The Hudson Historical Society invites you to St. James Church Hall on Monday, November 9th, at 7:30 PM for a book review. After all, there is nothing more comforting on a fall evening than curling up by the fireplace with a good book. We promise you at least two!This is a special evening, as we discuss a brand new publication from the Hudson Historical Society, our first in French. This book, as edited by Maben W. Poirier, describes the history of the parish of St. Thomas Aquinas Church and its people. We are very proud of this publication, as it is our first in French.The second book that will be discussed will be another new topic for our meetings, a work of fiction. It will, however, be based upon historical fact, and will have a distinctly local flair. We will keep you guessing as to the title, but please come by and learn about some great fall reading.So please join us at St. James Church Hall on Monday, November 9, 2009, at 7:30 PM.
This Thanksgiving day, October 12 2009, please come and digest your meal to a special evening with the Hudson Historical Society. Lambert "Scot" Gardiner will be presenting "Hollywood in Hudson", a feature that he prepared for the Hudson Museum to showcase a collection of films that were made here in the Hudson area. His collection goes from the sublime (Joshua Then and Now) to the ridiculous (have you seen "I'm Not There"?).
This presentation will be entertaining, and hopefully interactive, as may of us will surely recall meeting famous people in and around town. This collections was put together by Scotty, but was based upon the support of many locals, including our resident superstar, Roy Elliott.
So please join us at St. James Church Hall on Monday, October 12 2009, at 7:30 PM.
At our May meeting, local historian and author, Rod Hodgson, will talk about the first one hundred years of the Hudson Yacht Club.
Using many archival photos and short films, Rod will talk about the early days of the Club, the heyday of the wooden yachts, the swimming pool and the club activitiies and achievements over the years.
The evening promises to be a gala start for the Hudson Yacht Club Centennial year of 2009 and the Hudson Historical Society extends an invitation to members of the HYC past and present to join our meeting.
The meeting will be on Monday, May 11th 2009 at 7:30 pm at St. James’ Church Hall.
Hudson Historical Society Marks 100 Years of Ferry Service to Oka - Martin Smith writes:
One of the favourite tourist features of Hudson is the Oka Ferry. As I mow my lawn on Saturday mornings, I am regularly asked by passersby where the ferry is located (along with requests for directions to Finnigans, and the Willow Inn). Over the years, the unique tug and barge system kept us fascinated, and in awe of the skill of the crews to perform the docking procedure (you know what I mean)!
I have been a regular user of this service since university days. My first experience was as part of a car rally, but have since regularly used it while cycling. The ferry also gives me a practical short cut when driving to visit my parents in the Lanaudiere. I am a regular.
This year marks 100 years of operation of this service. On Monday April 13th, Claude Desjardins will share stories and photos from over the years. From its humble beginnings to today's modern and unobtrusive self-propelled units, the story of le Traversier Oka should be one to enjoy. The presentation will be bilingual, and Claude will answer questions in either language.
Please join us at St. James Church Hall at 7:30 PM on Monday April 13th to enjoy this visit with our past, and perhaps our future.
The picture shows a tranquil scene where the meandering Rivière Raquette crosses Route 342 a mile east of Rigaud. But on a Saturday morning in August 1917 it was far from peaceful. It was hell on earth when the wartime munitions factory of the Curtis and Harvey Company disappeared in a series of explosions as workers and residents fled the scene among showers of flaming debris.
At our meeting on February 9th, Martin Hofton will talk about the various types of explosives which were made there, the history of the Curtis and Harvey Company and the events surrounding three explosions during the Company's ten year occupation of the site.
The meeting will be at 7:30 pm at St. James's Hall. See you there! Dragon Explosion (1917)
"BLOODY VICTORY" New WWII Documentary Produced by St.Lazare Historian David O’Keefe<!--break--> David O’Keefe has presented two documentaries on the Normandy invasion to the Hudson Historical Society. The first, Black Watch: Massacre at Verrières Ridge, tells the story of the ill fated (or ill advised) raid on Verrières Ridge. The second, Bloody Normandy tells the story of Canadian infantrymen during the last year of the Second World War.
On August 18th, 1917, the munitions factory belonging to Curtiss Harvey Company of Canada at Dragon, near Rigaud, exploded, causing a good deal of damage in the immediate area and many broken windows as far away as Alstonvale to the east. MWP
7.30pm St. James Anglican Church, 642 Main Road, Hudson
The Hudson Historical Society presents “Unfree” – Slaves and Captives in Canada on Monday, May 14, at 7:30 p.m. at St. James Church Hall, 642 Main Road, Hudson. This will be the last monthly meeting until September. This year the world marks the 200th anniversary of the passing of the “Abolition of the Slave Trade Bill” by the British Parliament. From that time on the slave trade was abolished throughout the Empire. The British navy was authorized to fine ships caught trafficking humans £100 per slave found on board.
7.30pm, St. James Anglican Church, 642 Main Road, Hudson
One of the most popular features in the Hudson/St. Lazare Gazette is the That Was Then photograph adorning the editorial page. Astute readers will recall that over the years Thelma McCourt has furnished many of these photographs. Thelma McCourt, a lifelong resident of Hudson, has amassed a considerable collection of pictures of this area taken by herself, her relatives and neighbours. She also has an interesting visual record of her great-great-great-grandfather James Day, born in 1768 on the Isle of Wight off the southern coast of England.