Hoover House Reading Book Reduced
Humble BeginingsJudi, one of three children, was raised by career military parents then stationed at SheppardAir Force Base in Wichita Falls, and Tommy was raised by a mom wrangling four boys whilehis dad worked in the oil fields. They met while attending high school in Burkburnett, Texas,and later began dating as students at North Texas State University in Denton, marrying in1967.After college, Judi first applied her degree in psychologyand sociology as a social worker for the YWCA in Dallas.Four years later she was hired by the Federal Bureau ofPrisons and worked at the federal correctional institutionin Ft. Worth. In 1974, she was transferred to the MetropolitanCorrectional Center in San Diego, California,where she was promoted to become a Correctional TreatmentSpecialist. Here, in addition to managing a largecaseload, she was charged with the post-trial study andobservation of prisoners. Some of the more notoriousinmates Judi analyzed were Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme ofthe Manson clan, and Sara Jane Moore, who shot PresidentGerald Ford. Her third assignment with the Bureauof Prisons was the penitentiary at Terre Haute, Indiana.When Tommy graduated from college, he put his degreein business and personnel management to use runningoperations for Transcon Freight Lines. He worked hisway up in the company, from laboring on the freightdocks during college and socking away Teamster wagesof $15 per hour, to supervising dock workers.Backyard, San DiegoJust roll up those sleeves and write up a punch listHow could such varied backgrounds – Judi’s human behavioral studies and Tommy’s knackfor freight management and personnel – evolve into careers spent resuscitating timewornarchitecture? Their career changes came in stages. Like most young couples just starting out,at first the Hoovers rented their homes. Because they enjoyed what Judi calls “making thingsbetter,” they painted and made repairs, often in exchange for rent and security deposits.Later, to supplement incomes from their professional jobs, they devoted spare time to cleaningand repairing rental properties owned by a Dallas landlady. It helped that Tommy hadserved as a plumber’s apprentice during high school. When it came to countertop installations,wall repairs, floor-finishing and carpentry their can-do spirit helped even more. Soonenough, their $2-per-hour part-time jobs helped build up a tidy savings account and skilllevels to take on ever-larger projects.1972, our first homeBedford, TXWith these two advantages in hand, Tommy and Judibought their first home in 1972 - - a woebegone red-brick3/2 in Bedford, Texas. The place was barely habitable butthey chose it for convenience to Tommy’s job in Dallas andJudi’s work at the federal prison in Ft. Worth“Termites had pretty well chewed it up,” chuckled Tommy.“The floor under the kitchen sink had a hole big enoughto throw a suitcase through. Everything in one bathroomwas so rotted that the toilet stood on nothing more than itssewer pipe.”.A year later, with all the damage repaired, fresh paint andrestored wood floors, the couple sold the property for morethan twice what they’d put into it. They closed the deal, rewardednot only by their sales profit, but the pride of having done the work to revivethe home all by themselves. The Bedford project sparked a fire in the young couplethat would last a lifetime.Next, they packed up their 1964 El Camino and headed west to settle into their respectiveSan Diego jobs: analyzing federal prisoners and managing day operations forTranscon. Here, the Hoover’s savvy for salvaging old homes moved up a notch. Thistime, they bought a former sea captain’s timeworn cabin.Never mind that it was a bit barnacled with age from the 1890s. Its view of SanDiego’s harbor was priceless. So what if the little house’s board-and-batten walls wereonly of single thickness? It had a dandy fireplace to ward off those rare Southern Californiachills. And, what of all those needy repairs and upgrades to utilities, woodworkand cabinetry? The Hoovers were undaunted. Just roll up those sleeves and write up apunch list.
1974 A lucky find AnHistoric home on PointLoma,San Diego, CADecades before “DIY” house flipping became popularthe young couple agreed that this was the sortof work they most enjoyedWhile working at the San Diego prison, Judi’s warden revealed that a new federalprison wasbeing planned at Bastrop. They’d been yearning to get back to Texas and had heard aboutthe history-laden town and its setting near the Lost Pine Forest on the Colorado River. So,the Hoovers took time off and cranked up their bedraggled El Caminoto take a look.Arriving in 1975, viewing Bastropfor the first time, they liked whatthey saw, which was mostly opportunity.“It was puzzling to drivethe neighborhood and downtownstreets and see all the historichomes and buildings that wereabandoned and in need of seriousrepair,” Judi recalls of their visit.“We couldn’t understand how thatcould happen”.Terre Haute, INReturning to San Diego,Tommy and Judidevoted all their sparetime for over twoyears to restoring thehillside cabin, addinga guesthouse, broaddecks and landscaping.In 1976, theysold it, wowed thattheir investment hadnearly quadrupled.At this point – decadesbefore “DIY”house flippingbecame popular –the young Hooversagreed that this was the sort of work they most enjoyed and by whichthey might actually make a good living. But not quite yet.From San Diego, the Hoovers aimed the El Camino for a cross-country move to TerreHaute, Indiana, where a new, more challenging position with the Bureau of Prisonsawaited Judi. While living on the prison grounds the couple invested in a sagging 1920sbungalow close by. Tommy decided to take on its rehabilitation full-time.With Judi helping as she could, he labored on the house for the two years they remainedin Indiana. They “took in” the attic by adding a stairway and two upstairs bedrooms andbath. Downstairs, they removed a wall separating two small bedrooms to create a largeprimary suite. They re-plastered walls with sweeping textures and applied warm interiorpaint colors.From residential streets whereclassic homes from every19th-century period sleepilygazed from leafy shadows, toa three-block Main Street thatitched forreinvigoration, theHoovers foresaw nothing but promise. Deciding to stake a claim for their future,she and Tommy purchased 54 acres in the pine forest a few miles east of town.1976 BeforeAfter
- Page 4 and 5: 703 Farm St wasour first home inBas
- Page 6 and 7: 809 Main St.The 1832 TavernTheir
- Page 8 and 9: Shortly after we bpight the Taverm
- Page 10 and 11: All of the trees and plant were pla
- Page 12 and 13: Paul Goebel’s General StoreFront
- Page 14 and 15: Dave Garcia HouseCollege St Bastrop
- Page 16 and 17: The Infamous “Club 71”On TX Hwy
- Page 18 and 19: Ealry Texas HomeOn Farm St, Bastrop
- Page 20 and 21: “People say he has an artist’s
- Page 23 and 24: We added the “River Room” for t
- Page 27 and 28: This building was the 1860’s Smok
- Page 29 and 30: This building was half of a home on
- Page 31 and 32: This building was originally a “S
- Page 33: This 1905 building was being used a
- Page 36 and 37: This was a one room schoolhouse in
- Page 38 and 39: We are always on the lookout for“
- Page 40 and 41: Saved from the DozerTypical of the
- Page 42 and 43: “It was clear to me now, there wa
- Page 44 and 45: 1316 WilsonBuilt 1857Moved to Bastr
- Page 49: Originally a “Dogtrot”, with an
Humble Beginings
Judi, one of three children, was raised by career military parents then stationed at Sheppard
Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, and Tommy was raised by a mom wrangling four boys while
his dad worked in the oil fields. They met while attending high school in Burkburnett, Texas,
and later began dating as students at North Texas State University in Denton, marrying in
1967.
After college, Judi first applied her degree in psychology
and sociology as a social worker for the YWCA in Dallas.
Four years later she was hired by the Federal Bureau of
Prisons and worked at the federal correctional institution
in Ft. Worth. In 1974, she was transferred to the Metropolitan
Correctional Center in San Diego, California,
where she was promoted to become a Correctional Treatment
Specialist. Here, in addition to managing a large
caseload, she was charged with the post-trial study and
observation of prisoners. Some of the more notorious
inmates Judi analyzed were Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme of
the Manson clan, and Sara Jane Moore, who shot President
Gerald Ford. Her third assignment with the Bureau
of Prisons was the penitentiary at Terre Haute, Indiana.
When Tommy graduated from college, he put his degree
in business and personnel management to use running
operations for Transcon Freight Lines. He worked his
way up in the company, from laboring on the freight
docks during college and socking away Teamster wages
of $15 per hour, to supervising dock workers.
Backyard, San Diego
Just roll up those sleeves and write up a punch list
How could such varied backgrounds – Judi’s human behavioral studies and Tommy’s knack
for freight management and personnel – evolve into careers spent resuscitating timeworn
architecture? Their career changes came in stages. Like most young couples just starting out,
at first the Hoovers rented their homes. Because they enjoyed what Judi calls “making things
better,” they painted and made repairs, often in exchange for rent and security deposits.
Later, to supplement incomes from their professional jobs, they devoted spare time to cleaning
and repairing rental properties owned by a Dallas landlady. It helped that Tommy had
served as a plumber’s apprentice during high school. When it came to countertop installations,
wall repairs, floor-finishing and carpentry their can-do spirit helped even more. Soon
enough, their $2-per-hour part-time jobs helped build up a tidy savings account and skill
levels to take on ever-larger projects.
1972, our first home
Bedford, TX
With these two advantages in hand, Tommy and Judi
bought their first home in 1972 - - a woebegone red-brick
3/2 in Bedford, Texas. The place was barely habitable but
they chose it for convenience to Tommy’s job in Dallas and
Judi’s work at the federal prison in Ft. Worth
“Termites had pretty well chewed it up,” chuckled Tommy.
“The floor under the kitchen sink had a hole big enough
to throw a suitcase through. Everything in one bathroom
was so rotted that the toilet stood on nothing more than its
sewer pipe.”.
A year later, with all the damage repaired, fresh paint and
restored wood floors, the couple sold the property for more
than twice what they’d put into it. They closed the deal, rewarded
not only by their sales profit, but the pride of having done the work to revive
the home all by themselves. The Bedford project sparked a fire in the young couple
that would last a lifetime.
Next, they packed up their 1964 El Camino and headed west to settle into their respective
San Diego jobs: analyzing federal prisoners and managing day operations for
Transcon. Here, the Hoover’s savvy for salvaging old homes moved up a notch. This
time, they bought a former sea captain’s timeworn cabin.
Never mind that it was a bit barnacled with age from the 1890s. Its view of San
Diego’s harbor was priceless. So what if the little house’s board-and-batten walls were
only of single thickness? It had a dandy fireplace to ward off those rare Southern California
chills. And, what of all those needy repairs and upgrades to utilities, woodwork
and cabinetry? The Hoovers were undaunted. Just roll up those sleeves and write up a
punch list.
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