Brownie the Depot Dog

For many years, a small mixed-breed dog named Brownie made the East Rome Depot his home. Beloved by locals and railway staff alike, Brownie formed a close bond with Southern Railway Yardmaster H.B. Siegel and could often be found sleeping in the depot’s waiting room at night.

Brownie was known for his unique sense of loyalty—not to every train, but to the passenger trains with dining cars. He never missed their arrival, eagerly awaiting scraps and treats from the friendly porters and dining car crew. When Brownie passed away in 1941, the Southern Railway honored him with a heartfelt farewell. His funeral drew a large crowd, and the eulogy was delivered by Parson Joyner, director of the Maple Street Community Center.

A small pink marble headstone from Tate, Georgia, originally marked Brownie’s grave at the depot. However, due to concerns about vandalism, the stone was relocated to a safer place: Georgia’s Rome Welcome Center at 402 Civic Center Drive. The Center itself is housed in the historic 1901 Southern Railway Depot, which was moved from Reeves, Georgia, to its current location in the 1970s. Today, Brownie’s gravestone can be seen beside the wheelchair ramp at the entrance—preserving the memory of Rome’s most faithful rail fan.

Explore more history by visiting several historical markers on Jackson Hill adjacent to the Georgia’s Rome Welcome Center. 

Postcard of the East Rome Depot

H. B. Siegel at Brownie’s grave

Brownie’s grave located outside of Georgia’s Rome Welcome Center