At Knob Hill Farm, farm tours that include visits to the farm facilities are among the specific activities available in Hudson. At the same time, the area’s history dates back to Joseph Hudson’s claim to the land in 1810. Visitors planning a stay have two different ways to experience the area: practical insights into agriculture and historical stories about settlement, work, and education.
Farm Tours and Hands-On Volunteering
Knob Hill Farm in Hudson offers educational programs and farm tours. The tours include visits to the farm facilities. There are also hands-on opportunities to learn about an organic farm through volunteering. The tour and volunteering differ in their focus: one centers on the farm and its facilities, while the other offers a practical introduction to agricultural work. If you’re planning a farm tour, check the available dates before your visit.
Hudson’s Early History
In 1810, Joseph Hudson became the first settler to claim land in the Hudson community in Breckinridge County. The original house he built still stands today.
The Mill and Distillery in Local History
Shortly after the Civil War, Mac Jauncy built a gristmill at the forks of Calimese Creek. A horse powered it by means of a long draft pole. Customers had to hitch up their own horses and grind the grain themselves. They left flour in a designated container as payment for milling. The mill thus represents a way of working in which customers took part in the milling process themselves, with some of the flour serving as payment.
Riley Johnson’s distillery is also part of Hudson’s history. It was located about 100 yards east of the Hudson crossroads on the road to Dyer and operated until the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution was adopted. The whiskey bore a government seal and had to be 100 proof. The mill and distillery represent different aspects of food production at the time: grinding grain in one case and making whiskey in the other.
Schools and Residents During the Civil War
The history of local schools also offers several clearly dated milestones. Hudson’s first school dates to around 1840 and was built of logs. The last school was built in 1924 on land donated by W. H. Tucker. It was closed in 1957 and consolidated with the school in Custer. The timeline thus spans from an early log schoolhouse to a later consolidation.
Four residents of the Hudson community—Elza Tucker, Bill Tucker, Bill Monroe, and Nic Mercer—served in the Union Army during the Civil War. All returned safely. This personal history complements the stories of schools and work with the experiences of individual residents.
More Places to Explore in Breckinridge County
The Judge Joseph Holt Home and Rough River Lake are located in Breckinridge County, but not in Hudson itself. The Judge Joseph Holt Home is the house where Joseph Holt lived; Abraham Lincoln appointed him the nation’s first Judge Advocate General. Rough River Lake offers opportunities for swimming and jet skiing.
Discover more destinations: Custer.
View the main travel guide: Breckinridge.
