We’re honored to feature Margaret “Chuck” Basinger at our December HEARTS happening, “Winter Wisdom” at Cedar Grove on Saturday, December 10, 2022, at 2:00 PM. Chuck is the fifth-generation descendant of Hugh Torance, and the fourth-generation to Cedar Grove’s first Torrance family, James and Isabella Torrance. She will be sharing her holiday memories through the pages of 'Tis the Season with Belle and Chuck, her recently published book. Copies of the book will be offered for purchase, and Mrs. Basinger will be available for book signings and visiting too. Join us as we hear her stories about Cedar Grove, as well as seasonal traditions through the ages. As with every HEARTS happening, we’ll be sharing historical community connections, nature, and the arts, so please mark your calendars for this special event.
Following the program, “The Broken Arrows,” will perform from 3:30-5:00. Billy Jones, Phil Skipper, and Mike Orlando, the three members of The Broken Arrows, are multi-instrumentalists and songwriters. Together, they merge their years of musical history performing blues, bluegrass, and jazz through mandolins, banjo, acoustic guitar, upright bass, and eclectic drums with classic Americana instrumentation for their original songs.
Next door, the historic Hugh Torance House and Store will be open from 1:00-5:00 selling snacks, beer, wine, sundries, and more. Pick up unique and local holiday gifts, enjoy the historic grounds, and take a tour of the oldest standing store in NC.
The historic store is one of Mecklenburg County’s few surviving 18th-century structures and is adjacent to Cedar Grove, the 1831 Greek Revival home of James Torrance, son of Hugh and Isabella Torance.
HEARTS happenings are community gatherings featuring music, visual arts, and lectures exploring local history, nature, and our shared sense of place. HEARTS Winter Wisdom is a free community event with RSVPs requested. All guests registering online become eligible for door prizes announced at the event throughout the day.
This event is made possible by dedicated volunteers, HEARTS Circle members, corporate partner Lake Norman Realty, and community donations. All proceeds benefit HTHS’s efforts to further the HEARTS mission of historic preservation, ecological conservation, and forging community connections in our region.
The Store and HEARTS events are operated by the Hugh Torance House and Store (HTHS), a private 501c3 nonprofit. Group tours and volunteer opportunities for stewardship, preservation, and conservation are available.
