commanding generals. One of the most famous residents, General of the Army Omar N. Bradley, called Riverside home from February 1941 to January 1942, while serving as commandant of the Infantry School. In 1972 Riverside was designated a
National Historic Home and accepted by the National Register of Historic Places. Maj. Gen. Robert Brown and his wife
Patti arrived at Riverside in the middle of the night in November of 2010 with their 3-year-old granddaughter and a dog. Fort Benning wasn’t expecting them, so the incoming commander and his fam- ily were unescorted when they first drove around their new quarters, their SUV piled high with luggage. “My eyes were as big as saucers,” Mrs. Brown recalled. “It was the middle of the night and here sits this amazing, beautiful plantation. What a first impression.” Te kitchen in their new home was
undergoing renovation, so the family grilled their Tanksgiving turkey and microwaved the side dishes. By Christmas, Brown said they had perfected grilling a turkey and had discovered Fresh Market
for the sides. Working around cooking limitations did
not take the bloom off the rose. Riverside is what Mrs. Brown considers one of three or four grand Army homes. She researched her new quarters, and says what impressed her the most was the amount of history and the number of local residents with ties to the property. “Te opportunity to live in something this historical reinforces that we want to share it with as many people as possible,” Brown said, and so for the two years they lived there, the family hosted school children, area business, civic and government leaders as well as military families and dignitaries. There were con- certs on the lawn and tours during the open houses. The house has been refurbished several
times, but since it is on the historic register, some things can’t be changed. For instance, there is a door that used to lead to a bathroom. Te bathroom was removed but the door had to stay, so it goes to nowhere as does one of the back porches. The oldest portion of the house is now the kitchen and office for the aide. The old brick of the fireplace dates back to the
This secretary is one piece of antique furniture that stays in the house.
8
Columbus and the Valley
August 2012
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