Rutherford College

… former town and college in E Burke County. The school was founded by R. L. Abernathy in 1853, and the 400-acre site was inc. as village of Excelsior in 1872; inc. as town of Rutherford College in 1881. Alt. 1,210. The school merged with Weaver College in 1932 and was moved to Brevard, which see, and renamed Brevard College. Town charter repealed in 1933. Now a residential community approx. 2 mi. E of town of Valdese. Named for John Rutherford, who donated the land for the school in 1853. Original post office, 1857-86, was named Happy Home; it also served Connelly Springs, which see.