Store = Sustainability

The “S” in HEARTS is for the Hugh Torance House and Store, the 1779 home to Hugh Torance, and operated as a store from 1804 until 1825. The Store symbolizes the importance of a sustainable financial plan for all historic sites and organizations. Once bustling with activity as a mercantile shop and briefly even a tavern, the long-forgotten Hugh Torance House and Store had fallen into disrepair when discovered in the woods by Dick Banks. The Store was lovingly restored through the guidance of Jack Boyte and the hard work and generosity of many community members from 1977 until completion in 1989. The Store welcomed about 200 guests a year until 2021, but in 2022, the first year of HEARTS, the Store experienced a dramatic rise in visitors. Currently, as a HEARTS Affiliate, the Torance Store now welcomes thousands of yearly visitors who enjoy the incredible history of “the oldest Store in NC,” experiencing HEARTS Happenings, shopping for local goods and artisan gifts, guided living history tours, school field trips, and coming together as a community to celebrate seasonal events.

As an umbrella non-profit, HEARTS is here to help HEARTS-related organizations achieve their mission and growth goals. We’re connecting the community to our region's incredible historic, natural, and cultural resources, and promoting the history, ecology, and arts all around us!