Talk of the Town: Washington never slept here—and other facts about our nation’s most famous house!

While most of the U.S. real estate market is in limbo land, there’s one house that will soon be occupied no matter what the economy looks like. Be it John McCain or Barack Obama, the White House will have a presidential resident soon—that’s a sure bet.

Contrary to the old real estate motto, “location, location, location,” I don’t believe our presidential forefathers chose Washington, D.C. for the weather.

“Hear yea! Hear yea! Let’s move to Washington, D.C. for its glorious warm temperatures.”

It gets pretty darn nippy on Capitol Hill in the winter, even though things usually heat up in Washington during elections no matter what the temperature is outside.

But besides all that, what exactly will the new president be living in when he takes over the White House?

According to the official White House Web site, there are 132 rooms, 32 bathrooms, and six levels to accommodate all the people who live in, work in, and visit the White House. There are also 412 doors, 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, seven staircases, and three elevators.

And I just know that one of the first things I’d look at in the White House, if I were to ever live there (which, of course, will never happen). I would look at the bathrooms. (Forget the kitchen. I don’t cook, so a couple of microwaves would suffice for all that I care.)

According to those dutiful fact gatherers at the White House Historical Association, the first bathtubs in the White House were portable and made of tin. Water was hauled in buckets.

Running water was piped into the White House in 1833.

Gas lighting, installed in the White House in 1848, replaced candles and oil lamps.

A central heating system was installed in the White House in 1837, when many people still warmed themselves with a log or coal fire.

Running hot water was first piped into the first family’s second floor bathroom in 1853.

In 1801, a cooking stove replaced the kitchen’s open-hearth fireplace for preparing meals.

First Lady Dolley Madison is considered to have introduced social dancing to the White House — notably the waltz, which critics at that time called “the hugging process set to music.”

Ulysses S. Grant once remarked about his musical knowledge: I know only two tunes-one is Yankee Doodle and the other isn’t.”

At various times in history, the White House has been known as the “President’s Palace,” the “President’s House,” and the “Executive Mansion.” President Theodore Roosevelt officially gave the White House its current name in 1901.

The White House receives approximately 6,000 visitors a day.

Presidential firsts:

President John Tyler (1841-1845) was the first president to have his photograph taken. President Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909) was not only the first president to ride in an automobile, but also the first president to travel outside the country when he visited Panama. President Franklin Roosevelt (1933-1945) was the first president to ride in an airplane.

With five full-time chefs, the White House kitchen is able to serve dinner to as many as 140 guests and hors d’oeuvres to more than 1,000.

The White House requires 570 gallons of paint to cover its outside surface.

For recreation, the White House has a variety of facilities available to its residents, including a tennis court, a jogging track, swimming pool, movie theater, billiard room, and a bowling lane.

The Kiwanis Club of the Santa Ritas, Green Valley and Sahuarita recently made a special presentation to Green Valley resident Anne Coutcher, who was recognized by the club for outstanding volunteer work and contributions to the community. For 17 years, she has been a faithful volunteer for TeleCare, making morning phone calls to many elderly residents who live alone.

She has also been a Green Valley Recreation pool monitor and a member of the Green Valley Community Chorus.

She helps at the Santa Rita Nursing and Rehabilitation Center by participating in a weekly variety show. For several years she has helped with the baking and shipping of cookies to American soldiers abroad through the American Heartline program.

Other community contributions include: Greater Green Valley Arts Council, as a board member and president; cast member of Valley Players and Arizona Rose Theatre; Annie and Friends and many church activities.

The Rev. Terri Pilarski at St. Francis-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church in Green Valley was a busy church leader recently when she and fellow staff blessed dozens of animals for the annual Blessing of the Animals service conducted in remembrance of St. Francis of Assisi’s love for all creatures. Besides dogs and cats, a horse and even a chicken received a blessing.

Friends of Madera Canyon will offer listeners the unique style of the Bavarian Brass Band of Green Valley playing in Madera Canyon at the Proctor, Sunday, Oct. 19, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $10 and are for sale at the Green Valley Sahuarita Chamber of Commerce. Call Louise Gibbeson for more info at 648-1068.

Directed by Earl Harrison, and featuring singer Tamara Kahrimanis, you will hear “Im schšnen Bšhmerwald” and “The Happy Wanderer” complete with yodels. A complete program of polkas and waltzes will be presented, along with a bit of Johann Strauss. Proceeds benefit educational programming in the canyon.

rford@gvnews.com