Ile d'Orleans

Soon after Champlain founded Quebec, some habitants began clearing land on the island named Ile d’Orleans. Here, the fertile soil originally nourished an abundance of wild grapes. Today, the island is noted for its’ strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and other crops.The earliest settlers built their log cabin homes here, believing they were safe from Iroquois attack. They were wrong! Despite Indian raids, the number of habitant families grew, multiplied and prospered. From the North end of the island, you can see Quebec. It is just a few miles across the St .Lawrence river. On a good day, the habitant could harvest some ripe vegetables or berries, sail across this watery expanse and sell his produce in the city. He could also buy some coffee beans, pipe tobacco or perhaps some sewing needles, lace or some small luxury and sail home. In time, five parish churches served the islands’ religious and some of its’ administrative needs.

This photo is of the parish church of St Jean. The current church was erected about 1747, a dozen years prior to the British Conquest. Here, my earliest known New France ancestor was buried in 1759. Today, Ile d'Orleans is connected to the north shore of the St Lawrence river via a bridge near Montmorency Falls. Native Americans no longer raid the small farms. They have been replaced, in warmer weather, by tourists shopping for fresh produce and enjoying the tranquil scenery.