Huntersville, NC
- The Grand Opening of the Rural Hill Farm – Center of Scottish Heritage
was held on February 17, 2006 with ceremony and speeches of
encouragement by commissioners, board members and other dignitaries. The
Scottish American Military Society Color Guard was piped in by the Loch
Norman Pipe Band and the ceremonies were followed by a reception.
With this announcement, the historic site will be open for visitors six
days a week and the CVSS moves to the next phase in the Master Plan;
development of plans and construction of The Cultural Center. This
facility will be used for genealogical research, workshops and meeting
rooms as well as display areas. Within this facility, there will be a
library, multipurpose theater, tea-room, gift shop and administrative
offices.
Rural Hill, the
homestead of the family of John and Violet Wilson Davidson, is the
oldest and largest publicly owned historic site in Mecklenburg County,
North Carolina. From the day John Davidson swung an axe to begin
construction of their first home; the Davidson family has made
significant contributions to their community. He risked his fortune and
his future by signing his name to the Mecklenburg Declaration of
Independence on May 20, 1775. He served as a major during the American
Revolution. His legacy would lead many descendants to answer the call to
serve their country. Six generations of the family lived at Rural Hill
for more than 230 years and what we are learning about them and the
people who worked on the farm, black and white, is the great story of
the Piedmont Carolinas.
In 1995, with the encouragement of Mecklenburg County officials, the
Catawba Valley Scottish Society (CVSS) enthusiastically entered into
strategic planning to develop a Master Plan for the Rural Hill Farm -
Center of Scottish Heritage. Today, working in partnership with
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation and the Historic Landmarks
Commission, and with the support of more than 500 volunteers, the
Catawba Valley Scottish Society manages the research, preservation,
operation and maintenance of this 265 acre historic landmark.
The Master Plan addresses restoration of the homestead site of the
Davidson family. Currently work goes on in research, preservation and
restoration of the interpretative sites supporting 1760-1770 Pioneer
cabin site, 1810-1820 Slave cabin site, 1850-1860 Plantation mansion
site with garden restoration, 1890-1910 Tenant house site and the
Davidson and the Bethesda Schoolhouse sites and 1940-1950 Davidson
farmhouse site.
The signature event of the Catawba Valley Scottish Society is the Loch
Norman Highland Games. More than 90 Clans and Family Societies offer
camaraderie and share their family history. There are two full days of
sanctioned competitions in Piping and Drumming, Highland Dancing,
Scottish Heavy Athletics (Pro and Am), Scottish Harp and Scottish Fiddle
and a full range of Children’s Field events as well as top Celtic and
Scottish entertainment . The Loch Norman Highland Games has grown to be
one of the most respected Games in the country.
To offer educational programs to a growing and diverse community, over
the years, the CVSS has added family oriented events such as the Spirit
of the Hornets Nest - the re-enactment of the Revolutionary War Battles
of Cowan's Ford and Weitzel’s Mill, The Rural Hill Sheep Dog Trials and
the Amazing Maize Maze (TM).
For more information call the office at Rural Hill Farm for a copy of
the Executive Summary of the Master Plan. 704-875-3113
www.ruralhillfarm.org e-mail
office@ruralhillfarm.org
