Former President George H.W. Bush remembered by Northwest DC neighbors

WASHINGTON - A Northwest neighborhood is sharing fond memories about their former neighbor, President George H.W. Bush.

The home's current residents reminisce as the country continues to grieve the 41st president's passing.

History lives inside 5161 Palisade Lane in Northwest. It's where former President George H.W. Bush and his family called home before he became president.

"It is an honor to live where a former president lived -- actually two former presidents lived in," said homeowner Leigh Holley.

Former President Bush and his family moved to the northwest neighborhood in 1968 and lived there for a decade.

"I like telling my friends that I live in a house that presidents lived in," said 12-year-old Palmer Holley.

She says her family, along with living in the house of the Bushes are related to President Franklin Pierce.

Palmer wasn't born when her parents moved to the home 15 years ago but she's heard the stories, including one about the trees surrounding the home.

Tall trees were reportedly planted around the home to obstruct neighbors' views and minimize noise from George Bush Junior's house parties. Barbara Bush also planted forsythia bushes around the home.

"It's the passing of an era. He was an amazing gentleman, amazing leader and it's sad for the country," said Holley.

Holley says she had the opportunity to meet the former President as part of her work when he came to visit with the Treasury Department.

Their meeting although happened years before the Holleys moved to Palisade Lane, and put their touch on the two-story, six-bedroom, five-and-half bathroom brick home.

"All of the house had bullet-proof titanium screens on every window, and so we had to remove all of those screens which weighed a ton and then the things we would find in the renovation. We found out that the stairs were all alarmed, the secret service lived downstairs in the basement," she said.

"The things that we keep uncovering, even now -- we'll find a notebook or a piece of paper in the attic that has the White House or the CIA."

George H.W. Bush served as CIA director at the time he lived he lived in the home, but for the folks in his neighborhood, the former president was a neighbor and friend.

"We sat in the circle and the turn around, we would meet out there and have a drink and talk," said neighbor Henry Cashen.

"The Bushes were a rare quality and Mrs. Bush was a wonderful asset to the president and a great family and I just feel fortunate to have known them and seen as much of them as much as I did," he said.

Cashen says the Bushes were an easy going couple who loved people.

"During his lifetime, I don't think people got a chance to appreciate all the qualities and values he had as a person, as a father, as a husband, as a friend," he said.

Former President Bush will lie in state of the U.S. Capitol Rotunda from Monday at 7:30 p.m. until Wednesday at 8:45 a.m.