Holy-Pétronille

History

Holy-Pétronille is most recent of the six parishes of the island of Orleans. It was set up canonically only in 1870, under the name of Holy-Pétronille of Beaulieu. Very early, it carried the semi-official name of Boils of the Island , since it is located at the south-western end of the island, vis-a-vis the town of Quebec. It is close to the parishes of Saint-Pierre-of-the Island-in Orleans, from which it was detached in 1870, and to the parish of Saint-Laurent-of-the Island-in Orleans. A municipality of village was created there in 1874, under the name of Beaulieu in the honor of Jacques Gourdeau de Beaulieu. It will be necessary to wait in 1980 so that it adopts officially its current name of village of Holy-Pétronille.

The name of Pétronille, martyrdom Roman of the 1st century, was retained because the legend had made of it the real or spiritual girl of saint Pierre, under the patronage of which the parish mother had been placed.

If the village of Holy-Pétronille is relatively young, the occupation of the place goes back however to the beginnings of News-France. The Jesuit Chaumonot establishes there, in 1651, the Huron pursued by their enemies Iroquois. These enemy brothers, of the big family of the Iroquoiens of the St. Lawrence clashed on several occasions during this period of the beginnings of the French colony. The Huron ones probably settle close to the place where the quay of Holy-Pétronille is today. The following year, Éléonore de Grandmaison, alive in this place for a few years already, has married there Jacques Gourdeau de Beaulieu who gives his name predestined to the stronghold of the End of the Island. Some their descendants always live the village.

During two centuries, the territory was divided between the parishes of Saint-Pierre, in north, and of the St. Lawrence for its southern part. One cultivated little there, because the ground is less rich there than in the other sectors of the island. The site giving on the harbor of Quebec is however remarkable. In 1759, the general James Wolfe including/understanding the strategic advantage of the stronghold of Beaulieu will establish there, with the locality Mount-of-pinks , one of its military districts to carry out the head office of Quebec which will culminate by the Bataille of the Plains of Abraham which will see the victory of the England over the France and which will have a determining influence on the exit of the Seven Year old Guerre in North America.

After the Conquest, the pacified place always exerts its discrete charm. Become bishop of Quebec in 1784, M gr. Mariauchau d' Esgly preserves the cure of Saint-Pierre of the island and often returns to return visit to the flocks who live the top of his parish. The painter William Berczy visit the point in 1809 and notes the hospitality of the inhabitants. Several British officers amateurs of drawings or watercolours are inspired some to crunch a prospect towards Montmorency, its great fall and its horizon of mountains. About 1820, the End of the Island becomes animated during a few years. One opens a maritime building site there where two imposing ships are built: the Colombus and the Baron Renfrew .

As of the middle of the 19th century, hundreds of Sunday strollers go to Holy-Pétronille in Traversier. Vacation resort considered, one will build there in 1868 the very first club of golf in North America, a small course of three holes. Several middle-class of the town of Quebec, in particular Boswell, formerly brewers famous, is made build very beautiful estival residences of style cottage which one can still admire along the Way Royal. Still remain at this place the workshop of the painter Horatio Walker (1858-1938), died in Holy-Pétronille and buried in the vault Anglican of the village.

Located on an exceptional site, Holy-Pétronille allows at a single glance to embrace the imposing panorama which embraces not only the town of Quebec but also the town of Lévis, on southern bank of the St. Lawrence, and on northern bank, the Chutes Montmorency (80 meters). Point of the island, the walker can sweep glance the Old man-Quebec strengthened perched on the Cape Diamant, the Old man-Port and the vastness of the Fleuve the St. Lawrence which narrows under the Cape Diamant. Thousands of ships furrow each year its majestic course and in winter the ships ice-breakers ensure a continuous navigation.

Municipalities bordering

Sources

Repertory of the municipalities of Quebec
Commission of toponymy of Quebec
municipal Businesses and areas - regional charts
Article of Gilles Gallichan in the Duty of June 28th, 2004

External bond

Village of Holy-Pétronille
Association of the most beautiful villages of Quebec

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