Bewilder and Pine Miniatures
Ile Auc Coudres Windmill - Quebec Canada - HO Scale Miniature
My latest Hermitage Collection piece is this windmill inspire by the historic windmill in Quebec province on the Isle aux Coudres.
The other buildings pictured are from my Medieval Stone Village set. I plan to make the accompanying watermill as well. :)
About the windmill:
The Isle-aux-Coudres is located in the St. Lawrence River three kilometers from it's north shore.
In 1815, famine struck because there were no efficient grain mills on the island. The inhabitants often had to go to Baie-Saint-Paul or Les Éboulements, in spite of the dangerous canoe crossings.
In 1825, the Séminaire de Québec, Who had lordly rights over the island, agreed to the building of a water mill. Over the years, however, the water mill proved to be inefficient, so a windmill was built on the same site in 1836. In 1850, the Séminaire de Québec sold both mills to private concerns.
Several owners subsequently operated them, including Marie-Anne Desmeules who took over after the death of her first husband.
Until the early 1900s, both mills were in operation, and complemented each other. The arrival of large flour mills marked the new century and caused a progressive change in the types of crops. Land and sea transportation greatly improved and traditional flour mills gradually became obsolete.
Because it was no longer profitable, the water mill was transformed into a sawmill around 1920. It was in operation until 1948. The water mill and the windmill were respectively designated as historic monuments by the Québec ministère des Affaires culturelles (now ministère de la Culture et des Communications) in 1962 and 1963.
In the 1980s, the mills were restored, keeping in mind their original characteristics. Both are once again operational. Over 500 000 people have visited the site since it opened to the public in 1982!
Ile Auc Coudres Windmill - Quebec Canada - HO Scale Miniature
My latest Hermitage Collection piece is this windmill inspire by the historic windmill in Quebec province on the Isle aux Coudres.
The other buildings pictured are from my Medieval Stone Village set. I plan to make the accompanying watermill as well. :)
About the windmill:
The Isle-aux-Coudres is located in the St. Lawrence River three kilometers from it's north shore.
In 1815, famine struck because there were no efficient grain mills on the island. The inhabitants often had to go to Baie-Saint-Paul or Les Éboulements, in spite of the dangerous canoe crossings.
In 1825, the Séminaire de Québec, Who had lordly rights over the island, agreed to the building of a water mill. Over the years, however, the water mill proved to be inefficient, so a windmill was built on the same site in 1836. In 1850, the Séminaire de Québec sold both mills to private concerns.
Several owners subsequently operated them, including Marie-Anne Desmeules who took over after the death of her first husband.
Until the early 1900s, both mills were in operation, and complemented each other. The arrival of large flour mills marked the new century and caused a progressive change in the types of crops. Land and sea transportation greatly improved and traditional flour mills gradually became obsolete.
Because it was no longer profitable, the water mill was transformed into a sawmill around 1920. It was in operation until 1948. The water mill and the windmill were respectively designated as historic monuments by the Québec ministère des Affaires culturelles (now ministère de la Culture et des Communications) in 1962 and 1963.
In the 1980s, the mills were restored, keeping in mind their original characteristics. Both are once again operational. Over 500 000 people have visited the site since it opened to the public in 1982!