Saint-Bruno Farm
Located in what is today downtown Montréal, the Saint-Joseph Hospice was on the verge of expropriation for a new Grand Trunk Railway station when the start of the Great War put the project on hold. That same year, 1914, the Hospice is gifted a 135 acre farm in the village of Saint-Bruno, county of Chambly.
Residence of the Saint-Bruno Farm, undated. Photography: author unknown. Grey Nuns of Montréal’s Archives, Saint-Joseph Hospice (Montréal)’s Fonds, L010-J-2- 8
The air is clean and healthy, with sandy soil in various areas suitable for different crops, especially vegetables. Springs at both ends of the land supply streams with clean water that serve as water troughs for grazing animals.
Map of the farmland and buildings of the Saint-Bruno Farm, 1926/J. O. Despaties. Grey Nuns of Montréal’s Archives, Saint-Joseph Hospice (Montréal)’s Fonds, L010-I-11
Plan of Saint-Bruno Farm crop rotations, 1926. Grey Nuns of Montréal’s Archives, Saint-Joseph Hospice (Montréal)’s Fonds, L010-I-10
“Profitable acquisition for the Saint-Bruno farm! Four cows have just been purchased. Before long we will have enough milk without having to buy any. The best part is that Saint Joseph came to the aid of Sister Superior in paying for the cows. A cheque for $200,00 was sent to Sister Superior by Mrs. Forget and with what gratitude we hear her thank us.”
Chronicles of Hospice Saint-Joseph, 12 December 1916. Transcription.
Archives of The Grey Nuns of Montréal, L010
Crop rotation of Saint-Bruno Farm, 1926. Grey Nuns of Montréal’s Archives, Hospice Saint-Joseph (Montréal)’s Fonds, L010-I-10
“Sister Superior accompanied by dear Sister Roy and six students is heading towards Saint-Bruno. They will be working at the gathering of apples and other farm produce. We wish them a good trip and a speedy return (…) The farm car arrives loaded with provisions: apples, melons, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc. etc. By savoring all these wonderful and good things, a grateful thank you goes to the Author of so much goodness.”
Chronicles of Saint-Joseph Hospice, 17 and 20 October 1918. Transcription.
Archives of The Grey Nuns of Montréal, L010
Saint-Bruno Farm inventory, 1933. Grey Nuns of Montréal’s Archives, Saint-Joseph Hospice (Montréal)’s Fonds, L010-I-7
For 25 years, the Nuns work hard to continually improvement the property and to increase its productivity: the land is tilled and enriched with fertilizers and undergoes regular crop rotation; the number of livestock is increased; the farmhouse and outbuildings undergo major repairs. In the end the Congregation decides to sell the farm, and in 1939 Armand Gelinas, a provincial agronomist living in Chambly, becomes the new owner.