Call to save Tianmu house
It has come to our attention that due to economic circumstances, the Bank of Taiwan is threatening to demolish an old building that it owns in Taipei’s Tianmu District (天母) known as the Tianmu White House.
The house was built in the 1950s as a residence for US military personnel stationed in Taiwan and is the last remaining wooden structure in the district. Many US military personnel and their families lived in this area, which included houses made of brick that were located close to where the Taipei American School and Taipei Japane School are now.
For a couple of us former US military personnel, the house holds a special meaning because we lived in it during our tours in Taipei — my friend Bill from 1973 to 1979 and myself from 1977 to 1979. We made many friends during our stay in Taiwan and will always cherish our time there.
For us, the Tianmu White House represents a historic period of friendship and cooperation between the US and Taiwan that needs to be preserved. Future generations of both nations need to understand the close relationship that existed between the US and Taiwan and the house helps explain how this bilateral relationship has evolved over the years to be what it is in the present global political map.
Anything that can be done to save this important historical building should be done.
Larry Fields
Littleton, Colorado
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