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Hudson Homeplace.
We invite you to tour the Chatt Hills Barn Quilt Trail and learn more about the rich rural heritage of beautiful Chattahoochee Hills. Visitors are welcome to take photos from the public road, and are invited to shop in the local businesses.
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Pileated Woodpecker (#49)
7620 Hopkins Rd 
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Drawn to the sites and sounds of nature
Herman and Carolina Hudson became enchanted with Chattahoochee Hills during weekend visits and purchased a home here in 2019. They intended it as weekend getaway from their busy urban lives, but as they acclimated to country living, they didn't want to leave. They sold their urban home, moved here full-time, and made a miniature nature preserve for fostering farm animals and supporting wildlife.
Early on, the couple spotted two Pileated Woodpeckers on their property, and considered that good luck. To honor their feathered friends, they requested a Pileated Woodpecker barn quilt patterned by Erin Sherman. |
From the Old Fourth Ward of Atlanta to the Green Space of Chatt Hills
Historic Old Fourth Ward of Atlanta
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Hudson Homeplace Barn
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Foster Animals on the Hudson Homeplace
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Herman & Carolina were life-long urban dwellers before moving to Chatt Hill. He grew up in Macon, a bustling city south of Atlanta; she grew up in Bogotá, the capital city of Colombia. They eventually made their way to the Old Fourth Ward (“O4W” as it’s known to locals), a historic in-town neighborhood east of downtown Atlanta.
While living in the city, he learned that local restaurateur Steve Nygren had purchased farmland and opened a Bed and Breakfast named Serenbe in what is now Chattahoochee Hills. Herman took some weekend trips to the B&B, exploring the countryside with long walks in the woods, and enjoying the early morning chorus of birds, something he seldom heard on the same scale in the big city.
Herman, who has always liked the Appalachian mountain region of north Georgia, was surprised to learn that Chatt Hills was in its foothills. He was attracted to the topography here -- the gentle hills, the stone outcrops, the dense forests, and of course, the Chattahoochee River.
With a desire to spend more time in this area, now as a couple, Herman & Carolina began searching for a home they could use for weekend getaways. They purchased a modest home on three acres with a barn, pastureland, and dense trees that seemed ideal in its location on a gravel road.
Herman was first to become enhanced with the area. He loved the wildlife on his property -- especially the birds -- and thought, “I could experience this every day.” It took a little longer for Carolina to fall under the spell, but she soon experienced that magical feeling too. They sold their home in the O4W and moved here full-time in 2020.
Today, Herman & Carolina enjoy the tranquility of their country home and have doubled and tripled their enjoyment by fostering farm animals. Over the years they've fostered a steer, cow, mule, donkey and goats. They have also invited residents who need a respite from their animals to bring them to the Hudson Homeplace for a while.
When asked why they wanted a Pileated Woodpecker barn quilt, Herman said, "Birds were a big part of why we moved here. Pileated Woodpeckers are such magnificent birds. They are so much fun to watch, and they're so loud, their drumming makes them sound like the Ringo Star of the bird world. We thought what a better way to commemorate this bird, than to display one as a barn quilt."
While living in the city, he learned that local restaurateur Steve Nygren had purchased farmland and opened a Bed and Breakfast named Serenbe in what is now Chattahoochee Hills. Herman took some weekend trips to the B&B, exploring the countryside with long walks in the woods, and enjoying the early morning chorus of birds, something he seldom heard on the same scale in the big city.
Herman, who has always liked the Appalachian mountain region of north Georgia, was surprised to learn that Chatt Hills was in its foothills. He was attracted to the topography here -- the gentle hills, the stone outcrops, the dense forests, and of course, the Chattahoochee River.
With a desire to spend more time in this area, now as a couple, Herman & Carolina began searching for a home they could use for weekend getaways. They purchased a modest home on three acres with a barn, pastureland, and dense trees that seemed ideal in its location on a gravel road.
Herman was first to become enhanced with the area. He loved the wildlife on his property -- especially the birds -- and thought, “I could experience this every day.” It took a little longer for Carolina to fall under the spell, but she soon experienced that magical feeling too. They sold their home in the O4W and moved here full-time in 2020.
Today, Herman & Carolina enjoy the tranquility of their country home and have doubled and tripled their enjoyment by fostering farm animals. Over the years they've fostered a steer, cow, mule, donkey and goats. They have also invited residents who need a respite from their animals to bring them to the Hudson Homeplace for a while.
When asked why they wanted a Pileated Woodpecker barn quilt, Herman said, "Birds were a big part of why we moved here. Pileated Woodpeckers are such magnificent birds. They are so much fun to watch, and they're so loud, their drumming makes them sound like the Ringo Star of the bird world. We thought what a better way to commemorate this bird, than to display one as a barn quilt."
About Pileated Woodpeckers
Pileated is a reference to the Latin word pileatus, which means “capped.” This is a play on the hat-like appearance of the bright red crest of the bird. The rest of their heads are black and white striped, and the rest of their feathers are black. As far as woodpeckers go, they are quite large. Adults can stand up to 19 in. tall, and have a wingspan of up to 30 in. across. Male Pileated Woodpeckers have a red “moustache” running on either side of their beaks, while in females this stripe is just black.
Pileated is a reference to the Latin word pileatus, which means “capped.” This is a play on the hat-like appearance of the bright red crest of the bird. The rest of their heads are black and white striped, and the rest of their feathers are black. As far as woodpeckers go, they are quite large. Adults can stand up to 19 in. tall, and have a wingspan of up to 30 in. across. Male Pileated Woodpeckers have a red “moustache” running on either side of their beaks, while in females this stripe is just black.
Heritage story . . . Those who came before
Herman learned that the land they owned was previously owned by Roderick Rose. Roderick can date the land back to the early 1900s when it was purchased with a total of 50 acres at a county auction by two ladies. They later sold the property to James Robert Smith (Bob Smith), who is one of the Smith heritage families in Chatt Hills.
Bob grew up in the Rico Community of what is now Chattahoochee Hills, attended school there, then served in the U.S. Army as a B29 pilot. Once returning home to Rico, he had several jobs before opening “Bob’s Tire & Recapping” in Fairburn, a neighboring town.
Bob operated a sawmill on the 50 acre-property, and had bought two draft horses to help with the hauling of trees. He worked the horses hard one day, put them up after the chores, but found them both dead the next day, unknowingly having fed them a bad bale of hay. After that, Bob bought two mules and said that was the best investment he ever made.
When Bob sold the property, he would only sell all 50 acres, so Roderick bought the large parcel then later subdivided it. He and his significant other, Elitta Compton, had the three acres that Herman & Carolina now own. Elitta built the barn using 80 percent of the wood cut on the property.
Bob grew up in the Rico Community of what is now Chattahoochee Hills, attended school there, then served in the U.S. Army as a B29 pilot. Once returning home to Rico, he had several jobs before opening “Bob’s Tire & Recapping” in Fairburn, a neighboring town.
Bob operated a sawmill on the 50 acre-property, and had bought two draft horses to help with the hauling of trees. He worked the horses hard one day, put them up after the chores, but found them both dead the next day, unknowingly having fed them a bad bale of hay. After that, Bob bought two mules and said that was the best investment he ever made.
When Bob sold the property, he would only sell all 50 acres, so Roderick bought the large parcel then later subdivided it. He and his significant other, Elitta Compton, had the three acres that Herman & Carolina now own. Elitta built the barn using 80 percent of the wood cut on the property.