The HEARTS Origin Story
In the Summer of 2020, Abigail Jennings and Randolph Lewis were introduced to Cedar Grove, the 1831 National Register Greek Revival plantation home of James Galbraith Torrance. The sixth-generation descendant of Hugh Torance, Torrance Banks, was seeking solutions for the next chapter of the majestic historic landmark. Abigail and Randolph were fascinated to learn the deep history of the site, including the neighboring Hugh Torance House and Store known as the oldest standing store in North Carolina, and the natural history of the surrounding areas of preserved land.
This introduction sparked the collective determination of Banks, Liv Wu, Jennings, and Lewis to rehabilitate the historic home and connect Cedar Grove with the community by:
Sharing the site’s rich History including prehistoric artifacts, Native American lands, Revolutionary connections, and important 18th, 19th, and 20th-century stories.
Highlighting Ecology and nature, plant and animal history, and natural resources.
Incorporating music, poetry, dance, and visual Arts to bring diverse audiences together.
Recognizing the many generations descended from those once enslaved on the site through the formation of the Reunion Project.
Connecting the site to the local greenway Trail network, including the Carolina Thread Trail and Lake Norman’s Emerald Necklace.
Creating a sustainable financial future for the nonprofit Hugh Torance House and Store Inc. (HTHS), adjacent to Cedar Grove.
In the Fall of 2021, HTHS adopted the HEARTS mission (below) and opened their doors to host newly designed place-based living history programming. HTHS quickly achieved its goal of reaching a larger audience, connecting more deeply to the community, and realizing sustainable operations. In February 2022, the first HEARTS Happening event was launched at Cedar Grove, honoring enslaved North Carolina poet George Moses Horton and his connection to the Torance family by featuring poetry readings, live music performed by local musicians, and an introduction to native plants found on the property.
Since then, growth has been exponential for HEARTS with new audiences coming together at every event and with repeat visitors who keep coming back to support and enjoy more educational entertainment.
Recognizing the obstacles for nonprofits to achieve sustainability as 100% volunteer-lead organizations while also continuing to grow and reach new audiences prompted taking the HEARTS mission to the next level by creating the HEARTS Collaborative, Inc., a new 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Designed to connect and foster collaboration to preserve and share our region’s history, HEARTS sparks community engagement and facilitates sustainable operations with its unique approach.
Top: Cedar Grove, the 1831 National Register Greek Revival landmark plantation home of James G. Torrance.
Bottom Right: Torrance Banks and Liv Wu with their artisan soy sauce, available at the Hugh Torance House and Store.
Bottom Left: HEARTS Co-founders Abigail Jennings and Randolph Lewis.
HEARTS encompasses a unique collaborative mission to showcase, safeguard, and share NC’s Catawba Valley culture, offering a deeper appreciation for local history, nature, and the arts.
Our Mission:
To weave the threads of local people, places, and pieces together into a vibrant and interconnected tapestry of our regions’ historic identity.
Our Vision:
The historic preservation, sustainability, and free public access to the Catawba Valley’s most treasured historic and ecological places, where place-based events deliver a deeper appreciation for local history, nature, and the arts through entertaining and educational showcases that intersect the people, places, pieces, and culture of our region with our shared past and the present.
Our Goals:
Historic preservation and ecological conservation of all sites and properties in the Piedmont region.
Respectful and responsible exploration and recognition of the vast history and ecology of the region.
Share stories, enhance connections, and ignite personal inspiration through music, dance, drama, poetry, and visual arts at HEARTS Happening events.
Honor all those from the past with connections to our lands by conducting and documenting genealogical research and sharing our findings with the public to enhance our collective understanding of those who lived here before us.
Provide a publicly accessible and searchable Artifact Database for museum collections and for private citizens’ collections.
Facilitate financially sound business management and activities for all Affiliate non-profit sites.
Seek connections to the Carolina Thread Trail and local greenway networks utilizing trails to the historic structures with identification signage for historic structures, ruins, flora, and fauna.
Develop outdoor spaces for the arts, gardens, reflection spaces, community events, and educational opportunities.