Reflections

By Christie Vilsack

2005

The charm, elegance and hospitality of Terrace Hill delighted the more than 30 governors and their families who visited our governor’s mansion on a hot summer evening during the National Governors Association’s conference in Des Moines.

Reaction to the July 16 event was overwhelmingly enthusiastic. The thank-you letter from Gayle Manchin, the First Lady of West Virginia, was typical of the comments the governor and I received.

“The floral arrangements, the exquisite display of food and the superb talent of your citizens provided the backdrop for an unforgettable evening,” First Lady Manchin wrote.

It was indeed an enchanted evening designed around a Music Man theme, and it would not have been possible without the year of planning and attention to detail by the entire Terrace Hill staff and the dozens of others who contributed their time and talents.

Among the many “Music Man” highlights, the governors and guests arrived at the front door in vintage automobiles and were serenaded by a barbershop quartet and members of the Mount Pleasant High School marching band playing, among other “Music Man” tunes, the signature hit, “76 Trombones.”

Thanks in great part to folks from The Music Man Square in Mason City, an ensemble of actors and singers performed scenes from Meredith Willson’s musical as our guests dined under an air-conditioned tent on the south lawn.

The guests also marveled at the living accommodations Iowans provide their governors and first families. Almost every governor had some comment comparing our house to theirs, noting the age of Terrace Hill and its remarkable restored condition. Because our residence on the third floor is separated from the rest of the mansion, we have much more privacy than do many other governors. That did not go unnoticed by the governors.

The governors’ evening at Terrace Hill gave Tom and me a wonderful opportunity to remind our guests of the warmth, openness and generosity that Iowans are renowned for around the nation.

The evening was, as West Virginias First Lady said, “unforgettable.”

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