From The Archives

Local historic landmark offers extremely low taxes and a fascinating history ...

Originally the centerpiece of a 1,500 acre plantation, the William Morris House was built by slaves from bricks fired on the property. With walls 13" thick (made by laying three bricks side by side), the William Morris House was able to withstand cannon fire from Stoneman's Raiders during the Civil War. (A cannonball found embedded in the bricks conveys with the property.) There are two bedrooms (each is approximately 20' by 20'), a kitchen, parlor, sunroom (not counted in square footage which could easily be turned into a 3rd bedroom or family room and also plumbing set up for another bathroom as well), a full bath on the main floor and a half bath upstairs connected to the master bedroom. There is also a detached workshop and storage shed with electricity and water. The house is on a septic system and features underground utilities, so there are no visible wires running to the home. The William Morris House has status as a local historical landmark, which offers a 50% deferred tax rate - so the annual property taxes are less than $500. As one of the only known surviving brick Greek Revival antebellum homes in McDowell County, the William Morris House still exhibits a quiet peacefulness that once compelled a Confederate soldier who fought on its land (Mr. Powell Simmons) to come back and buy the property after the war.