental no less. They lived there until he left the Governor's office in 1975.

During this time Nancy Reagan championed building a new Governors mansion in Carmichael near the American River on a bend in California Avenue. This property wasn't finished until after Ronald Reagan had left office and was never occupied by any Governor. (I used to drive by the property on my way too and from high school almost every day)

When Jerry Brown was first elected to the Governors office he refused to move into the Carmichael property. He deemed it pretentious and offensive. He moved into a small apartment near the Capitol building and slept on a mattress on the floor. This also caused no small amount of consternation to the old guard that made up state House and Assembly.

Subsequent Governors; George Deukmejian, Pete Wilson and Gray Davis lived in a home in an area known as Arden-Arcade in a home owned by a non-profit corporation. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger lived in the penthouse of the Hyatt Regency hotel, across the street from the Capitol.

During this extended period the original Stanford Mansion had been relegated to being used as a museum to previous Governor's that had lived there. The building itself was in need of extensive upgrades to bring it up to current codes and make it livable as an official Governor's mansion. In 2015 the state Legislature and Governor Brown passed legislation funding a major renovation costing approx $4 million dollars. Interesting fact Jerry Brown was elected to the Governor's office for two separate split terms. One from 1974-1982 and a second from 2011-present.

Governor Brown and his wife Ann Gust currently reside in the refurbished Governor's Mansion in Downtown Sacramento.

Having lived in the area almost my entire life this story is very well known and a part of suburban and downtown Sacramento lore.

Source

edit: I have to admit it is kind of cool being able to answer a question in AskHistorians about my home town. edit2: corrected reference to Stanford mansion and boy I can't spell.

Pollymath

" It’s been well publicized that Nancy Reagan felt the residence (on 15th and H St) was not safe, and was more suitable as a museum than anything. Reagan was actually the last Governor to live in this mansion (until Governor Brown had the place renovated and moved in there in December 2015 (note added March 2016)). "

Brown refused to live in this (the Reagan ordered 2300 California Blvd Mansion) house , which he dubbed “The Taj Majal”) Instead preferring to live at the 1341 45th Street residence.

Pollymath

" It’s been well publicized that Nancy Reagan felt the residence (on 15th and H St) was not safe, and was more suitable as a museum than anything. Reagan was actually the last Governor to live in this mansion (until Governor Brown had the place renovated and moved in there in December 2015 (note added March 2016)). "

Brown refused to live in this (the Reagan ordered 2300 California Blvd Mansion) house , which he dubbed “The Taj Majal”) Instead preferring to live at the 1341 45th Street residence.

the_shaman