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 cannonfire from Stoneman's Raiders during the Civil War. (A cannonball found embedded in the bricks conveys with the property.) Although the house's north wall was badly damaged from this attack, it was repaired with stucco; however, the stucco was failing by the time the current owners bought the house a few years ago. Much research on finding compatible "slave brick" and many interviews with prospective masons took place before the north wall was finally rebuilt - with hand-made brick from Salisbury, NC - in late 2007.

In addition to rebuilding the north wall, the current owners have completed several major renovation projects, including placing steel liners in two chimneys ... putting in a new full bathroom ... updating the kitchen (which included new paint and tile backsplash, adding a new refrigerator and gas stove, as well as replacing an old woodstove with a refurbished and fully functioning turn-of-the-century Village Crawford wood cookstove) ... painting and reglazing all of the home's original handcarved wood double-hung sash windows (9 over 9 on the first floor, and 6 over 9 on the second) ... painting all the exterior trim ... updating the electrical service to 200 amps ... installing electric baseboard heating throughout the house ... installing a Jotul propane cast iron stove/decorative heater in the parlor ... putting in electric horse fencing with wood and vinyl posts ... renovating the 100+ year old log barn with electric lights, remote-controlled ceiling fan and hot/cold running water ... installing an 8-person hot tub just outside the bonus room/sunroom addition ... and re-roofing the 20' by 13' bonus room/sunroom addition with metal matching that of the house. This bonus room has hot and cold water as well as gas pipes already in place, so the large space could easily be converted to an additional bedroom with bath.

Set on a picturesque knoll surrounded by 7.8 mostly level to gently rolling acres, the William Morris House features large rooms, high ceilings, handcarved wood molding and beautiful original heartpine floors. There are two bedrooms (each is approximately 20' by 20'), a kitchen, parlor, sunroom (not counted in square footage), a full bath on the main floor and a half bath upstairs. 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 $300.

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 - a Mr. Powell Simmons - to come back and buy the property after the war. (Upon his death, Mr. Simmons was buried on the property in a grave now marked by a Sons of Confederate Veterans headstone.) More photos and a detailed written history of the house is available upon request. Please come and see for yourself what makes this property so charmingly unique, and why it would make a perfect retreat, family gathering place or mini farm.