Travel with HEARTS to May 1775

A highlight of the event, all ages are welcome to join in the Maypole Dance at HEARTS May 1775

Before Hugh Torance

In May of 1775, the site of Huntersville’s Hugh Torance House and Store looked very different from how it appears today. Back then, it is believed it consisted of a one-room log cabin nestled alongside a spur of the Great Wagon Road. Today, the lovingly restored structure, including the two-story Federal addition, is one of our region's most significant historic sites, known for its creative, place-based HEARTS programming. 

Enjoy Hands-On History

Join us on Saturday, May 3, 2025, from 2:00-5:00, for HEARTS May 1775: a celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence at the Hugh Torance House and Store.

Come experience a fun-filled day of local history, nature, and backcountry folkways including cooking, gardening, blacksmithing, music, dance and more!

This living history event will take you back to the time the document known as the Meck Dec was signed, in which Mecklenburg County citizens declared independence from England a year before the rest of the colonies. 

The Fiddler, the Flutist, and the Maypole Dance

A highlight of the event will be the second annual HEARTS Maypole Dance, an age-old celebration of spring performed for centuries around the globe.

This year’s dance features live music by "The Fiddler and the Flutist," Glen Alexander and Sharon Fogarty, and an impressive 16’ maypole crafted on-site from a fallen Eastern red cedar.

No prior knowledge or dance expertise is needed to participate in this family-friendly, interactive experience.

Following the dance, the duo will perform at the Hugh Torance House and Store as guests explore the various living history features. 

Flowers, honey, artisan crafts, and much more!

During the event, the Hugh Torance House and Store will be offering fresh local flowers for purchase from our event sponsor Blackberry Ridge Farm, many new artisan goods, books, fresh local honey, snacks, beer, wine, sundries, and more. 

Plan to come early and/or stay late to enjoy the historic grounds and tour the oldest standing store in North Carolina. In addition, the first floor of Cedar Grove will be open for HEARTS guests following the Maypole Dance. This is a free community event, with donations appreciated and tickets required. Visit www.HEARTSCircle.org for more information.

Meghan McKillop’s incredible felted creations are among the many local artisan creations to be discovered at the Hugh Torance House and Store!  

We hope to see you soon!

The historic Hugh Torance House and Store is open to the public each Sunday from 1:00-4:00 and HEARTS events, and is located at 8231 Gilead Road, Huntersville, NC 28078. 

Group tours and volunteer opportunities for docents, store helpers, gardens and grounds are needed. For more information, visit www.HEARTSCircle.org or call (704) 920-9931. Cedar Grove is a private residence open in partnership for select HEARTS Happenings and is located at 8229 Gilead Road, Huntersville, NC 28078.

Join HEARTS Circle

HEARTS Collaborative is a 501c3 nonprofit that weaves the threads of local people, places, and pieces into a vibrant and interconnected tapestry of our region. HEARTS also helps preserve and sustain historic places through the HEARTS mission, sharing specific local history and infusing with arts, nature, and genealogy. 

HEARTS Circle members are the key to sustaining and growing the Hugh Torance House and Store, and helping other important sites in the Catawba Valley region. Please join or renew today!

​HEARTS (history, ecology, arts, reunion, trails, store) Happenings are free, place-based gatherings featuring music, visual arts, and lectures exploring local history, nature, and our shared sense of place. These events are made possible by dedicated volunteers, HEARTS Circle members, presenting community partner Lake Norman Realty, and donations. All proceeds benefit HTHS’s efforts to further the HEARTS mission of historic preservation, ecological conservation, and forging community connections in our region.

HEARTS = History, Ecology, Arts, Reunion, Trails, Store