HEARTS June Events & July 4th Too!
Mark your calendars and get your tickets for HEARTS Junion ‘26: “Who Was Henry Brevard?” featuring Andre’ Kearns.
Andre’ Kearns, Co-Chair of HEARTS Reunion Project, returns to historic Cedar Grove to share his latest findings on Henry Brevard of Lincoln County at this year’s 5th anniversary of HEARTS Junion celebration. Since HEARTS spearheaded the effort to save Brevard’s Chapel in 2025, understanding the story behind the man for whom the chapel was named has been a primary goal for the Reunion Project. Through Andre’s endeavors, we know much more now than ever before.
Kearns is a passionate genealogist, community historian, and proud member of the Sons of the American Revolution. Kearns has become known for uncovering remarkable family stories that illuminate the broader American experience. At last year’s Junion, Kearns shared discoveries about his ancestors: Johannes Schmier, a German immigrant and Revolutionary War patriot, and Henry Johnson, his third-great-grandfather, who was born enslaved in Lincolnton, North Carolina
This year, Kearns answers the compelling question of “Who was Henry Brevard?” Kearns gave a sneak peek into his findings at the HEARTS United to Save Brevard’s Chapel Gala. Research into Lincoln County’s antebellum iron mines and forges offers new insights and connections throughout the region on the Brevard, Graham, and Forney families, as well as the enslaved people who worked in the ironworks. Henry Brevard was an enslaved ironworker on the Brevard plantation, who became a successful blacksmith in Catawba Springs after the war. Kearns shared, “Within a decade of the Civil War’s end, he did something extraordinary. In 1874, Henry Brevard purchased 90 acres of Lincoln County land in his own name.” It was through his property ownership that Brevard’s Chapel came to be. Founded on Henry’s land originally, the land was transferred by deed to the church in the 1880’s.
HEARTS Junion also includes new eco-minutes, live music, and a new visual art exhibit in Cedar Grove’s Center Hall, “Liberty,” made possible in partnership with Nine-Eighteen-Nine Gallery. Featuring the works of Barbara Ellis, Camisha McDaniel, John R. Miles III, Jose Vasquez, and Marvin Betaudier.
We are thrilled to present our featured musician for HEARTS Junion ‘26, DaShawn Hickman. Hickman is known nationally for his mastery of Sacred Steel, a unique musical tradition that originated within African American Pentecostal churches of the 1930's, and blends gospel music with the expressive sounds of the pedal steel guitar. Hickman grew up not only hearing the pedal steel in the tiny House of God church his family attended in Mt. Airy, North Carolina, but also listening to his mother play lap steel in their home. Hickman picked up the instrument at the age of 5, after his mother put it down to concentrate on ministering. By the age of 12, his local reputation as a pedal steel player was such that he was regularly asked to play at other area churches.
Dashawn has most recently spent time traveling with Cirque du Soleil as a member of the Songblazers band, a new country-themed show, the first of its kind. Hickman has also graced the cover of many notable music magazines, Blues Blast and All About Jazz, as well as been featured in Vintage Guitar Magazine. He was also recognized as one of the country's best upcoming artists with nominations from IBA (International Blues Association) and Blues Blast Music awards. Hickman says, “I just want people to enjoy the music and forget about the day. Just live in the time and space that we have been given.” We hope you can join us for this musical treat!
HEARTS Junion ‘26 is a free community event. Tickets are required, and donations are greatly appreciated!
Designed to inspire and enhance our community’s shared sense of place, HEARTS Happenings are grass-roots events known for juxtaposing regional history and ecology with curated local music, visual art, and dance in multi-faceted, place-based programs. HEARTS (History, Ecology, Arts, Reunion, Trails, and Store) is made possible by dedicated volunteers, HEARTS Circle members, presenting partners Lake Norman Realty, blueharbor bank, and generous donations from the community. All proceeds further the HEARTS mission of historic preservation, ecological conservation, and forging community connections in our region. Join HEARTS Circle and help us elevate special places in our community and sustain them for the future.
Manners Anyone?
Set Your Teen Up for Success with Etiquette Classes for Young Adults at the Historic Sharpe House
“What fork should I use?” is one of many questions to be answered at the informative and educational Etiquette Class for Young Adults coming to the Sharpe House this June, led by Keith Rhyne.
In an increasingly digital world, the ability to navigate face-to-face interactions with grace is more than just a "nice-to-have" skill; it is a competitive advantage. Lessons include Appearance & Carriage, Conversation & Gatherings, Comprehensive training in Tea Etiquette, Dining Etiquette, and navigating a Reception or Buffet with ease. Open to Youth Ages 12 - 16, this is a unique opportunity to learn the principles of refined conduct, social confidence, and formal dining skills.
The Grand Finale: A Formal Dinner at the Sharpe House
The program culminates in an elegant, real-world application of every skill learned. Students will host and attend a Formal Dinner at the historic Sharpe House, putting their education into practice in a stunning, high-stakes environment.
HEARTS 250: Forging Our Freedom
4th of July celebration, live music, and living history at Cedar Grove and the Hugh Torance House and Store
Join us for our homegrown July 4th celebration the HEARTS way, sharing local history, nature, the arts, and incredible live music!
The connection to Lincoln County’s iron-rich history is the highlight at HEARTS 250 on July 4th! If you’re looking for a unique experience on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, look no further, you've found it! From 2:00-5:00 at Cedar Grove and the Hugh Torance House and Store, join us for a very special living history day featuring blacksmith demonstrations, metal forging in our region, historic artifacts, and more! We’ll also have hot dogs (veggie and not), beverages, and the historic store is stocked with artisanal goodies to check out, too! Our live music for the day is a stellar trio! Presenting Heidi Sidelinker, Billy Jones, and the legendary Jim Brock! Yes, THE Jim Brock!
HEARTS 250: Forging Our Freedom is a free community event. Tickets are required, and donations are greatly appreciated!
More At the Sharpe House
Have you heard the news?
Each month, the Sharpe House is offering two new programs two times per month.
Sharpe House Tea & Tour
June 4th at 11:00 AM or June 7th at 2:00 PM, enjoy a step back in time where history and hospitality meet with tea. Guests are invited to enjoy a traditional tea service followed by a guided tour of the home’s beautifully preserved first floor.
Sharpe House Tea & Tales
June 18th at 11:00 AM or June 21st at 2:00 PM, guests are invited to enjoy a traditional tea service and a tale of local history, sharing stories of the people, traditions, and moments that shaped the Sharpe House and the surrounding community.
Tour with or without the Ghosts at the Historic Hugh Torance House & Store
Ghost Hunt at HTHS
Join us on Saturday, June 6, at 7:30 PM for an authentic ghost hunt led by the experienced experts at the Charlotte Area Paranormal Society to scour for spirits using professional investigative tools and equipment. Tickets are required, and donations are always appreciated.
Guided Tours at HTHS
On Sundays in June at 2:00 PM, step back in time and experience life in the home of Hugh and Isabella Torance and their son, James Torrance's mercantile store. Our experienced docents guide visitors on a living history adventure as they tour the c.1779 homesite and visit the Torance Store. Tickets are required, and donations are always appreciated.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Don’t miss a thing! Check out all our upcoming events here.
Interested in helping or volunteering with HEARTS in Mecklenburg, Lincoln, or Iredell County? Email info@heartsco.org
Join or Renew Today!
Have you ever wished for “someone to do something” about our disappearing or declining historic and natural places?
When you join HEARTS Circle, you are someone who is doing something!
HEARTS Circle Members support HEARTS’ vital, local, place-based initiatives that promote history, ecology, arts, reunion, trails, and help preserve our special historic places. However, it’s not just HEARTS Happenings that your support makes possible. The Hugh Torance House and Store is fueled by HEARTS Circle members, Brevard’s Chapel is being saved by HEARTS Circle members, and most recently, the historic Sharpe House is utilizing HEARTS for enhanced programs and preservation.
Through community collaborations, HEARTS is actively playing an integral role in historic preservation. The Alexander Tenant House restoration plan is (finally!) underway, and the Nelson House in Smithville is being transformed and preserved with HEARTS’ help. HEARTS is on the frontline for local preservation in our region, and we’re grateful we can help thanks to our HEARTS Circle Members and the generosity of our community.
Our 2026 new and renewing HEARTS Circle members will be invited to our 5th Annual HEARTS Circle Members’ Gala on September 12, 2026, at 6:00 PM at historic Cedar Grove. We’re cooking up something special to celebrate HEARTS fifth anniversary; you won’t want to miss it!
2026 HEARTS Circle Members Gala Musical Guest
Charly Lowry is a powerhouse singer-songwriter from Pembroke, North Carolina. She is an Indigenous woman of the Lumbee and Tuscarora tribes and is well-known for her soul-stirring music that blends her heritage with contemporary styles. Nationally recognized, she has performed with Rhiannon Giddens at Carnegie Hall, among many other notable performances. Charley’s September 12th house concert at Cedar Grove is a rare treat and an exclusive benefit for 2026 HEARTS Circle new and renewing members. So don’t wait, renew today. Help us preserve more, connect more, and share more with the community.
