The Oldest Standing Store
in North Carolina
Operated by the Hugh Torance House and Store, Inc. (HTHS), a federally recognized 501(c)3 nonprofit charity organization, we are dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of this incredible site and connecting the c.1775 Torance homesite and mercantile store to other historical properties like Cedar Grove, the 1831 Greek Revival home of James G. Torrence, son of Hugh and Isabella Torance, which is located adjacent to the Hugh Torance House and Store.
The Historic
Hugh Torance House and Store
The historic Hugh Torance House and Store is North Carolina's oldest standing store and one of Mecklenburg County’s few surviving 18th-century structures. It began as a simple 600 square foot log cabin believed to be owned by John McDowell and, as the Torance family grew, it transitioned into the dramatic 2-story federal-style home it still is today. The remarkably intact home with its attached mercantile store retains many of its original characteristic features including its floor plan, interior and exterior woodwork, masonry, and hardware.
Mission
Our mission is to preserve, restore, and share the history of this incredible site with the community by offering free public programming such as guided living history tours, school field trip tours and activities, and seasonal special events.
Vision
Our vision for this historic site is for its conservation, preservation, and restoration to its former glory as a c.1775 home, operating as a nonprofit and providing free community programming through fully accessible means to all ages for education, entertainment, and volunteer opportunities.
We also share the HEARTS Collaborative mission to weave the threads of local people, places, and pieces together into a vibrant and interconnected tapestry of our regions’ historic identity.
HEARTS does this by featuring History, Ecology, the Arts, the Reunion Project, Trailways, and Stores at its monthly place-based events.
Travel Through Time Like Never Before
HEARTS believes nothing compares to immersing yourself in the past to see new perspectives. A closer look at any historical place, person, or piece nearly always reveals an interesting connection to another significant place, person, or piece. By highlighting the fascinating interconnectedness of history, HEARTS weaves the individual threads of history together into a tapestry sharing our local history, nature, and the arts through HEARTS Happenings.
HISTORY
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ECOLOGY
Reconnect with Nature on an Ecological Island
The landscape surrounding our historic sites presents a pristine glimpse into the ecology of the wetlands and woodlands for the Piedmont region. A sanctuary from the surrounding development, the land is home to many native and protected species. Connections to nature are featured wherever possible, sharing both lore and history. Volunteer opportunities for stewardship, preservation, and conservation are opportunities for individuals and groups of all ages to protect the environments in which our historic sites reside.
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You Can’t Have HEARTS Without the Arts
To share the stories of the land and all the people the land has touched over the past 10,000 years, narratives are explored in unique and creative ways through site-specific music, dance, poetry, and visual art installations from every genre. Poetry and the written word are explored through historic writers and poets encompassing the 18th-21st centuries. The performing arts come alive by infusing dance and dramatic performances, historic reenactments and modern artistic interpretations into educational entertainment.
ARTS
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Connections Through Collections
The Reunion Project was created by HEARTS to collect and share the stories of the people connected to historical places throughout time. While collections of documents and stories of the lives of formerly enslaved people and indigenous people is a key component of the HEARTS mission, it has evolved into an interconnected and ever growing web of documents, artifacts, and stories of all people and places throughout the Catawba Valley Region.For more information, visit the HEARTS Reunion Project page.
REUNION
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Where Trails Intersect, People Come Together
Near many of Catawba Valley's historical sites are accesses to trails and greenways, many of which are connected to larger networks like the Carolina Thread Trail. HEARTS encourages sites to grow their our own nature trails and to connect their trails to larger trailway and greenway passages. Offering interpretative signage detailing the native flora and fauna, the history of remaining buildings, ruins, and the locations of structures that no longer remain are creative ways to engage and educate visitors and keep them coming back.
TRAILS
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The Oldest Sites, Alive Again
Long forgotten or in disrepair, HEARTS works hard to rehabilitate, restore, and preserve even the oldest historical sites and to re-open them to the public to share their interesting stories and to ensuring the site's continued survival. Whether it's back-office support, on-site management, or marketing and fundraising that a threatened site needs, HEARTS develops a plan to achieve each sites' specific mission and goals.