Home Feature: The Legacy of Boxwood

Story by Amelia Bowen

Photography by Harris Visual Media & Tessa Tinsley

Certain homes leave an impression long before you ever step inside. Boxwood 1843 is one that reveals itself slowly through layered history, carefully preserved details and stories tucked into nearly every room. For Eric and Ellen Aldridge and their nine children, Boxwood became both a restoration project and a journey into Bowling Green history the moment they unexpectedly became its owners. “We always admired the house,” Ellen recalls. “My husband went to the auction mostly just to see what it would sell for. Then he called me and said, ‘We own Boxwood.’” Built in 1843, the historic State Street home originally sat on a 10 acre farm stretching toward what is now WKU’s campus. In the 1920s, the home underwent a significant restoration led by Otis Vernon Clark and his wife, members of the family behind Clark Distributing. It was during that era that many of the home’s most recognizable details, from the formal gardens to the French inspired interiors, took shape. When the Aldridges purchased the property in 2024, they quickly realized they were stepping into something far larger than a renovation. “We didn’t realize when we bought it how significant the house was locally,” Ellen says. “It’s been a family project and we’re enjoying sharing it with others.” From the beginning, the family’s goal was clear: restore Boxwood to the elegance and character of its 1920s glory while preserving as much original detail as possible. To help guide the process, the Aldridges worked closely with Nick Rabold, president of the Landmark Trust and great-grandson of renowned landscape designer Ruth Rabold, who originally designed the Boxwood gardens during the Clark era. Together, they approached the restoration with careful historical consideration. Original light fixtures were preserved. Wallpaper selections were chosen based on historically accurate patterns. Gardens were replanted with heirloom-inspired varieties that would have existed during the home’s earlier years. Even architectural details and paint colors were selected with intention. The family also added limestone sidewalks at the front and back of the property to complement the home’s original limestone details. That attention to detail extends far beyond the structure itself. Throughout the home, Ellen has thoughtfully incorporated pieces passed down through her own family, creating a layered sense of history that feels deeply personal rather than staged. Antique furniture from her grandparents’ home now fills many of the rooms, blending seamlessly into the nearly 200 year old residence. “My grandmother’s style fit the house perfectly,” Ellen says. “A lot of the furniture, artwork and decorative pieces throughout the home belonged to her.” Inside, nearly every room tells a story. The formal living room welcomes guests with blue and white French toile wallpaper, original carvings accented by hand painted detailing completed by Eric, Ellen and their daughters and furnishings collected from generations of family history. An 1850 piano anchors the room while brass rubbings created by Ellen’s grandmother during her time living in London hang throughout the upstairs hallways. Elsewhere, wallpaper becomes part of the storytelling itself. One upstairs bathroom features scenic Parisian illustrations while another room showcases original 1920s wallpaper that the family carefully preserved despite years of wear. In several spaces, original tilework was restored rather than replaced, allowing the home’s age and craftsmanship to remain visible. “There’s history in every room,” Ellen says. “We wanted it to feel collected over time, not recreated.” Outside, the gardens have become one of the property’s most recognizable features. The brick walls, original fountain and statuary date back to the Clark family’s 1920s restoration, while new magnolias, roses and heirloom plantings continue to expand the landscape today. Ellen notes that many of the garden elements were inspired by the same vision Ruth Rabold brought to Fountain Square Park decades ago. The property’s carriage house, inspired by architecture Mrs. Clark admired in New Orleans, is currently undergoing restoration and is already being utilized for weddings and gatherings. Despite the scale of the project, Boxwood remains deeply centered around family life. Ellen and Eric’s nine children, ranging in age from 5 to 21, frequently spend time at the home, playing dress up in the upstairs rooms, helping paint intricate trim work or gathering around furniture and keepsakes that have been part of their family for decades. “It really has become a family project,” Ellen says. “Everybody’s had a hand in it.” Today, Boxwood stands as both a preservation of Bowling Green history and a reflection of the family now caring for it. Through thoughtful restoration, inherited treasures and an unmistakable reverence for the past, the Aldridges have created a home that honors its legacy while continuing to build a new one. As restoration efforts continue, Boxwood has also begun welcoming the community back onto the property through weddings, gatherings and private events hosted across the gardens and carriage house. Those interested in booking Boxwood for weddings or private events can learn more through the property’s social media channels.