Brudenell

History

It’s hard to believe that at one time Brudenell was the largest and most prosperous community on the old Opeongo Road. The village was first settled in the 1850s and named after Crimean war hero, James Thomas Brudenell.

Brudenell’s original name was “Payette Corners,” named after Madame Payette’s busy hotel. Following that was a change to “Brudenell Corners. Finally, Charles Hirsh opened a post office in 1859 and dropped the word “Corners.”

Brudenell was a rough, tough outpost. As a result, it catered to the many lumberjacks heading up the rocky hills every winter to the pineries. By the late 1860s, Brudenell, with a population of only 200 boasted three hotels, all of which had taverns. All things considered, this seemed excessive by most standards. Be that as it may, it’s worth noting the transient and stopover population was likely much higher than the permanent population.

James Grace owned the Brudenell Inn. Additionally, there was also the British Hotel, owned by Desiree Payette. Lastly, James Whelan ran a third unnamed hotel. Not surprisingly, the hotels offered plenty of entertainment in their busy taverns and flophouses. Additional fun was available at the Brudenell racetrack.

Storekeepers included Patrick Keilly, John Reynolds and John Moran. Reynolds and Moran both served as postmasters in the 1860s. Hanorah Keilly took over her husband’s store after his death in the 1880s. There were several blacksmiths, carpenters and shoemakers. Institutions included a school and a Roman Catholic church. A schoolhouse was located halfway between Brudenell and Foymount. Stagecoaches destined to nearby Eganville, Rockingham and Combermere, rattled through the village daily.

In the early 1870s, Brudenell’s rather unsavoury reputation took a turn for the worse. That was likely due to the arrival of the Costello family from Ireland. ‘Black Jim’ Costello, as he became known, purchased one of the general stores in 1871 which included the post office. His brother Mike started with a blacksmith shop.

The lumbermen regarded Jim quite highly. For example, he set up a form of credit that allowed their families to purchase supplies from his store. In view of their work situation, Jim waited until lumbermen returned from the camps in the spring, when they dould settle their accounts.

In the mid-1880s, Mike Costello extended his reach into the hospitality industry with the establishment of Costello’s Hotel. According to rumours, it quickly developed a dubious reputation where gambling and sins of a far worse nature were taking place. By then, Brudenell had picked up the unenviable reputation as the most notorious “sin-bucket” along the Opeongo. After the hotel burned in 1886, Costello rebuilt it as quickly as possible.

At the relatively young age of 33, Madame Payette found herself a widow. Nevertheless, she proved to be an astute businesswoman who purchased John Whelan’s old hotel from John Devine. The hotel cost her $2000, a tidy sum back in those days. Evidently she had the money. Devine got out of the hotel business and switched over to road building.

Brudenell’s demise came with the arrival of J.R. Booth’s railway in 1893. The railway traversed through Algonquin Park, where most of Booth’s lumbering activities were taking place. Brudenell was, completely bypassed. Over time most of the businesses gradually shut down.

Black Jim passed away in 1902. A few other businesses lasted longer. The Payette hotel reportedly lasted into the early 1900s. The Costello hotel lasted much longer. Mike Costello was still listed as the owner in 1906. However by 1910, F. Corrigan was the new owner. One long term survivor was Hanorah Keilly. She was still running the general store in 1910. By that time, the population had dropped from a high of around 300 in 1886 to about 150.

The Catholic Church continues to function. A tiny handful of people still continue to call Brudenell home. The schoolhouse is now a private home. The old Costello hotel, weathered and sinister looking, served as a private dwelling for many years. It has been up for sale for quite some time. A few other buildings, including one of the stores, remain along the highway.