The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project

President's House

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President's House, Bellarmine University

Institution Name: Bellarmine University
Original/Historic Place Name: Edgewood
Location on Campus: 3605 Glenview Ave
Date(s) of Construction and Designer(s):

1870	original design Unknown
1905	addition of wrap-around veranda and Palladian window Unknown
1915	addition of two-story north wing Unknown
n.d.	gardens planted Leland & Halderman

Type of Place: Individual building
Style(s): (Glossary)
Materials:

Foundation: none specified

Walls: brick; white clapboard

Roof: none specified

Function:

ca. 1870	private residence (family estate, summer home; family established horse breeding farm in area)
2000-present (2007)	president's house (also used for campus gatherings and events)

Significance: architecture, history, landscape
Landmark designation:

none

Narrative: see below
References: see below

Narrative:
The President's House of Bellarmine University (Edgewood) is a Victorian structure that was built in 1870. The area, near bluffs over the Ohio River, was used as a summer home district by prominent Victorian Louisville residents, and also was the vicinity of a post-Civil War horse breeding farm.

The main block of the original house is two and one-half stories with a five bay façade, small rectangular attic windows, and a low-hipped roof. Its exterior walls are eight-inch solid brick covered with white clapboard. The Palladian window and the wide column wrap-around veranda were added ca. 1905. A two-story north wing, in Colonial Revival style, was built about 1915.

This structure has served as the University President's House since 2000 and is now also used for multiple University gatherings and events.

References:

I. Bibliographic sources:

President's Office Archives. Bellarmine University, Louisville, KY.

II. Location of other data:

University: Special Collections