Burnsville in Yancey County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

John Wesley McElroy House

Photographed by Mark Parker, September 28, 2025

1. John Wesley McElroy House Marker

Inscription. This property has been
placed on the
National Register
of Historic Places
by the United States
Department of the Interior

Erected by United States Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil.

Location. 35° 55.066′ N, 82° 18.077′ W. Marker is in Burnsville, North Carolina, in Yancey County. It can be reached from Academy Street north of West Main Street, on the right when traveling south. The marker is located on the east side of the house, underneath the porch. Access is available from the parking lot on Academy Street or via a series of steps next to the Yancey County Visitors Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 15 Academy St, Burnsville NC 28714, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s and he Mountains in the High Country. It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

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the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Burnsville (within shouting distance of this marker); Yancey County Courthouse (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Yancey Collegiate Institute (about 500 feet away); Citizens Bank Building (about 500 feet away); Otway Burns Monument (about 500 feet away); John "Yellowjacket John" Bailey (about 500 feet away); Nu Wray Inn (about 600 feet away); Yancey County War Memorial (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Burnsville.

Regarding John Wesley McElroy House. Excerpts from the McElroy House Nomination Form #90001802 (pages 2, 8-9)

The John Wesley McElroy House stands on one of the highest points in the city of Burnsville, North Carolina, overlooking the town and facing south toward Chalk Mountain and Celo
Photographed by Mark Parker, September 28, 2025

2. John Wesley McElroy House Marker, under the porch which faces east overlooking West Main Street.
Knob...

The two-story, gable-roofed McElroy House was constructed about 1845 on a single-pile plan with a two-story wing forming a T to the rear...

The McElroy House is believed to have been built for John Wesley McElroy in the late 1840s, possibly by Ephraim Clayton, an Asheville contractor who was McElroy's brother-in-law....In the period prior to the Civil War he became a prominent Yancey County merchant, farmer, and civic leader. He operated a store with Bacchus Smith and James Greenlee, and was a partner with Smith in the production of ginseng. McElroy served as clerk of the Superior Court of Yancey County from 1834 until 1846 and was an active member of the Methodist church. He served as a trustee of the Burnsville Academy and housed female students of the school in the early 1850s...

McElroy initially opposed secession but rallied behind the Confederacy after the initiation of hostilities at Fort Sumter. He was a colonel in the North Carolina militia during the early part of the Civil War. In July of 1863 the North Carolina General Assembly established the home guard, which superseded the militia. A home guard brigade was
Photographed by Mark Parker, September 28, 2025

3. John Wesley McElroy House. Steps at the end of the walkway descend to West Main Street
established in the northwest portion of the state and McElroy was appointed general of that brigade on September 26 by Governor Vance. He was North Carolina's only home guard brigadier general until February of 1865, when an eastern North Carolinian was so designated. McElroy's troops attempted to maintain order in the North Carolina mountains, arresting deserters, guarding bridges, and protecting against bandits . One of the largest engagements involving the home guard took place in Burnsville in April, 1864, when a group of 75 unionists and Confederate deserters terrorized the town before being driven off. According to local tradition, the McElroy House was used as a hospital after this skirmish.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Also see . . . John Wesley McElroy House Nomination Form (pdf). Form prepared by Carolyn A. Humphries/consultant and Jim Sumner and other staff, State Historical Preservation Office (Submitted on September 29, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)

View of John Wesley McElroy House from the parking lot off Academy Street. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, September 28, 2025

4. View of John Wesley McElroy House from the parking lot off Academy Street.

Smokehouse next to John Wesley McElroy House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, September 28, 2025

5. Smokehouse next to John Wesley McElroy House

Credits. This page was last revised on October 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 29, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 73 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 29, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.