From WIkipedia:

"Spruce Pine was founded in 1907 when the Clinchfield Railroad made its way down the North Toe River from Erwin, Tennessee. The town was originally centered around a tavern operated by Isaac English, located on an old roadway that ran from Cranberry, North Carolina down to Marion, NC. The Old English Inn still stands at its original location near the center of town. "

Notes from SprucePine.com:

The English Inn now offers some activities that are open to the public.  You can see their website at http://www.theoldenglishinn.com. 

The original name of Spruce Pine was Kim Thickets, although the town was never officially registered under this name.  There are various stories about the name "Spruce Pine", the most pervasive of which is that it was named by Isaac English's wife after a tree near the Old English Inn.  To the best of my knowledge there is no historical basis for this story  (locals please correct me if I am wrong).