Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

3206 GEORGIA AND GEOEGIANSCounty. He came from the North to Atlanta in 1886, and in the same yearbecame identified with the business whose phenomenal success has beenbriefly described. Mr. Robinson has always been a republican in nationalpolitics, but is democratic in state and purely local matters. He is an activedmrchman, has been a member of the official board of the First ChristianChurch, and for a number of years taught a large Bible class. It is said thatduring that time fully 1,000 young women had been members of his class.'Mr. Robinson owns and occupies an attractive home at 7 Briar Cliff Road,Druid Hills. He was married in Iowa to Miss Laura Clapp, of Fairfield, thatstate. Their one daughter, Miss Goldie Robinson, is the wife of Dr. CecilC. Stockard, an Atlanta physician.After many years of service as secretary and treasurer of The Coco ColaCompany Mr. Robinson retired from active business life and devoted histime and attention to the building and beautifying of a country home on thebanks of the Chattahoochee River in Cobb County, about seven miles fromthe center of Atlanta. There he bought some forty acres of beautiful hillsand dales, with 2,000 feet of river frontage and a very attractive lake stockedwith ducks, geese and fish. He has accorded himself the privilege of improving and adapting this country estate according to his own plans and ideasand tastes. Instead of putting up one large house as a home, he has fourcommodious and very attractive bungalow cottages, each furnished with allthe modern city conveniences and arranged for the use and enjoyment ofhis family and friends. One of these cottages, called Pine Lodge, is pleasantlysituated in a pine grove, commanding a beautiful view of the river. Thishouse is well furnished and is devoted exclusively to the entertainment offriends who may wish to spend a few days or weeks in a quiet retreat, awayfrom the noise, bustle and confusion of the city. The tennis court which furnishes means of recreation to the guests and family has a specially unique andinteresting situation. It was built in the center of what was originally afortification, used more than fifty years ago by the southern army in defending the Western & Atlantic Railroad bridge from destruction by Sherman'sadvancing hosts. The great banks thrown up at that time have never beendisturbed, and the openings for running out the cannons are just as they werethen.At his personal expense Mr. Robinson has built a beautiful automobileroad thirty feet wide and about a mile in length, and running in almost acircle around his place and through the grounds. This road leads directlyin front of each residence, and by the 3-story springhouse, the large concreteswimming pool, the water reservoir with its complete electrical machinery forforcing water to the houses and other buildings and grounds; then, passingfarther on, it leads to the boathouse at the lake, the tennis court, the croquetgrounds, the poultry buildings and chicken runs, the buildings for animal petsand the pigeon house, and thus practically every conspicuous feature of thisestate is directly accessible from the automobile highway.Mr. Robinson has fitted up for his own use a neat office. This containsnumerous relics of the war, including cannon balls, shells and many riflebullets, all discovered on the grounds. Peace, prosperity and pleasure nowprevail on the grounds where fifty years ago there was arrayed brother againstbrother in bitter strife and the lives of good, true, noble men of the North andthe South were sacrificed in the cruel war that was raging over the beautifulbanks of the Chattahoochee River. A very unusual distinction enjoyed byMr. Robinson, and reflecting indeed his generous hospitality, is that he ownssix good residences, well furnished and all occupied by his family and friendsand others in whom he is especially interested, and in no case is any rentalcharged or received directly or indirectly from these residences.