List of windmills in Quebec facts for kids

Have you ever seen a giant structure with big arms spinning in the wind? Those are windmills! For hundreds of years, windmills have been super important machines. In Quebec, Canada, these amazing buildings helped early settlers grind grain into flour, saw wood, and even pump water. They were like the powerful engines of their time! Today, many of these old windmills are still standing, reminding us of Quebec's rich history.

Quebec's Historic Windmills

What is a Windmill?

Most windmills in Quebec are a type called a tower mill. Imagine a tall, round stone tower with a cap on top that can turn. This cap holds the big wooden blades, or "sails," that catch the wind. When the wind blows, the sails spin, powering machinery inside the tower. This clever design allowed people to use wind energy for many important tasks long ago.

The Oldest Windmills in Quebec

Quebec is home to some very old windmills, showing how long people have used wind power here. One of the oldest is the Moulin des Hospitalières in Grondines, Quebec. It was built way back in 1674! Can you imagine how much history that mill has seen?

Another ancient mill is the Moulin de l'Île Saint-Bernard in Châteauguay, built in 1686. The Moulin Le Ber de Senneville in Senneville, Quebec was also built in 1686. These mills are over 300 years old!

The Moulin à vent Vincelotte in Cap-Saint-Ignace, Quebec dates back to 1690. These early windmills were crucial for daily life in the new settlements.

Windmills with Special Stories

Some windmills have unique stories. The Moulin des Hospitalières in Grondines, Quebec, which is one of the oldest, was later changed into a lighthouse. This shows how these strong structures could be used for different purposes over time.

The Moulin de Pointe-aux-Trembles in Pointe-aux-Trembles, Quebec was built in 1719. It has been carefully restored, meaning it was fixed up to look like it did when it was first built. This helps us see what life was like centuries ago.

In Pointe Claire, the Pointe-Claire Windmill was built in 1709. It's another great example of an old tower mill that has stood the test of time.

Where to Find Windmills Today

Many historic windmills are still standing across Quebec. You can find them in places like:

• Bécancour, Quebec, home to the Moulin de Saint Grégoire from 1808.
• Contrecoeur, Quebec, where the Moulin Chaput was built in 1742.
• Île d'Orléans, with the Moulin Poulin from around 1841.
• Île aux Coudres, featuring the Moulin Desgagnés from 1836.
• Notre-Dame-de-l'Île-Perrot, with the Pointe-du-Moulin from 1702.
• Quebec City, which has the Moulin à vent de l'Hôpital général de Québec from 1731.
• Repentigny, Quebec, where you can find the Moulin Grenier (1820) and the Moulin Antoine-Jetté (1823).
• Trois-Rivières, home to the Moulin de la commune de Trois-Rivières from 1781.
• Verchères, Quebec, with the Moulin Dansereau (1822) and the Madeleine-de-Verchères mill (around 1730).

These windmills are important parts of Quebec's heritage. They remind us of the clever ways people used natural energy long before electricity existed!

Images for kids

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  Moulin de Saint Grégoire in Bécancour.

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  Moulin à vent Vincelotte in Cap-Saint-Ignace.

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  Moulin des Hospitalières in Grondines, now a lighthouse.

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  Moulin Poulin on Île d'Orléans.

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  Moulin Desgagnés on Île aux Coudres.

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  Moulin de Pointe-aux-Trembles.

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  Fleming Mill in LaSalle.

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  Pointe-du-Moulin in Notre-Dame-de-l'Île-Perrot.

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  Pointe-Claire Windmill.

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  Moulin à vent de l'Hôpital général de Québec.

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  A windmill at the Quebec City Zoological Gardens.

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  Moulin Grenier in Repentigny.

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  Moulin Antoine-Jetté in Repentigny.

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  Moulin Le Ber de Senneville.

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  Moulin de la commune de Trois-Rivières.

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  Moulin Dansereau in Verchères.

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  Madeleine-de-Verchères mill in Verchères.