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Owner of George H.W. Bush's former Milton home remembers 41st president

George H.W. Bush had strong ties to Massachusetts, with a plaque of granite stone marking his birthplace right outside his former Milton home, where he lived for several months of his life.

Nina Graves, the current owner of the Victorian mansion, recounted fond memories of meeting the 41st president of the United States on not one, but two occasions.

"He was quite a gentlemen and I'm proud to have known him," Graves said. "It was nice, he came to the house, saw the room he was born in."

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Bush paid a visit to his former home in 1997, and later returned with a young boy, who Graves said was a young George W. Bush.

"He came one day, little boy out there," Graves said. "Sunday morning, he sat down, he would like to show his son the house he was born in and I said, 'Well, come on in, come around the yard.'"

Graves has lived in the home for over 50 years, and said she considers it an honor to be there.

"He was even nicer than I've ever seen anybody," Graves said. "Such a nice person."

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Dozens traveled from near and far to pay their respects to the 41st president at his birth place in Milton a day after his passing.

"We have a president who served our country and he was a great president," Boston native Ben Garvin said. "It's important to show kids to show respect for a person in that position."

Garvin brought his daughters Julia and Sophia to lay flowers near the granite stone plaque, as others stopped by throughout the morning to do the same.

"You can’t forget his New England roots and it’s just a great thing to do, no matter Republican or Democrat, to stop by and pay respects to a previous president," Dorchester native Teri Flynn-Mahoney said. "I’m glad to do it."

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Dennis Mahoney also took the trip to show his respects, and said Bush's traits were similar to the traits of Massachusetts as a whole.

"Regardless of what political party are with, one tradition that Massachusetts has is community service and caring and sincere feeling for needs of people," Mahoney said. "I think that's what he did."