This wonderful old cabin has been the proud home of the Sandhills Woman’s Exchange since 1923. We are a member of the Federation of Woman’s Exchanges, the longest running women’s volunteer organization in the country.
Come Eat and Shop at this Historic Log Cabin! Gift Shop Open 10 am – 3 pm. Lunch 11:00 am – 2 pm. Closed Sunday and Monday.
We are a national organization of Woman’s Exchanges whose goal is to help members of our community achieve economic stability through consignment and sale of fine-quality, hand-crafted items.
The Federation’s mission is to provide mutual support and cooperation among its network of members and to provide a way to exchange ideas and business practices.
The Early History of the Sandhills Woman’s Exchange
In 1922, a small group of women joined together based on a need and a desire. The need was the women and families of the Sandhills. Life was hard in the rural counties. Poverty was common. Health conditions poor. Paved roads were few. Telephones mostly non-existent and country women rarely left their homes. That was the need. The desire was how to help these women.
Having admired the locally made quilts, rugs, coverlets and other handcrafted items, along with the abundance of jams, jellies, preserves and canned goods at the Sandhills Fair in 1922, Katherine Tuckerman, Molly Lovering and Darthea Cowgill knew the Sandhills needed a Woman’s Exchange. The Federation of Woman’s Exchanges was an organization begun in the 1830’s that arose from the need for women to find a means to earn income. Giving women an outlet to sell their handcrafts and culinary goods was a radical idea at a time when women could not or did not work outside the home.
While Katherine had the organizational skills, Molly was knowledgeable in handcrafts and culinary techniques, and Darthea was practical, with passion and drive. Molly and Darthea became the connection to, and the delivery service for, the rural women. Driving miles along rutted, sandy country roads, they established relationships and friendships with the women, teaching them new crafts and processes for preserving, and if needed, providing them with the supplies to create goods to sell.
More women were drawn to the idea of an exchange, and on May 2, 1923, they met to discuss formally establishing the Sandhills Woman’s Exchange. They organized, divided duties, secured funds and searched for a place to operate. In the fall of 1923, the SWE began operations on the porch of what was known as the Way House on Pee Dee Road, between Southern Pines and Pinehurst. The season was an outstanding success and thus began the search for a larger space, and with the help of Gertrude Tufts, found a home in the log cabin still occupied today by the SWE.
The SWE log cabin was built in 1823 by James Ray, near his grist mill. The McKenzie family later acquired it for use as a kitchen. When James W. Tufts, developer of Pinehurst, saw it, he was so charmed by it, the McKenzies gave it to him. He moved the one-room cabin to the Pine Grove in the Village in 1896 and had it restored. The cabin had been used as a museum and caretaker’s cottage before his daughter-in-law, Gertrude, initiated the donation of the cabin to the SWE.
For 100 years, hundreds of women have volunteered their time, donated money, solicited funds and gathered supplies to aid the people of the Sandhills. Continuous since they opened their doors, the SWE has remained constant in their mission of “helping others help themselves.” Since 1922, hundreds of women and men have brought their goods, their crafts and their talents to the Exchange to sell, and in return, took home needed monies to their families. Today, the Sandhills Woman’s Exchange continues the mission set 100 years ago by a small group of women who saw a need and had the desire to do something about it. The SWE is proudly one of 15 remaining members of the Federation of Woman’s Exchanges, the oldest continuous charitable organization in the United States.
Other Dining
Rudino’s Pizza & Grinders
Stubbs & Sons BBQ
Pine Crest Inn
Southern Prime Steakhouse
Petro’s Chili & Chips
Roast Sandwich Market
Domino’s Pizza Carthage
Lynette’s Bakery and Cafe
Domino’s Pizza Seven Lakes
Clean Eatz
Cracker Barrel
Island Jerk Cuisine Caribbean Restaurant
Villager Deli Restaurant, The
Dickeys Barbecue Pit
El Patrón Tacos & Tequila
Middleton Street Bake Shop
Java Bean Plantation
Big Dipper Ice Cream Truck
Simply Coffee Robbins
First Watch
Mason’s Restaurant
The White Rabbit Catering
San Filipe Mexican Restaurant
195 American Fusion Cuisine
The Breakfast Truck in Southern Pines
1895 Grille
Banh-Sen Street Food & Noodle Bar
C Cups Cupcakery Pinehurst
Southern Angel Donut Co.
Órale Taco Bar
Jaya’s Indian Cuisine
Cold Stone Creamery
Swank
Sweet Basil
Benji’s Mexican Grill
Tacos Guerrero
Marcos Pizza
Pizza Hut
Pine Scone Cafe
Amor Ciego Coffee Co.
New York Deli & Catering
Buffalo Wild Wings
Dunkin’ Donuts
Nana & Papa’s
Sizzlin’ Steak Or Eggs
Frankie’s Southern Grinds
The Buggy Factory
The Workshop Tavern
The Block
Neko Thai & Sushi
Five Guys
Casa Santa Ana • Seven Lakes
Red Bowl Asian Bistro
McAlister’s Deli
Kenny’s Country Restaurant
Agora Bakery + Cafe
O’Donnell’s Pub
Pinehurst Track Restaurant
Mas-A-Wrap Filipino and Asian
Meadowflower Farm
IHOP
Pik N Pig
Thai Fusion Cuisine
Ryder Cup Lounge
HoneyBaked Ham
Ice Cream Parlor
Cookies-N-Moore
Casa Mexicana
Pinewurst
Dairy Queen
Table on the Green
Brixx Wood Fired Pizza
Maguro Hibachi Steakhouse
HomeGrown
Valenti’s Italian Restaurant
Embers BBQ
Lisi Italian
Lake House Bar & Grill
Betsy’s Crepes
Waffle House
Scott’s Table
Smithfield’s Chicken & Barbecue
Purple Penguin Southern Pines
Pizza Café
Dave’s Place
Railhouse Brewery
Carolina Vista Lounge
Panera Bread
The Deuce
Elliott’s On Linden
Village Pizza
Market Place Restaurant, The
Thyme & Place Catering
Pete’s Family Restaurant
Midway Grill
Tokyo Express
New China
Berri Bowlful
Mac’s Breakfast Anytime
Kickback Jack’s
Outback Steakhouse
Jersey Mike’s Subs
Filly & Colt’s
Sweet Carolina Ice Cream
Hickory Tavern
Susa Sushi & Hibachi
No. 1 China
China Wok
SoPies New York Pizzeria
Mazatlan Family Restaurant
The Chuck wagon Restaurant
Texas Roadhouse
Little Village Restaurant
Carolina Fried Chicken & House Of Pizza
Golden China
CharBar No.7 – Southern Pines
El Chapin 2 Guatemalan Restaurant
Papa John’s Pizza
Pizza Hut Southern Pines
Bob’s Pizza
Fire House Subs- Aberdeen
Ironwood
Ashten’s
LongHorn Steakhouse
Casa Garcia – Carthage
Kitten Around Cat Lounge
Pa’s Pizza & Hot Subs
House Of Fish Seafood Restaurant
Full Moon Oyster Bar
Vito’s Ristorante & Pizzeria of Pinehurst
Roast Office, The
Wolcott’s
Starbucks
Rooted Café & Market
Seven Lakes Pizza Kitchen
Moe’s Southwest Grill
Vaquera Bar & Cocina
Chapman’s Food & Spirits
Chef Warren’s
Soup Company, The
Bakehouse and Café
Crossroads Coffee Company
Red’s Corner
Terrace Ridge Farm & Academy
Starbuck’s
The Bell Tree Tavern
Kitchen at Nature’s Own
Mid Pines Terrace & Dining Room
Maxie’s Grill & Tap Room
Crest Dining Room at Pine Needles
Tay’s BBQ & Catering
The Pit Shop Catering
Cagle’s Diner
Kona Ice
Wishflower Lane
Susa Hibachi Grill
Beefeater’s
Wildfire Pizza
Steve’s Pizza And Hot Subs
Tavern at the Holly Inn, The
Bonefish Grill
Dawg Wagon
Chili’s Grill & Bar
Dugan’s Pub
Clean Juice
Granny’s Donuts
Carolina Dining Room
Kentucky Fried Chicken
Thai Orchid
C Cups Cupcakery Southern Pines
Whispering Pies
Villaggio Ristorante
Pinehurst Picnic Co.
Village Cafe
Buggy Town Coffee
Casa Santa Ana • Pinehurst
Given Tufts Bookshop
Sonic Drive-In
Time Out Sports Grill
Foodie Tours
High Octane
Spice Café
Vito’s Ristorante & Pizzeria
Wedgie’s
Drum & Quill
Midland Bistro
Pinehurst Pizza
China King
Pinehurst Brewing Co.
Olive Garden
Grape Leaf Bistro
Sly Fox, The