McElroy House
The Federal style home- built in the 1840’s- by local businessman John Wesley McElroy appears as it would have when it was built. The building plans & construction are attributed to Ephraim Clayton, a noted architect and husband of McElroy’s sister. Clayton designed and built other noted buildings in western North & South Carolina- including the Main Building at Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC., the Polk County Courthouse, the original building for Mars Hill College in Madison County, the 1848 Buncombe County Courthouse, First Episcopal Church-Asheville, and numerous other buildings and homes in and around Asheville.​​
John Wesley McElroy, was not only a local businessman and lawyer, but was the first Clerk of Court in Yancey County and a trustee of the Burnsville Academy.
Due to financial reverses, McElroy vacated the house before the Civil War and lived on his farm at Jack’s Creek.
The next owners were Issac Pearson and George Chapman.
Civil War Years:
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In 1863, Gov. Zebulon Vance created the Home Guard to address the internal unrest and dissent with NC due to the war’s impact and Confederate Conscription Acts. John W McElroy was appointed Brigadier General of the Western NC Home Guard and used the house for his headquarters. By 1864, his headquarters were located at Mars Hill College.
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On April 11, 1864, 40-50 local women marched to the Confederate storehouse and carried off about 60 bushels of CSA wheat. The “Bread Riot” was triggered by hunger and the conscription of goods for the benefit of the Confederate army.
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The following day, Montreval Ray, led about 75 men, broke into the armory, and stole about 100 guns and 500 lbs. of bacon. McElroy sent word to the governor- “The county has gone up” and requested troops. A recruiting officer was wounded in this skirmish.
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On April 15, 1864, Colonel John B. Palmer arrived with 250 regular troops and artillery from the 58th NC to quell the riot.
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The McElroy House was used as a field hospital after the skirmish. Dr. O. M. Lewis resided in the house in 1864.
In 1867, the house was sold to Joshua and Edmond Williams. Although they were farmers and tanners, they also operated the Post Office from the house.
In 1889, Captain William Van Buren Moore bought the house for $1200. He lived in the home with his 2nd wife, Serepta Celeste Woody Moore, along with their 2 daughters and 4 daughters from his 1st marriage. When Serepta Celeste Moore died in 1892, he married his 3rd wife, Mary Elizabeth Allison, a few months later. They had 4 more daughters. After his death in 1899, Mary continued to live in the home until 1917.
In 1917, the house was bought by William Byrd from the widow of Capt. Moore. It was used as apartments.
Winnie Lou and Troy Ray purchased the home in 1945. Troy died in 1963, but Winnie Lou continued to reside in the house.
Mary Louise Wray donated $60,000 to purchase the house for YHA following her mother’s death in 1987.
McElroy House Kitchen
Many homes built during this period had kitchens located elsewhere on the grounds in case of fire; however, this kitchen is attached to the house. Possibly this was done to create warmth for a home built in the mountains and atop a hill. It originally had a dirt floor.
McElroy House Parlor
The parlor is furnished in the EastLake style- as the Moore family would have used. It contains a Morris recliner, parlor organ, a flax spinning wheel, and other side tables. The fireplace screen was donated by Heather McElroy Egan, 3rd great-granddaughter of John W. McElroy.
McElroy House Dining Room
The large dining room served as a center of the household activities and would have been where church services were held for traveling Methodist ministers when McElroy owned the home. This area displays some of the photos that of the John W. McElroy, his wife- Catherine Poteet, and some of their children.
McElroy House Civil War Room
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This room would have originally been used as a gentleman’s parlor and office for John W. McElroy. Although he no longer owned the house during the Civil War, McElroy would have used this room when he came to Burnsville for recruiting purposes in his role as Brigadier General of the western NC Home Guard.
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Later, when Dr. O.M. Lewis resided in the house during the Civil War, this room was used as his physician’s office. The bed symbolizes this room’s use during the April 1864 upheaval when wounded were brought to the house.
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The gun owned by Sam Bennett, last Confederate soldier in the Carolina, is housed in this room. Other features of note include the Confederate War bonds and the post office cubicle.
McElroy House Industry Room: (2nd Floor)
This room would probably have housed the female students of the Burnsville Academy. All non-local female students were required to stay here at a cost of $1.25 per week.
This room now showcases some of the historic Appalachian arts and crafts from artisans at the Markle School and Penland School—as well as other local artisans such as Luther Thomas
The Markle School was a project of the Presbyterian Church and was established in 1929 by Martha Robinson of Pennsylvania to preserve traditional handicrafts.
In 1923, Lucy Morgan received the first looms for teaching weaving at the Appalachian Industrial School at Penland. She created the Penland School of Handicraft to teach weaving to local women so they could earn income from their homes. Later courses in carding, spinning- both wool and flax-, vegetable dyeing, book binding, pottery, basketry, block printing, leather work, and simple jewelry making was added.
House Grounds
Proffitt/Cousins/King Cabin
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The circa 1850’s cabin was built on land originally owned by “Honest” Dave Proffitt in the Elk Shoals area of western Yancey County. Proffitt descendants lived in the house until the late 1900’s. It was relocated to the museum complex and rebuilt in 2008.
Smokehouse
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The smokehouse was relocated to the property by the Palmer Camp SCV in 2003.
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Cistern
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The original well for the McElroy House was used until the early 1900’s. Wells of this type were discontinued for fear of disease or bacteria in the water. Many of these wells, including the McElroy House well, became a garbage pit. Items from the well were excavated in 2006 and are currently on display in the Bailey Building.
However, these wells were often dangerous—as one of our volunteers discovered. During the excavation, she thought she was standing on the bottom of the well. This false bottom gave way and she plummeted an additional 40-50 feet down. See her story on display in the Bailey Building!