The Terrell House was originally built in the early 1900’s as a the second girl’s dormitory (The first girls dormitory was destroyed by fire) for the Stanley McCormick School (Son of Cyrus H. McCormick/Nancy “Nettie” McCormick inventor of the Mechanical Reaper, Chicago, IL).

The school (1899-1922) was the first private high school in NC that educated both boys and girls and was funded by Mrs. Nancy “Nettie” McCormick of Chicago and the Presbyterian Church in Burnsville. The 4 acres of land for the campus was donated by Captain William Moore in 1897 who lived in the McElroy House (Currently the Museum in Burnsville). The school was based on the Fircroft Folk School style of learning (John Cadbury 1801-1889 in Birmingham UK). The school had an excellent reputation and had an experienced faculty. The school closed in 1922 and Mrs McCormick assisted Leroy F. Jackson in reviving the school as the progressive but short-lived Carolina New College a trade school. The dormitory became a private residence until it was restored and converted to a bed and breakfast by the Terrell family in the early 1990’s. The Masonic Lodge located opposite the Terrell House was built originally as the dining hall for the school. All that is left of the Stanley McCormick School building today is the stone basement. This has been converted into a private home.