Arson Damages Former President Bush's Odessa, Texas Home

ODESSA, Texas (AP) _ An arson fire damaged the Odessa home where former President Bush and his family lived in during the late 1940s early Thursday, authorities said. <br/><br/>The home sits behind the

Friday, December 28th 2007, 7:08 am

By: News On 6

ODESSA, Texas (AP) _ An arson fire damaged the Odessa home where former President Bush and his family lived in during the late 1940s early Thursday, authorities said.

The home sits behind the Presidential Museum and Leadership Library in Odessa and was rented by George H.W. and Barbara Bush when they lived there. The house was moved from its original nearby location to the museum's campus in 2004, officials said.

Odessa Fire Marshal Detra White said it's not clear how the 3 a.m. fire was set. Museum administrator Lettie England said the damage, mostly to the front-porch area of the green-shingled house, can be repaired.

``They didn't burn the house down,'' England said.

The single-story, 800-square-foot house was restored and eight months of work on it was completed in December 2004. According to the museum's Web site, the Bushes, including the younger President Bush, lived in the home from September 1948 until April 1949.