Riverside Bed & Breakfast

Riverside, circa 1895, was named by its original owners, Frank and Reta Maxwell. It was purchased by Steve and Linda Smith in 1980 to use as a family home, and to house Steve’s medical practice. They began the process of restoring the home and rearing two children, Tessa and Evan. The medical practice remained until 1989, and later Riverside Bed & Breakfast was established in 2001. Tessa and Evan’s bedrooms are still known by their names. Another bedroom, Virginia Lee’s Room, is named for the only child of the original owners, the Maxwells. The spacious house has its original floors and woodwork, as well as large pocket doors, an original bathroom with a skirted bathtub and hot water registers that provide heat throughout. It has been restored with attention to detail and decorated with a harmonious mix of antiques and comfortable furnishings for a relaxed feeling. This restored Victorian home is located on 4 peaceful acres, less than one mile from Main Street, in a small college town in north central West Virginia. Riverside is situated on a peninsula with the Buckhannon River in front and in back of the house. The original owners, the Maxwells, built two swinging bridges across the river, one on the south front to allow their daughter to walk across to West Virginia Wesleyan College, and one on the north back so they could cross to their farmland. The foundation of one of these bridges still stands.