Pioneer Waterways

Our friends to the north found road-building almost impossible. Below Quebec city, the people lived in a mountainous region with thick stands of trees and sometimes six feet of snow on the ground.

Instead of roads, everyone relied on the St Lawrence river for travel. During the 17th century, every farm was surveyed as a thin, long ribbon of land that touched the river. The farmers built their log cabins near the river... and close to their neighbors. This proximity provided them with extra hands in case of a fire or attack.

Each farm had a pier and small boats or canoes that they used to fish and take their produce to market. As the St Lawrence River has swift flowing tides, you could be pushed to Quebec and home on the currents. There was also a real danger of drowning. . . which was the main cause of death in the colony of New France.

In the winter, the St Lawrence river froze, proving an icy highway for horse draw sleighs.

Winter was also the season when trees were cut, dragged to the river and transformed into large rafts. When the St Lawrence river thawed each spring, they floated their rafts to Quebec city.

The wood was purchased and used locally to build homes and ships, furniture and barrel staves. . .and much wood was also shipped to France for use as ship masts and many other products. In fact, lumber,furs and fish were the principal export items during the Old Regime.