 One of McCreary 's first acts as governor was signing a bill appropriating $ 75 @,@ 000 for the construction of a new governor 's mansion . The legislature appointed a commission of five , including McCreary , to oversee the mansion 's construction . The governor exercised a good deal of influence over the process , including the replacement of a conservatory with a ballroom in the construction plan and the selection of a contractor from his hometown of Richmond as assistant superintendent of construction . Changing societal trends also affected construction . A hastily constructed stable to house horse @-@ drawn carriages was soon abandoned in favor of a garage for automobiles . 
