2 minute read
Remembering the Family Farm in Needlepoint
by ERICA LOME, Curator
In 1930, Elizabeth Hudson Holland (1878-1954) created a large needlepoint picture featuring three generations of her family at Holland Farm, their country home in Belchertown, Massachusetts. Some members are shown hunting and gardening, others play tennis and golf. A woman in a blue dress feeds the chickens while farm workers tend to horses and cattle. The 200-acre farm is alive with birds, rabbits, deer, and family pets, who – along with the human inhabitants – are placed against an empty background, appearing as whimsical vignettes drawn from Elizabeth’s memories of long summer days and cozy winter nights.
The Holland Farm was built in 1802 by an ancestor and stayed in the family with the exception of one generation. Nelson Clarke Holland and Elizabeth Hudson Holland bought the farm back in the early twentieth century and split their time between Belchertown and New York City. By 1930, the family made several additions to the property, such as extensive flower and vegetable gardens, a putting green, tennis court, and swimming pool with pool house. The family sold the farm in the late 1970s.
Much like the farm itself, Elizabeth’s needlepoint picture is a blend of tradition and expansion, with a modern sensibility informed by its lively cast of characters. Its unique charm and storytelling potential make it a fabulous addition to Historic New England’s collection.
