The historic Hugh Torance House and Store is the oldest-standing store in NC and one of Mecklenburg County’s few surviving 18th-century structures. Step back in time, to 1779, and engage in this incredible living history experience by reserving your tickets for a guided tour presented by our amazing historians at 2:00pm and lasting about one hour. Come early or plan to stay after the tour! The Hugh Torance House and Store is open to the public most Sunday’s from 1:00-4:00pm.

In addition to experiencing the history of the site, the Torance Store offers sundries, local goods like honey and lavender, locally made artisan crafts and gifts, historical books and toys, stationary and home decor, and more! Our site is also adjacent to Cedar Grove the 1831 Greek Revival home of James Torance, son of Hugh and Isabella Torance. While it is a private residence, this immaculately restored three-story red brick home listed on the Nation Registrar is open once a month for HEARTS Happening events.

There is no fee to reserve your living history tour tickets, but your generous donations are most welcome!

The Hugh Torance House and Store is a federally recognized 501(c)3 nonprofit charity organization and is fully funded by donations from the community. You can support our mission to preserve, restore and share the Hugh Torance House and Store with the community by making a donation at checkout - Simply enter a donation amount in the field provided and proceed to checkout.

Thanks to your donation, HEARTS Circle memberships, and support from our local business partners, we are excited to continue growing and sharing our local history and its connection to the great tapestry of history in the Catawba Valley Region!

Mark your calendars for HEARTS Irish Connections ‘25: Jane’s Famous Ride. Featuring the incredible story of Jane Parks McDowell, her Irish connections, music, dance, and more!

The historic Hugh Torance House and Store is the oldest-standing store in NC and one of Mecklenburg County’s few surviving 18th-century structures. Step back in time, to 1779, and engage in this incredible living history experience by reserving your tickets for a guided tour presented by our amazing historians at 2:00pm and lasting about one hour. Come early or plan to stay after the tour! The Hugh Torance House and Store is open to the public most Sunday’s from 1:00-4:00pm.

In addition to experiencing the history of the site, the Torance Store offers sundries, local goods like honey and lavender, locally made artisan crafts and gifts, historical books and toys, stationary and home decor, and more! Our site is also adjacent to Cedar Grove the 1831 Greek Revival home of James Torance, son of Hugh and Isabella Torance. While it is a private residence, this immaculately restored three-story red brick home listed on the Nation Registrar is open once a month for HEARTS Happening events.

There is no fee to reserve your living history tour tickets, but your generous donations are most welcome!

The Hugh Torance House and Store is a federally recognized 501(c)3 nonprofit charity organization and is fully funded by donations from the community. You can support our mission to preserve, restore and share the Hugh Torance House and Store with the community by making a donation at checkout - Simply enter a donation amount in the field provided and proceed to checkout.

Thanks to your donation, HEARTS Circle memberships, and support from our local business partners, we are excited to continue growing and sharing our local history and its connection to the great tapestry of history in the Catawba Valley Region!

Scouts and volunteers of all ages are welcome to our Community Service Day at the Hugh Torance House and Store.  We'll be focusing on invasive species removal, clearing around historic areas, and removing undergrowth and debris. Volunteers should bring work gloves and label personal tools. Tools needed are pruners, hand saws, hand spades, rakes, and wheelbarrows. 10:00 AM - Noon. Tickets are required for participation. Lunch is provided at noon for registered volunteers. 

The historic Hugh Torance House and Store is the oldest-standing store in NC and one of Mecklenburg County’s few surviving 18th-century structures. Step back in time, to 1779, and engage in this incredible living history experience by reserving your tickets for a guided tour presented by our amazing historians at 2:00pm and lasting about one hour. Come early or plan to stay after the tour! The Hugh Torance House and Store is open to the public most Sunday’s from 1:00-4:00pm.

In addition to experiencing the history of the site, the Torance Store offers sundries, local goods like honey and lavender, locally made artisan crafts and gifts, historical books and toys, stationary and home decor, and more! Our site is also adjacent to Cedar Grove the 1831 Greek Revival home of James Torance, son of Hugh and Isabella Torance. While it is a private residence, this immaculately restored three-story red brick home listed on the Nation Registrar is open once a month for HEARTS Happening events.

There is no fee to reserve your living history tour tickets, but your generous donations are most welcome!

The Hugh Torance House and Store is a federally recognized 501(c)3 nonprofit charity organization and is fully funded by donations from the community. You can support our mission to preserve, restore and share the Hugh Torance House and Store with the community by making a donation at checkout - Simply enter a donation amount in the field provided and proceed to checkout.

Thanks to your donation, HEARTS Circle memberships, and support from our local business partners, we are excited to continue growing and sharing our local history and its connection to the great tapestry of history in the Catawba Valley Region!

Do you think the oldest store in North Carolina is haunted? Here’s your chance to find out! Take part in an authentic ghost hunt of the homesite and grounds (weather permitting) using equipment & investigative tools while being led by the best ghost hunting experts - the Charlotte Area Paranormal Society (CAPS).

The historic Hugh Torance House and Store is the oldest-standing store in NC and one of Mecklenburg County’s few surviving 18th-century structures. Step back in time, to 1779, and engage in this haunting ghost hunting experience. This event WILL SELL OUT! So don’t delay, make your ticket purchase today!

Admission tickets are $25 per person.

Admission is limited to 24 guests.

Guests MUST be age 12 or older and accompanied by an adult.

In addition to experiencing the spooks of the site, the Torance Store offers sundries, local goods like honey and lavender, locally made artisan crafts and gifts, historical books and toys, stationary and home decor, and more! Our site is also adjacent to Cadar Grove, the 1831 Greek Revival home of James Torance, son of Hugh and Isabella Torance. While it is a private residence, this immaculately restored three-story red brick home listed on the Nation Registrar is open once a month for HEARTS Happening events.

Donations from visitors are most welcome & much appreciated! The Hugh Torance House and Store is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity organization and is fully funded by donations from the community. Thanks to our HEARTS Circle members and support from our local business partners, we’re excited to continue growing and sharing our local history and its connection to the great tapestry of history in the Catawba Valley Region!

Get free admission to the Charlotte Museum of History to celebrate Charlotte's Black history and culture on Saturday, February 22, 2025 from 11:00 am - 5:00 pm. Our 2025 event is titled "Black Country" and will emphasize the Black experience in rural Mecklenburg County over time. Through performances, guest speakers, panels, and community-focused events for the whole family, we hope you can experience the richness of African American heritage and culture in the Charlotte region - and have fun while doing it! This year, we are honored to welcome John Boyd, President of the National Black Farmers Association, as our keynote speaker. Last year's event saw more than 1,100 people, and we know this year will be even better!

Included in house tours throughout the month of February, don’t miss you chance to view Historic Rosedale’s Music Is Our Refuge exhibit! Join us at Charlotte's second oldest house for a guided tour of the 1815 Historic Rosedale house lead by knowledgeable Interpreters. A guided house tour of the 15-room federal-era home examines life during the antebellum era, as well as the architecture and decorative arts in the restored house museum. A look at other current revolving exhibits is also included. Guided house tours are given on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and select Saturdays at 11:30 am and 1:00 pm.

Additionally, taking place on February 22nd from 10:00AM through 3:00PM, enjoy a free day of special activities in honor of Black History Month!

Davidson Lands Conservancy will host their February Wilderness Calling event, which is all about LOVE!

The first part of the event is a hike and highlighting all the things to love about Beaty Park and then an optional work day to help show Beaty Park our appreciation. The event will kick-off with a hike that is good for all levels. Guides will talk about the history of the park and the amazing way Beaty was saved from development and then lead us through the property, highlighting a native tree project, wildlife habitats, pollinator garden, native plant beds and the pond restoration that is underway. This hike is approximately 1.5 miles and on wide packed paths.

After we complete the hike, all who are able are invited to stay for a Beaty Park work day. If you love something, then you care for it and we really love Beaty! We will join the Friends of Beaty Park and work on trails, debris, invasive species removal, and education activities, among other things. If you’re only able to come for the hike, that’s fine. If you have already explored Beaty and only want to come for the work day, that’s great too.

Following his defeat at Cowpens in January, 1781, Charles, Lord Cornwallis was engaged in a relentless pursuit of Daniel Morgan and his British prisoners. Bad roads, bad communication, bad weather, and uncooperative neighbors made travel slow and difficult, especially with all of the wagons and supplies required to service his troops. Arriving at Ramsour's Mill four days after Morgan had left, Cornwallis was disheartened. To pick up speed, he needed to shed the encumbrances that were slowing him down. He ordered a fire. A big one. His soldiers were happy to oblige. Up in flames went the senior officers' wagons, the hospital wagons, even the provision wagons, but not before he issued an extra ration of rum. The rest, they say, is history.