History is abundant in our local historic burial grounds and graveyards, and they have many stories to tell if we know how to listen. Join us August 24th from 2:00-5:00 PM for "HEARTS Sacred Grounds '24 - Over the Wall" at Huntersville’s historic Cedar Grove, 8229 Gilead Road, Huntersville, NC, and visit next door at the Hugh Torance House and Store.
Our 2nd annual HEARTS Sacred Ground event features Dr. Julia Robinson Moore, professor, author, and ordained Presbyterian minister, presenting: The Stories They Tell: The History of Enslaved Burial Grounds and Presbyterian Churches in our Area. Tickets for HEARTS Sacred Grounds '24 are free with donations appreciated. Click here for tickets or visit www.hught.org.
Julia Robinson Moore (Ph.D., Michigan State University) joined the Department of Religious Studies at UNC Charlotte in 2005. She teaches courses in African American Religion, Religions of the African Diaspora, and racial violence in America. Her first book, Race, Religion, and the Pulpit: The Life of Reverend Robert L. Bradby and the Making of Urban Detroit, was published in 2015, and has recently been reissued in paperback. She is currently working on a new book project investigating the complexities of race relations in the city of Charlotte through the lens of its historic slave cemeteries connected to local Presbyterian churches.
HEARTS is excited to welcome musical guest, Horns of Glory, to Sacred Grounds '24. First organized in the mid-1980s at the United House of Prayer in Charlotte’s Third Ward, the group has performed all over the East Coast, backing gospel legends like Shirley Cesar and Gospel Keynotes. Blues and jazz undertones can be heard in their spiritually driven, street-band-style gospel music.
On display in the Center Hall Gallery is the Junion Exhibit featuring the names of 143 people enslaved on the plantation, along with enlarged pages from a journal kept by James G. Torrance titled, “The Ages of Negroes.” The list was compiled through the research of genealogist Andre’ Kearns, co-chair of the HEARTS Reunion Project. Kearns is a descendant of Charlotte Kerns whose name is fourth on the list. These names are now part of the "10 Million Names Project," a national initiative to honor the estimated 10 million people enslaved in this country before emancipation. The Reunion Project is the "R" in HEARTS, providing an important genealogical component to help descendants of the enslaved connect to their heritage, which is often difficult due to a lack of documentation.
The Hugh Torance House and Store is one of Mecklenburg County’s few surviving 18th-century structures and NC's oldest standing store. On the event day, the Store will be open from 2:00-5:00, offering new local artisan crafts and sundries, as well as docent-guided tours.
Designed to inspire and enhance our community’s shared sense of place, HEARTS (History, Ecology, Art, Reunion, Trails, Store) grass-roots events are known for juxtaposing regional history and ecology with curated local music and art in multi-faceted, place-based programs. HEARTS Circle members along with corporate sponsors and dedicated volunteers make HEARTS Happenings possible in these incredible historic places and further the HEARTS mission of historic preservation, ecological conservation, and forging community connections in our region.
Help us continue our programs by becoming a HEARTS member, or if you’ve already joined, invite a friend or give a gift of membership to support our region’s deep history, rich nature, and many talented artists. The HEARTS Circle annual membership drive is underway, and this year our new and existing members are in for an incredible treat, in the form of a spectacular private evening on September 7, 2024, featuring nationally acclaimed singer-songwriter, activist, music therapist, and community connector Kyshona. Kyshona’s music is an exercise in healing, focusing on family, ancestors, place, and history. Check out her new single ‘Carolina,’ featuring special guest Keb’ Mo’, streaming everywhere. In addition, guests will be treated to behind-the-scenes tours of Cedar Grove and a buffet dinner featuring gourmet local farm fare and artisan desserts by the Carolina Farm Trust.
Memberships range from student through corporate levels with each level offering various levels of tickets and benefits. Click here to join today and join us to continue the vital work needed to preserve and share our region's history.
For more information, visit www.hught.org, email info@hughtorancehouseandstore.org, or call (704) 920-9931. The historic Hugh Torance House and Store is located at 8231 Gilead Road, Huntersville, NC 28078 and is adjacent to Cedar Grove, the 1831 Greek Revival home of James Torrance, son of Hugh and Isabella Torance.
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