From the Bristol Historical Association website: “Constructed in 1903 on a hill overlooking downtown Bristol, the Edward Washington King house was listed in the National Historical Register in 1999.  The location of this historic home was once the site of Fort Shelby, an important Revolutionary War era outpost through which countless settlers passed during the westward expansion of the United States.  The house provides an excellent example of Queen Anne architecture and is one of the few remaining homes built at the beginning of the 20th Century in Bristol.  It was constructed by one of Bristol’s most prominent, Mr. Edward Washington King. As a respected citizen and philanthropist, Mr. King was praised for his progressive community action and his support of education, and this view was exemplified in the many buildings he blessed Bristol with over the years, both in residential and business structures. This Queen Anne Victorian home incorporated energetic details such as decorative chimneys, molded bricks, and a Renaissance Revival rooftop balustrade. Much of the structure still maintains the original wainscoting, as well as several of the decorative fireplace mantels, stairways, doors and windows. Even renovated, a true value could never be truly obtained when the historical value of this Bristol treasure is factored in. “

GPS coordinates: +36° 35′ 30.63″, -82° 11′ 8.17″

Read “Shelby’s Fort and Squabble State” at TNGenWeb.

“Bristol: Wilderness Road” and “E.W. King House” at Virginia.org

Evan Shelby’s Fort historic marker at waymarking.com

The marker in the front yard reads: “Shelby’s Fort. General Evan Shelby erected a fort here in 1771 that sheltered and protected pioneers and sent victorious forces to the battles of Point Pleasant, Long Island Flats and Chicamauga towns.  Here was conceived by Shelby, Campbell and Sevier, an expedition to Kings Mountain where the entire British force was killed or captured on Oct. 7, 1780.”

“I remember well the deep and grateful impression made on the mind of everyone by that memorable victory. It was the joyful annunciation of that turn of the tide of success which terminated the Revolutionary War with a seal of our independence.” ~Thomas Jefferson.

“Erected by Volunteer Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution Bristol, Tenn. October 7, 1927.”

Photos June 2011 by Sharon Steele-Smith.