Heartsease
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Why it's listed
Heartsease, at 113 East Queen Street in Hillsborough, is a frame house that grew in stages over nearly two centuries. A small three-bay central block from the late eighteenth century was joined by a one-and-one-half-story east wing in the early nineteenth century and a two-story pedimented west wing later. Interior features include a Georgian-style parlor mantel, molded arches beside the chimney, and an unusual triangular fireplace in the east wing. The house takes its name from the Heartt family. Dennis Heartt, who founded the Hillsborough Recorder in 1820 and edited it for nearly fifty years, lived here with his family, and daughters Caroline and Henrietta Heartt held title from 1837. Apprentices and printers lived in the household, among them William W. Holden, later governor of North Carolina. A local tradition links the house to Governor Thomas Burke, but the nomination found no evidence for it. His daughter owned the property for a time. The house is a private residence.
Significance in brief: The house was the home of Dennis Heartt, founder and nearly fifty-year editor of the influential Hillsborough Recorder, one of North Carolina's outstanding nineteenth-century newspapers. Future governor William W. Holden lived there as one of Heartt's apprentices. The house is also an unpretentious late eighteenth century dwelling expanded over time to meet the needs of later occupants.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 73001362, listed April 11, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 113 E. Queen St., Hillsborough |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | April 11, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001362 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th and 19th centuries |
| Areas of significance | Communications |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition, altered, on its original site, and used as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Hillsborough Historic District |
| Coordinates | 36.07898, -79.10180 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 73001362.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19817685
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.