[1] The house was built as a residence for Theophilus Brown Larimore, and served as the center of a school, known as Mars Hill College.

The Larimore Home continued to be a fixture and symbol of the school, which hosted special events and weddings.

On the night of July 19, 2018, the Larimore Home was intentionally set on fire by an arsonist.

[citation needed] The house featured Victorian influences, and had a nearly full-width, double-height veranda across the façade, supported by six square columns.

The house had a center-hall plan with two rooms on either side of a central hall on each floor.