The Seigneurial Mill at Les Eboulements was built around 1790 by Jean-Francois Tremblay. The Canadian Heritage of Quebec acquired the mill in 1962 and has since completed extensive restoration work on both the Manor and Mill.

Today, the Mill is fully operational, run by a direct descendant of the original family. Flour is ground from wheat which is grown on neighbouring fields, and can be purchased on site for a small fee. A bakery also operates during the summer months for tourists and local visitors. Guided tours of the mill workings are also available.

HOW TO GET THERE

The mill is located about 100 kilometres east of Quebec City on the North Shore. In Quebec take the Autoroute de la Capitale (Route 40). This runs directly in to Route 138 which will take you to Baie St. Paul. From Baie St. Paul the shortest route is to go through the town and take highway 362 which follows the coast. The Mill is located at the west end of Les Eboulements exactly 16.5 kilometres east of Baie St. Paul church. If proceeding eastward the road to the Mill is located on the right just before you cross the Riviere du Moulin. If you pass either the road to St Joseph de la Rive or the Motel de nos Aieux you have gone a little too far.

If you are approaching the Mill from the east, take Highway 138 to Murray Bay but when you cross the bridge in Murray Bay turn left and follow highway 362 through Pointe a Pic. Go up over the hill past the Manoir Richelieu, down the long steep hill through St. Irene and on to Les Eboulements. Just past the bridge over the Riviere du Moulin turn left and you will see the mill ahead of you. This turn-off is 25.5 kilometres past Pointe a Pic and exactly 1.6 kilometres past the church in Les Eboulements.

BASIC INFORMATION

1. NAME Laterriere Seigneurial Mill
2. LOCATION/CIVIC ADDRESS 157 rue de Moulin
3. MUNICPALITY Les Eboulements
4. OCCUPANCY Miller lives on premises year-round
5. DESCRIPTION Nestled at the head of a gorge in the Riviere du Moulin, this water-powered flour mill is built of stone and mortar, stands on its original site, with original construction and machinery. A waterfall is 100 feet from mill; there is a pond in front, the countryside is wooded, and next to the mill there is a bridge, sluice-gate, and road.
6. OUTBUILDINGS St. Nicolas Processional Chapel, originally from St Nicolas, Cte Levis, (acquired through donation by Mr. Ross Anderson), as well as a squared timber barn, a reception kiosk, washroom barns across the road, and a storage shed.
7. DATE & SOURCE OF ACQUISITION CJG Molson and Mabel Molson purchased the Mill from les Freres du Sacre Coeur in 1962, and donated it to the CHQ in 1965. Between 1965 and 1972 CHQ purchased three adjacent lots. In 1970 CHQ erected a processional chapel on the lot next to the road.
8. USE open to public in summer, operated as a flour mill, flour sold to tourists

ARCHITECTURAL

1. FORM Tall rectangular structure, stone covered with mortar, five storeys high, erected on and in a riverbank. From the higher ground, the building appears to have only two storeys.
2. DESIGN Designed for use as a flour mill, placed so that water flows through building providing power for mill. Strong, thick floors of large joists and planks, to support heavy mill equipment. On river side below level of ground floor, and side walls, no windows, to form dark and watertight room in which to hold the large wheel.
3. CONSTRUCTION Embedded in the escarpment along the river’s edge, constructed so that water flows through and provides power to operate mill. Stone and mortar foundation, which next to the river is eight feet thick, main floor walls 3 ½ feet thick, first floor walls 2 ½ feet thick. Roof framing consists of eleven trusses made op of rafters and tie-beams, king-post and load-bearing braces, ensuring lateral stability and allowing for ventilation
4. EXTERIOR ELEMENTS 22-foot water wheel, many windows on main floor, fewer on upper levels, 45-degree two-sided roof, framed with heavy timbers, strong longitudinal windbracing in the ridge and collar beams, on outside, planked and cedar shingled.
5. INTERIOR ELEMENTS Original machinery still in place and operable, three grindstones for different types of grinding from flour to cattle feed. Large, efficient mill wheel inside. Stone masonry walls covered with rough mortar whitewashed with lime. Centre wall ground floor (separates living quarters from mill) is beams and lathing, covered with rough mortar.
6. EXISTING CONDITION (2002) sound foundation, roof and walls in good repair, mill equipment in working order
7. ALTERATIONS AFTER ACQUISITION BY CHQ

Because of damage in the late 19th centuty by earthquake which split a number of large stones, CHQ had to rebuild and strengthen wall to prevent collapse. Extensive exterior and interior restoration was carried out on the mill in 1963, 1964, and 1967, and in 1963 and 1968, extensive restoration and improvement works were carried out on the dam. In 1977 a draughtsman was engaged to begin making measured drawings of the entire mill and its machinery. Cellar masonry was re-done in 1989-90. Restoration in 1992 in accordance with Varin’s report included east wall, stairs, foundation on river-side, windows repaired, electricity installed. Rebuilt south wall, 1995.

HISTORY

1. ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY Mill built in 1790, seigneury (old manor house east of mill site) built in 1810-11 by the Laterriere family, who owned the seigneury. Extensive restoration work carried out in 1963, 1964, 1989 and 1990. Water wheel rebuilt in 1966 and again in 1989. Restoration and improvement work carried out on dam in 1963 and 1968.
2. OCCUPATIONAL HISTORY The Les Eboulements Seigneury was granted to Pierre de Lessard in 1683. In 1710 Governor Raudot ordered him to sell the Seigneury to Pierre Tremblay, who built the first flour mill before 1723. Dr. Pierre de Lases Laterriere purchased the seigneury from Tremblay. The present mill was built by Pierre de Lases Laterriere circa 1790, and operated for the use of local farmers, with the living quarters for the miller in the top storey. Different members of the Tremblay family owned it in the 20th century until 1947, sold to “Freres du Sacre Coeur.” In 1962 the mill stopped working, and CHQ bought it from Henri Tremblay. Opened to public in summer 1993.