HUDSON AND AREA: HIDEOUT FOR ONE OF ENGLAND’S GREAT TRAIN ROBBERS

On August 8, 1963 Hudson and area residents picked up the latest edition of the local paper, the Lake of Two Mountains Gazette. Hudson High School graduation results grabbed the headlines, followed by the announcement that Miss R. Mathews was appointed parish assistant to the Parish of Vaudreuil. As a follow-up to the July 18 editorial “Dangerous Weapon,” the paper noted that the weapon, metal fences newly installed around the local post offices, had struck again. A youngster had received a bad gash requiring stitches and another resident had had his slacks ripped. Postmaster L.J. Mullan taped the dangerous edges, and Hudson Heights manager Art Grubert promised he would personally check and re-tape the offending posts until the federal Department of Public Works solved the problem.

Later that day television brought news about the Great Train Robbery in England. Thieves had robbed the Royal Mail Glasgow to London post office train of £2.6 million. Wikipedia estimates that their haul was equivalent to over $80 million today.

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.