Leaking roof causing water damage at gov's mansion

SPRINGFIELD - The third floor of the Illinois Executive Mansion is closed because of a badly leaking roof, following a harsh winter that damaged the building's shingles.

The (Springfield) State Journal-Register reported that authorities had to remove furniture from two bedrooms in the 159-year-old Italianate home in downtown Springfield to prevent water damage.

"That stuff is irreplaceable, so I wasn't comfortable with it being there," said Dave Bourland, who's the mansion's curator. "The water's coming through the ceiling. So there's plaster falling down. ... It's one of those things that came upon us pretty quick."

There are no immediate plans to make repairs, said Dave Blanchette, a spokesman for the governor. For now, floors are covered in plastic and he is using buckets to catch the water.

"The maintenance will be deferred for the present time," he said. "It is not an ideal situation."

The furniture is in a storage facility. Meanwhile, mansion officials are trying to figure out how to pay for the emergency repairs.

The roof on the home is 44 years old.