Subject: [COULOMBE-L] Re: I'le d'Orléans

Hi Suzanne!

It's great hearing from you; I've been so swamped I've got quite a bit of
mail backlogged to catch up on; especially from those I have come to
consider "friends"!  
 
> -----------L'Isle d'Orléans is a rather small island in the middle of 
> the St Lawrence River, just outside of Québec city. You can see it from 
> Québec city as matter of fact.  It is accessed from the main Highway by 
> a long bridge, the only way onto/off the island, as far as I know, 
> though in the winter the river freezes enough that you could drive. The 
> island is approx. 3 miles wide and 30 miles (I think) long. A lovely 
> drive, along the one road that circles it.... going through all the 
> parishes we come across, such as   Ste Famille, St Francoic, St Jean, St 
> Laurent and St Pierre.

It sounds lovely.  I did at one point look up a map of the Québec area to
see if Isle of Orléans was an actual island; and of course there it was.  I
believe if I understand correctly that the original settlement of Québec
began on the island?  Brrrrrrr!  Sounds cold, though.  
> 
> On the Mainland, across from the entrance of the bridge, are the very 
> beautiful and impressive Chutes Montmorency,  (Montmorency Falls) 
> 
> Mont= Peak, or Mount 
> Morency being a common family name.
>  
> (Montreal also comes from that  word...... Royal Mount....Mont Real, and 
> the main "hill/mount in Montreal is called Mont Royal)   
> 
> .........the falls are at the end of the short Montmorency River.... 
> which would empty into the St Lawrence,  it is very close..... I don't 
> know if the present highway is built over the falls' basin but that is 
> probable.... I have an old map of L'Isle D'Orléans,  (I collect antique 
> maps of Canada) and it does show that they do.... The whole area there 
> is very steeply banked, rocky, and spectacular. The island would 
> have been very difficult to access, as it rises very speeply as well 
> from the river... and would have provided good protection to any 
> settlers.... though also making life quite difficult.

It sounds really beautiful; makes me wish I could grab my camera and go
visit.  I'm a decent photographer and I love photographing the beauties of
nature.
> 
> There is also a small hamlet/town there, named Montmorency, literally a 
> hop skip and jump (swim) from L'Isle D'Orléans..... The people from the 
> Island and the town would have been very close.

It must have been very difficult though for them to cross that river;
though obviously they were able to.  It was mentioned to me that the
Coulombe's pretty much came from Montmorency and stayed in that area.

It was great hearing from you!

        Ellen

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