Mount Holly

Mount Holly is a 19th-century Italianate plantation house in Hollandale, Washington County, featuring thirty-two rooms across two stories. The walls are built from red bricks approximately 2 feet (60 centimeters) thick, and high ceilings of about 14 feet (4 meters) define the spacious interior rooms.

Margaret Johnson Erwin Dudley commissioned the construction of Mount Holly in 1855 using architectural designs published by Calvert Vaux in Harper's Magazine. The estate later became a gathering place during the Civil War when military commanders met there for important discussions.

The name Mount Holly comes from the holly trees originally planted on the grounds. Today, visitors can see how the rooms reflect the life of a 19th-century family and how the grounds served as a gathering place for the surrounding community.

The house sits at 1835 Eastside Lake Washington Road in Hollandale and spreads across about 7 acres near Lake Washington. Visitors should note that the location is quite rural and good footwear is helpful for exploring the grounds.

Writer Shelby Foote used the estate as the setting for his first novel Tournament, published in 1949. The book helped bring attention to the location within Mississippi Delta literary circles.

Location: Washington County

Inception: 1859

Architectural style: Italianate architecture

Floors above the ground: 2

GPS coordinates: 33.09500,-91.03670

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:00