The Printing Press
The latest about Hart Square, hot off the press.
Grant Award Supports Youth Pottery Initiative
The center of the alkaline glazed stoneware tradition of North Carolina lies in the western Piedmont, near the Catawba - Lincoln County border. Located in Vale, NC with a traditional groundhog kiln on site, Hart Square Foundation is well suited to carry on the pottery tradition that has been part of our rural community for nearly two centuries.
To preserve the Catawba Valley pottery tradition, Hart Square Foundation is establishing the Catawba Valley Junior Potters. Instruction begins this year with handbuilt pottery. Classes will take place inside the Sigmon Family Education Center while fundraising is underway to construct a pottery studio on site. Student apprentices will progress from handbuilt pottery to pottery on the wheel thanks to the support of the United Arts Council of Catawba County. Pottery wheels for ten students were delivered this week - an exciting next step in the development of the Catawba Valley Junior Potters program!
Learn more about the Catawba Valley Junior Potters here:
https://www.hartsquare.com/classes-education/catawba-valley-junior-potters-program-2023
This project was supported by the United Arts Council of Catawba County through the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, with funding from the State of North Carolina from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Hart Square Launches the Catawba Valley Junior Potters
To preserve the Catawba Valley pottery tradition, Hart Square Foundation is establishing the Catawba Valley Junior Potters under the guidance of renowned Catawba Valley Potter Kim Ellington. The Catawba Valley Junior Potters program will retain vital components of 19th-century pottery making while fusing traditional methods with contemporary techniques.
Development Director, Lorissa Vines, says, “Last year, we raised funds to rebuild and stabilize the groundhog kiln at Hart Square Village. In working with local potters, we learned that with an aging traditional potter population, the Catawba Valley folk pottery tradition is in danger of extinction. We cannot let this centuries-old tradition fade from history and consider this an urgent calling to pass knowledge and skills to the next generation.”
Our first 8-week course will begin on June 1st with handbuilt pottery, taught by Scottie and John Post of Hog Hill Pottery. These courses will continue on a rolling basis focusing on different techniques, styles, and skill levels. Beginners are welcome, and course content will be crafted for students aged 9th through 12th grade.
Registration is now open. More information is available on our website.
https://www.hartsquare.com/classes-education/catawba-valley-junior-potters-program-2023
Crafting the Next Generation of Pioneers
Cultural traditions, arts, and trades are what breathe life into the 200 to 300-year-old structures at Hart Square Village. It is what turns material culture into living history. Hart Square Foundation is committed to preserving and sharing traditional arts and trades through creating learning opportunities that give students the opportunity to engage in hands-on history.
Hart Square provides field trip programming that emphasizes traditional arts and trades, science and agriculture, and history immersion. Custom field trip experiences are offered in the spring, fall, and winter seasons. Students move through a series of five rotations featuring a variety of subjects, including pinch pot pottery, quill pen letter writing, blacksmithing, Appalachian music, heritage herb gardening, corn husk doll making, and more.
Thanks to the generous support of the United Arts Council of Catawba County, Hart Square has employed working artisans who make the majority of their living wage on their craft. Many of our craftspeople have gained regional and national acclaim for their artistry, and field trip programming gives students the opportunity to observe these artists and tradespeople at work, gaining a deeper appreciation for early American pioneers through hands-on activities. We have found that this exposure encourages students to pursue trades-based learning and understand how historic craftsmanship is part of our present-day workplace.
Spring field trips are in full swing at Hart Square Village, and fall field trip bookings are now available. Learn more about our next season of field trip programming here: https://www.hartsquare.com/k-12-field-trips/fall-field-trips-2023.
This project was supported by the United Arts Council of Catawba County through the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, with funding from the State of North Carolina from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Immerse Yourself in History at Hart Square Village
Hart Square Foundation will welcome visitors to its Historic May Day Festival on May 13, 2023. Immerse yourself in the springtime festivities of the mid-1800s at Hart Square Village, the nation’s largest collection of historic log structures. This event will showcase traditional arts, trades, historic springtime activities, and the pioneer lifestyle in North Carolina.
Explore our 200 to 300-year-old cabins, listen to old-time music, make a crown of flowers, dance around the May Pole, and witness traditional artisans at work. Rebecca Hart, Executive Director, says, “May Day has been celebrated for centuries across many cultures to welcome the coming of spring. We hope you will join us for this special day of living history, where our highly talented group of volunteers will bring Hart Square Village to life and share the springtime traditions of our pioneer ancestors.” Tickets are available at our website for this immersive historical experience.
https://www.hartsquare.com/events/may-day-may-13

20+ Great Things to Do in Hickory (Interactive Museums, the Best Food, and More!)
One of the best things to do in Hickory is to visit Hart Square, the world’s most extensive collection of historic log structures. The 200-acre property is also a nature preserve, with 100-plus 19th-century log structures on site. Of those 103 structures, there are 30 homes, two churches, and multiple trade shops. The square is named after Dr. Bob Hart, who rescued every building in Hart Square from Central and Western North Carolina.