Charles Henry Danielle

Charles Henry Danielle

Charles Henry Danielle was born on November 1st, 1830, in Baltimore, Maryland. He moved to Newfoundland in the 1860s, self-advertising as a “dancing instructor and fancy dressmaker.” While he owned a variety of businesses over the years until his death in 1902, the most memorable artistic and profession pursuit of his was the Octagon Castle hotel at Octagon pond, Topsail, in 1896. He operated this establishment until his death in 1902. But rather than have a somber funeral, he chose to make his own casket and host a party instead (or, really, have his attendees party). Allegedly, 10,000 people gathered to witness his procession, and there were fights to view his casket. Though he never married, Danielle did have an heir, Frederick A. Brazil. He assisted and worked for Danielle in the last few years of Danielle’s life, and is recorded as having been legally adopted a year before Danielle’s passing. Danielle’s avoidance of matrimony is likely because of his queerness — an old friend of his, C.H. Waugh, once wrote to Brazil that Danielle “was a great lover of men. He used to hug and kiss them and want to sleep with them. I did not like this, But there was much about him that I did like.”
There are sporadic records of Danielle’s life, and in all likelihood, not all have been found yet. And while there are only a few accounts of his death, the surviving depictions of his funeral point to a loved, cherished, (and probably even envied), man.