Veillet River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Veillet River |
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|---|---|
| Country |  Canada |
| Province |  Quebec |
| Region | Mauricie |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | At the foot of the moraine, Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan 90 m (300 ft) 46°36′13″N 72°20′44″W / 46.60361°N 72.34556°W |
| River mouth | Batiscan River Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan, Les Chenaux 10 m (33 ft) 46°31′43″N 72°20′12″W / 46.528574°N 72.336694°W |
| Length | 11.3 km (7.0 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 3,711 km2 (1,433 sq mi)Batiscanie |
| Tributaries |
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The Veillet River (also called Rivière à Veillet in French) is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows through the town of Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan, which is part of the Les Chenaux Regional County Municipality in the Mauricie region.
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River's Journey: Where it Flows
The Veillet River starts in a hilly area called a moraine. It flows for about 11.3 kilometers (7 miles). The river moves from the northeast to the southwest. It runs along the base of a long line of hills. These hills stretch parallel to the Saint Lawrence River.
The Veillet River eventually flows into the Batiscan River. This happens right in the middle of the village of Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan. The river's mouth is very close to the village church. The area around the Veillet River covers about 37.1 square kilometers (14.3 square miles).
River's History: Important Events
The upper part of the Veillet River valley was one of the first places settled in the Lordship of Batiscan. This happened in the early 1700s.
The river has seen some big events. In 1730, a sudden flood destroyed a wooden bridge near the river's mouth. Later, in 1877, a landslide caused a lot of damage. It destroyed a sawmill and was a very sad event for the community.
Why is it Called Veillet River?
The river is named after a man named Jean Veillet (1664-1741). He was an important ancestor for many Veillet families in North America. Jean Veillet came to Canada in 1687. He was a soldier in the "Compagnies Franches de la Marine" (Free Companies of the Navy).
After his time in the military, Jean Veillet settled near the mouth of the Veillet River. This was on the east side of the Batiscan River. The Jesuits, who owned the land in the Lordship of Batiscan, officially gave him this land in 1711.
Jean Veillet also got permission to cut and sell timber that same year. He was one of the first people to start a logging business in the area. The Veillet River flowed right through his land. The church in Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan was even built on land that once belonged to Jean Veillet.
Jean Veillet's Life and Family
Jean Veillet was born in France in 1664. He married Marguerite Lariou in 1698 in Batiscan. He passed away in Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan in 1741.
After Jean Veillet died, his oldest son, also named Jean Veillet, bought the family land from his brothers and sisters in 1743. Later, the land was passed down to Michel Veillet, who was Jean Veillet's grandson. In 1790, Michel Veillet sold the part of the land where the church was built. This helped to settle a long-standing disagreement about the property.
The name "River Veillet" was officially recognized on August 14, 1997. This was done by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is the board that names places in Quebec.
Road Along the Veillet River
There is a road called "Chemin de la rivière Veillet" (Road of Veillet River). It runs alongside the river for about 3.75 kilometers (2.3 miles). The road starts where Church Street meets "chemin des forges." It ends at the intersection of "rang St-Augustin" and "chemin du village Jacob."
At this intersection, there is a white wooden cross. A small box on the cross used to hold an old religious item from 1827. People living along this road and near Gendron Creek were very close. Even though they lived in different areas, many families from these places married each other.
