The Willow Place Inn, or “The Willow” as we are known locally, was originally built about 1820, serving­ at the time as the private home of George Mallette and his family.  In 1824, the house was purchased by François Xavier Desjardins, who operated­ it as a store. Then, the only French speaking member of the community, F. X. Desjardins, was, of course a great patriot.  In fact, his store became the local headquarters of the Patriot Movement.

Actually, Desjardins was gathering arms and ammunition­ for the Cause, and, it is said, storing them in the cellar.  He also took part in the Battle of St. Eustache during the 1837 Rebellion, happily surviving only to find himself imprisoned in Montreal charged with treason.

Since that time the establishment has been operated peacefully, as a boarding house by the Brasseur Family­,  a residential hotel by the Leger Family, and, presently as the local pub & dining room, owned and operated by a group of lifelong residents of Hudson.

In June 1989 the Inn was completely destroyed by fire.  Every effort was made to recreate the style of the original Inn, and was successfully completed in December­ ‘89.

The atmosphere at “The Willow” is indeed unique. People now come to the Inn to relax in the comfortable bar, to savour their favorite wine with dinner in the cozy dining room, to warm themselves before blazing log fires and to rebel against the haste and hysteria of the big city and the huge, impersonal hotel.