The Nelson House of Smithville

Give to the Nelson House Project
An old, abandoned house with peeling white paint, a brick chimney, and a porch supported by brick columns. Surrounding trees and a grassy yard are visible.

HEARTS Collaborative serves as an historic preservation advisor and advocate for the Smithville Community Coalition (SCC), a Cornelius, NC nonprofit dedicated to restoring and rehabilitating a historically significant African American neighborhood. In 2025, SCC purchased the early-20th century Nelson House, preventing its demolition and the loss of an important piece of community heritage.

HEARTS is helping the SCC to preserve, restore, and revitalize the Nelson House, facilitating critical repairs and guiding the design and installation of upgraded building systems to ensure the house is safe, functional, and historically accurate.

Working with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission, HEARTS is assisting SCC in pursuing local historic landmark designation and a future preservation easement for the property. These measures will ensure the Nelson House stands for future generations in Smithville.

The project is currently underway, and additional donations are needed. Stay tuned for updates and progress photos as the restoration continues.

A small room with wood-paneled walls, a window showing trees outside, a water heater, and a dirt and debris-covered floor.
Two men standing in a damaged room with a hole in the wall and debris on the floor.
A doorway with a white wooden frame, partially demolished, revealing exposed brick and debris inside the opening, with a rough and damaged lower section.
The ceiling of a room with large sections of drywall removed, exposing wooden beams and insulation, with debris and material scattered on the floor.
A brick archway with a sign that reads "SMITHVILLE EST. 1807". The archway has names of people inscribed in the bricks, surrounded by colorful flowers at the base.

Smithville Legacy Project

Help preserve Smithville’s heritage by purchasing an engraved Legacy Walkway brick or by sponsoring the restoration and ongoing care of the historic Nelson House.

Your contribution directly supports these meaningful projects, bolsters community connections, and helps ensure a vibrant, well-preserved future for residents and visitors for generations to come.

Support the Legacy Project