James Wilhoite was born in Shelbyville. In his earlier years, he flip-flopped back and forth between Shelbyville and the small community of Allisona before finally landing in Allisona and building this beautiful Italianate in 1877. He started out in merchandising and dabbled in the grocery business before settling on farming his 200 acres of “good, level land” according the Goodspeed History. It also stated that “he has been a considerable stock raiser and trader”.
The large wrap-around porch was added in 1910, but if you can imagine it without, you get that real good Italianate feel.
I will forever remember this scene of his 145 year-old home. The pink tree in the front, the dog on the porch, and the pebble driveway. The current owners tell me they have lived here so happily for 21 years and I can absolutely see why.
