The Greenwood Centre for Living History is a historic house and cultural site located in the town of Hudson. Today, it operates as a museum and living history centre, but its real significance lies in the many layers of history contained within a single home and property.
The story begins in the early 1700s, when the land was first granted to an early settler, Jean-Baptiste Sabourin. He and his family built a modest farmhouse and lived from the land, as most families did at the time. For many generations, the property remained a working rural homestead and stayed within the same family line, gradually expanding as life and needs changed.
In the 1800s, the house became more than just a private home. It took on an important role in the growing community—serving at different times as a store, a trading post, and eventually the first post office in the area. As the region developed, the building was repeatedly expanded and adapted, reflecting changing uses and growing connections to the wider world.
In the early 20th century, Greenwood shifted again, becoming a seasonal retreat for Montreal families seeking a rural escape. During this time, it was also influenced by the work of architect Percy Nobbs, whose design sensibilities contributed to alterations that gave the home a distinct Arts and Crafts character.
Over time, Greenwood came to reflect many different ways of life—early settlement, rural farming, local commerce, seasonal retreat, and heritage preservation. In this sense, the house is a small reflection of the changing history of the region itself, shaped by the people who lived there and the times they lived in.
Since 1996, it has been preserved as a non-profit museum, allowing visitors to explore its history through guided tours, gardens, and cultural programs.
This listing was updated by Katie Miller, Heritage Advisor at the National Trust for Canada, on June 8, 2026.
Please confirm details at the site’s own website before planning your visit. Are you the owner/operator of this historic place? Would you like to make changes to this listing? Please contact us at historicplacesday@nationaltrustcanada.ca
By Katie Miller (Montreal)
The Greenwood Centre for Living History is a historic home located in the town of Hudson, Quebec, with sections of the house dating back to the 1730s, 1820s, 1900s, and 1920s. The earliest part of the house was originally the homestead of the Sabourin family, who settled the property in 1732. In 1820, it was passed on to the Delesderniers family, during which time it operated as a general store and trading post, and later became the first post office in the area. Greenwood eventually became a summer residence for the Shepherd and Nobbs families, whose legacies are closely connected to the development of academia in Montreal.
I first visited Greenwood when I was nine years old and was immediately captivated by its history and stories. As a CEGEP student, I returned to this special place for my first museum job. For three years, I worked as a Young Canada Works in Heritage Intern, giving tours and interpreting the house’s rich history for the public. It was during this time that I realized museums and heritage would be the path I’d follow in life.
Today, I’ve returned to Greenwood as a volunteer, eager to continue making new memories and deepening my understanding of this extraordinary historic home — because the learning never truly ends when we love the subject matter.
