Business Logo
5/5

Call Today!

Riverview at Hobson Cove

Riverview, located at Hobson Grove, also known as Riverview or Hobson House, is a historic house with a traditional Italianate architectural style in the western part of Bowling Green, Kentucky. The construction began in the mid-1850s. However, it was delayed because the Civil War destroyed it. The house was a participant during Civil War activities in the region. In 1872, it was finally completed. It was restored to be representative of the Victorian period. It is the main attraction in Hobson Grove Park within the city. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.

Riverview, located at Hobson Grove, was designed as the residence of Atwood Gaines Hobson and his wife, Juliet “Julia” (van Meter) Hobson on a small promontory. The name was given to the house due to its location near the Barren River. The construction of the house began in the 1850s but was stopped because during the Civil War.

Since Atwood Hobson was a firm Union supporter, because his oldest son William was appointed Colonel in the Union Army, The Hobson family had concerns about the security of the property. The commander of the Confederate forces, Simon Bolivar Buckner, who had fought alongside Atwood’s brother Edward during his time in the Mexican-American War, agreed to save the partially constructed house. His troops constructed temporary roofing over the basement and used it as a magazine for munitions during the winter months of 1861-1862. Bowling Green was the Confederate capital of Kentucky.

Riverview was completed in 1872. It is a perfect model of Italianate architecture, with arched windows, deep eaves with decorative brackets, and a cupola. The two rooms have ceilings that are painted. Atwood, along with Juliet Hobson, incorporated unique ideas into their house. A copper-lined wooden tank in the attic linked to outside drainage supplied running water to the water closet located on two floors. Another feature beneath the cupola is the opening in the ceiling. It is known as an oculus. It is part of the ventilation system. If the eight windows of the observatory are in use and the doors and windows are opened to the floor below them, a vacuum will be produced, pulling hot air upwards away from home and keeping the air moving around. It operates the same way an attic fan operates in the modern-day home. A1 Pest Control Bowling Green

The Hobson family, as well as their descendants, occupied the house from 1952 to. After a series of several tenants and getting damaged by fire, the building was abandoned and condemned in the year 1965. Then, the town of Bowling Green purchased the property to tear down the house and construct the golf course. This house was saved after a non-profit group called the Hobson House Association was established the following year. The Hobson House Association raised funds to restore the house to the Victorian style and ensure the house’s preservation. The proposed golf course was constructed nearby and is accessible from the hill on which Riverview is situated.

Address: 1100 W Main Ave, Bowling Green, KY

Find other attractions similar to Aviation Heritage