The railroad gave birth to Shellman, as it did so many little towns throughout Georgia. It was originally known as Ward, for John P. Ward, who helped bring the Southwest Georgia Railroad into the area. The town was incorporated in 1883 and renamed for W.F. Shellman, a traffic manager for the Central of Georgia Railroad. The C of G built this passenger and freight depot in 1893. It was renovated in the 1990s and is now used for community functions.

Shellman Historic District, National Register of Historic Places