Cullwood House

Built in 1799, Cullwood House was the first building on the X University campus.

The house served as the school president's housing from 1800-2001, named after the first president, Horton Cullwood. Horton served as president for 30 years, stepping down on his 80th birthday. It is the centerpiece in the campus, originally working as a middle point to build around.

The bottom story has an entry hall, a kitchen, walk-in pantry, dining room, living room, fireplace, laundry room, bathroom, office, and guest room. The top story features almost solely a large historical library, as well as a master bedroom and bathroom and a small bedroom intended for children. There is a small attic that is accessed through a spiral staircase in the library. The staircase was replaced in 1920 after the railing broke and Donald Alli's (the president at the time) daughter fell off and broke her ribs. He promptly retired. Nearly everything else is the original material, routinely checked for necessary repairs every 10 years.

After the 10th president, Ian Barnes, stepped down in 2000 after 20 years of service, his predecessor Jacquelin Chavez broke the 200 year tradition by electing to live off-campus. Ian remained in the house for one more year while he looked for a worthy tenant, and eventually settled on the Professor of Literature, Jamie Shriver. Shriver was hired as a professor at the age of 25, had been teaching at the University for eight years, and had become somewhat of a favorite of Ian's. He was allowed to rent the house for the price of an average dorm, so long as it stayed in near perfect condition. If it was to be significantly damaged, he would pay full price for the repairs and be removed from the property, as well as paying out of pocket for any small, preventable repairs during his residence. Shriver graciously accepted the offer and moved in in January 2001.

In 2003, Shriver adopted his teenaged sister's infant daughter. Threats were made to remove him from the property since children pose a significant risk of damage, but after a month of negotiation with President Chavez it was decided that he could stay, with a slightly raised rent in anticipation of small messes that would require professional cleaning, and inspections once a year. Somehow, no repairs were ever necessary. Rumors circulated that he coated her room in plastic wrap between inspections. Shriver raised his daughter Allison in Cullwood House from June 2003 to February 2023, when he died suddenly of an unexpected heart attack at the age of 60.

Two months after his death, the terms of residence were updated to allow Allison to continue living in the house until it was needed for the next president, so long as she kept up her father's deal. This was a very, very special arrangement and not advised by any staff other than Chavez. Allison was only allowed to stay on the grounds that the house had served as her childhood home, the whole campus had grown very fond of her, and she was a current student at the University.

President terms: (Horton Cullwood- 30 yrs, 30 yrs, 20 yrs, 20 yrs (1910), Donald Alli- 10 yrs, 20 yrs, 10 yrs, 15 yrs, 15 yrs (1980), Ian Barnes- 20 yrs, Jacquelin Chavez- 2000-present)