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
Cagle’s Diner
Casa Mexicana
Dickeys Barbecue Pit
Carolina Vista Lounge
Middleton Street Bake Shop
Wolcott’s
Bonefish Grill
San Filipe Mexican Restaurant
New York Deli & Catering
CharBar No.7 – Southern Pines
Roast Office, The
Swank
Frankie’s Southern Grinds
Pinehurst Pizza
Dairy Queen
Tavern at the Holly Inn, The
Village Pizza
Vito’s Ristorante & Pizzeria of Pinehurst
HoneyBaked Ham
Dunkin’ Donuts
Bakehouse and Café
Pizza Café
Embers BBQ
Full Moon Oyster Bar
Crossroads Coffee Company
Kitten Around Cat Lounge
Neko Thai & Sushi
Seven Lakes Pizza Kitchen
Brixx Wood Fired Pizza
Papa John’s Pizza
Texas Roadhouse
Berri Bowlful
Whispering Pies
Village Cafe
Casa Santa Ana • Pinehurst
1895 Grille
Smithfield’s Chicken & Barbecue
Little Village Restaurant
Cracker Barrel
Steve’s Pizza And Hot Subs
Rudino’s Pizza & Grinders
Rooted Café & Market
Pik N Pig
Sonic Drive-In
Susa Hibachi Grill
High Octane
Jersey Mike’s Subs
Clean Juice
Soup Company, The
Wishflower Lane
Betsy’s Crepes
The Pit Shop Catering
Dawg Wagon
Spice Café
Moe’s Southwest Grill
HomeGrown
Tay’s BBQ & Catering
Midland Bistro
195 American Fusion Cuisine
LongHorn Steakhouse
Thyme & Place Catering
Filly & Colt’s
Cookies-N-Moore
Tacos Guerrero
C Cups Cupcakery Southern Pines
No. 1 China
IHOP
Pete’s Family Restaurant
Clean Eatz
Given Tufts Bookshop
The Deuce
Chapman’s Food & Spirits
Panera Bread
Mid Pines Terrace & Dining Room
Purple Penguin Southern Pines
Buggy Town Coffee
Banh-Sen Street Food & Noodle Bar
Wedgie’s
Scott’s Table
The Chuck wagon Restaurant
Vaquera Bar & Cocina
The Workshop Tavern
Sizzlin’ Steak Or Eggs
Mason’s Restaurant
Ironwood
Lisi Italian
Granny’s Donuts
Ryder Cup Lounge
Cold Stone Creamery
Chili’s Grill & Bar
The Buggy Factory
Red Bowl Asian Bistro
Time Out Sports Grill
Vito’s Ristorante & Pizzeria
Domino’s Pizza Carthage
Sweet Basil
Jaya’s Indian Cuisine
Villager Deli Restaurant, The
Java Bean Plantation
Susa Sushi & Hibachi
Crest Dining Room at Pine Needles
Carolina Dining Room
House Of Fish Seafood Restaurant
Marcos Pizza
Lake House Bar & Grill
Pa’s Pizza & Hot Subs
El Chapin 2 Guatemalan Restaurant
Southern Angel Donut Co.
Golden China
China Wok
New China
Valenti’s Italian Restaurant
Table on the Green
SoPies New York Pizzeria
Benji’s Mexican Grill
Starbucks
Beefeater’s
Petro’s Chili & Chips
Lynette’s Bakery and Cafe
Pinehurst Brewing Co.
Terrace Ridge Farm & Academy
Nana & Papa’s
Starbuck’s
Kickback Jack’s
Villaggio Ristorante
Southern Prime Steakhouse
Pinehurst Picnic Co.
Tokyo Express
Ice Cream Parlor
Pizza Hut
Pinehurst Track Restaurant
Big Dipper Ice Cream Truck
Red’s Corner
First Watch
Foodie Tours
Thai Fusion Cuisine
Pine Crest Inn
Drum & Quill
Carolina Fried Chicken & House Of Pizza
Roast Sandwich Market
The Block
Kenny’s Country Restaurant
O’Donnell’s Pub
Simply Coffee Robbins
Waffle House
Island Jerk Cuisine Caribbean Restaurant
Sweet Carolina Ice Cream
Railhouse Brewery
Mazatlan Family Restaurant
Hickory Tavern
Kentucky Fried Chicken
Agora Bakery + Cafe
Buffalo Wild Wings
The White Rabbit Catering
Midway Grill
Domino’s Pizza Seven Lakes
Casa Santa Ana • Seven Lakes
Grape Leaf Bistro
Wildfire Pizza
Órale Taco Bar
Olive Garden
The Bell Tree Tavern
China King
Dugan’s Pub
Dave’s Place
Mas-A-Wrap Filipino and Asian
Maguro Hibachi Steakhouse
Pizza Hut Southern Pines
Casa Garcia – Carthage
Thai Orchid
Kitchen at Nature’s Own
Fire House Subs- Aberdeen
Meadowflower Farm
Kona Ice
Pizzeria Grazia
Chef Warren’s
Elliott’s On Linden
Amor Ciego Coffee Co.
Five Guys
Sly Fox, The
McAlister’s Deli
Ashten’s
Maxie’s Grill & Tap Room
C Cups Cupcakery Pinehurst
Stubbs & Sons BBQ
Pine Scone Cafe
Outback Steakhouse
Bob’s Pizza
Market Place Restaurant, The
Mac’s Breakfast Anytime