It was built as a Quaker Academy in 1876 and affiliated with the Society of Friends.

[2] The building is located north of the National Road (US 40) on Cary at Washington Street.

[2] It has a mansard roof and twin four story towers that are topped by a telescope and a globe.

After the building ceased to be used as an academy, it functioned for many years as the local public high school.

The attached gymnasium was used as the home court of the Hickory Huskers in the 1985 movie Hoosiers.