Shelbridge

Shelbridge is a two-story Colonial Revival residence on East Eleventh Avenue featuring balanced facades and classical architectural elements. The structure displays hallmarks of 1920s construction with carefully proportioned details and ornamental features throughout.

The house was built in 1920 by a lumber merchant using construction methods and materials contemporary to that era. The property changed hands in the late 1920s and received its present name through the personal connection of its new owners.

The name reflects how previous owners blended their identities into the property's identity, creating a personal connection to the place. Walking past, you can see how early 20th-century homeowners valued symmetry and formal design in their daily surroundings.

The property belongs to the state of Tennessee and currently serves as the president's residence at a nearby university, with its main entrance facing 11th Street. As a private residence, the interior is not open to visitors, but the exterior can be viewed from public areas.

A National Register plaque marks the property at its locked gate entrance, signaling its official recognition as a historic structure. This formal designation distinguishes the house as architecturally and historically notable within the community.