HISTORY

Exploring the Rich History of Hudson, Quebec: A Small Town with a Big Story

The earliest known inhabitants lived across the river in the area that is now known as Oka. They were indigenous people of the Algonquin nation. Later, they moved out, and the Mohawks of the Iroquois Nation took over and made the settlement of Kanehsatake.

The first European man to travel up what is now the Ottawa River was Etienne Brule in 1611. Samuel de Champlain made his first trip up the river in June 1613. His guides were members of the Algonquin nation. Numerous other French explorers, fur trappers, couriers de bois, and religious missionaries also travelled up the river throughout the 17 Century. It was the main route west as the St. Lawrence was too far south. The Ottawa, also known as the "River of Canada," let the explorers travel a fairly easy route to the west and, subsequently, the opening up of the continent.

Some early French Canadian settlers to this area were Jean-Baptiste Sabourin, François Xavier Desjardins, Louis Mallet, and Jean-Baptiste Séguin.

The first English-speaking person to settle in what is now Hudson was John Mark Crank De Les Derniers in 1801. Settlement continued in the early years of the 19th Century, with numerous families moving here from what is now Cumbria, England. Then, it was the counties of Cumberland and Westmorland. Others came from Scotland, and a few from Ireland. (Many families settled in what is now St. Lazare, Rigaud and Ste. Marthe)

Families such as the Davidsons, Stephensons, Viponds, Hodgsons, Grahams, Parsons, Robinsons, Thompsons, Sandersons, Blenkinships, Grisdales, Shepherds, Mathisons, and Bensons all arrived and settled what is now Hudson. In those days, it was part of the Seigneurie de Vaudreuil and the area was known as La Premiere Concession au Dessous du Fief Cavagnal.

The railroad arrived in early 1890, known as the Vaudreuil & Prescott R.R. This was later changed to the Montréal and Ottawa, then finally the Canadian Pacific Railroad. The Hudson Station was built in 1890 and now serves as the Hudson Village Theatre. However, two trains a day still stop in Hudson, the last stop on the Montréal Commuter line. It used to be the main line for the CPR's passenger train, the "Canadian." During the 1950s, some 30-35 trains would pass through Hudson daily. They included numerous freight trains, passenger trains, and commuter trains.

St. James Anglican Church was built in 1842, and the first service was held there in early December 1842. St. Mary's Anglican Church was built in 1866. St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church was built in 1898, and Wyman Memorial United Church was built in 1907. It replaced the Hudson Methodist Church, which was built in 1872.

In 1855, a visitor to Captain R.W. Shepherd's house, Riversmead, told him and his family that the lake looked like Lake Como in Italy. Capt. Shepherd owned the Ottawa River Navigation Co., which operated numerous steamboats on the Ottawa River. The first steamboat on the Ottawa River arrived in 1820. The area there had been known as the Ottawa Glass Works (the actual name of the Post Office), while the western part of the community was known as Pointe à Cavagnal.

With Bytown being renamed Ottawa, there became some confusion between that town and here in what is now eastern Hudson. Thus, Shepherd renamed the Post Office as Como. This remained in effect until 1969 when the three Villages of Como, Hudson & Hudson Heights amalgamated into the Town of Hudson. Though for a period of time, the three local Post Offices held their names as Como, Hudson & Hudson Heights, the latter two remain.

In 1865, the Pointe à Cavagnal Post Office was moved from what was Mathison’s Store (Later Mullans Store) to a more central location to aid Mr. George Matthews’ large glass factory and the growing community in the central village. The Canada Glass Factory operated on what is not the junction of Wharf Road and Halcro Avenue. Matthews was the operator of this, and he decided to rename the post office after his wife, Eliza Hudson. They lived in a large house on the left side of the hill on Mount Victoria Road. He had named his house Mount Victoria after Queen Victoria.

Captain R.W. Shepherd and George Matthews were the community's wealthiest and most influential men in the late 1800s.

The arrival of the railroad and the daily steamboat arrivals brought a new life to the community. The era of the steamboats plying the Ottawa between Montreal and Ottawa ended in the mid-1930s. One of the most famous was the Empress. New visitors loved the area, and many came and set up summer residences in the three villages in the first three or four decades of the 20th Century. The C.P.R. operated special trains twice a year or more in the summer, bringing out C.P.R. employees and their families to spend the day at Hudson Sandy Beach. It was owned and operated by the Blenkinship family for many decades.

The post-World War II era brought many more new families to Hudson. Many worked for what was then Trans Canada Airlines, now Air Canada. Maple Avenue's nickname was TCA Ave., as so many TCA crew members lived there. Hudson Heights was formed in the early 20th Century, and many new families built magnificent homes that overlooked the Ottawa River (Lake of the Two Mountains). The Hudson Yacht Club was formed in 1909, and the Whitlock Golf & Country Club was formed in 1912. The Como Golf Club was organized a few years before that.

Today, Hudson is a vibrant place with a strong sense of history and community. The town has many historic buildings, including the Hudson Parks and outdoor recreational areas, including Jack Layton Park, which features a beautiful waterfront and walking trails.

Despite its small size, Hudson has played an essential role in the history of Quebec and Canada. The town's unique blend of French and English influences reflects the region's complex history and strong sense of community. Whether you are a history buff or simply looking for a beautiful and welcoming place to visit, Hudson is a town sure to capture your heart.

— Rod Hodgson