Holland is a small community 8-1/2 miles east of Scottsville on Highway 100. Most of the community is residential, although a few businesses do operate there. Holland docs still have a post office, located at the junction of Highway 100 and Highway 99. Also, at this junction, you will see a building that has a sign on the front that says, "Wade's General Store." This store is no longer open for business, but the building was originally constructed in 1902 by Henry Clay Hughes.

Henry Clay Hughes was born October 5, 1848. He started out as a farmer in the community, finally building the store in 1902 and opening up a general store. The store was important to the community of Holland. At that time, there were no paved roads, and the horse and buggies, while being dependable transportation, were slow and readily stuck in the muddy roads leading to Scottsville. Thus, a general store was needed for the area. Hughes quickly made a success of the store, which was also home to the Holland Post Office for many years. Not only was it a boon for the community, but it also was a haven for travelers from Tennessee, stopping in on their way to Scottsville or Bowling Green.

It was not long before the merchants, also known as drummers who stopped at the store, began asking where they might find lodging. Never one to pass up a business opportunity, Hughes erected a large house next to the store, which became a boarding house. But the home served other purposes as well. With its wide porch and yard, it became a magnet for the young people of the community. The youths would hold "songfests" there, and celebrate other important events.

Travelers were not the only people boarded at the home. Early in the 1910s, the Modern Woodmen of America built a two-story meeting place near the Hughes home. The Woodmen used the top floor for their meetings, and the lower floor became the Holland Grade School from 1914-1935.

The grade school was not the only school that operated out of the Woodmen's Hall. From 1914-17, the building was the site of the Holland Normal School for teachers. The Hughes home was again used as a boarding house for the men attending the school. The women stayed at the home of J A. Downing, just down the road. As a prominent member of the community, Hughes not only helped the Normal School by boarding the students, but also wrote recommendations for the school which were printed in their advertisements.

Henry Clay Hughes died April 14, 1928. He is buried on a farm on Omer Johnson Road, east of Scottsville. The coming of paved roads and the automobile made the trip to Scottsville an easy and quick one. As a result, Holland has returned to being a mostly residential area. The original store and house still stand today at the junction of Highways 100 and 99. The store is closed. It has been changed somewhat over the years, but the structure and interior are much the same as when the store was built. The home is currently being used as apartments. The building is smaller than it was originally, because four of the rooms were torn down at one time to be used for lumber to build another house. Overall, though, the home is still in very good shape.