Saint-Séverin

Saint-Séverin is a picturesque locality of the Moyen-Mauricie at the south-eastern limit of the Laurentian shield, on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River, in the Mékinac Regional County Municipality. This locality has a territory of where 846 inhabitants reside.

This locality has many houses dating from the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Economy
Historically, its economy was based on agriculture, mills (flour, saw and card), some public services (primary school) and local businesses. Forestry was a secondary activity after the land was colonized.

Route 159 connecting Saint-Tite and Saint-Stanislas passes through the heart of the village (boulevard St-Louis). A section of railway linking Hérouxville (via Lac à la Tortue) and Saint-Stanislas included a station at Chemin de la Côte-St-Paul.

History
In 1889, the current territory of Saint-Séverin was detached from the parishes of Saint-Tite and Saint-Stanislas. The roads of the time were often difficult to pass in bad weather or flooding. Nevertheless, in winter, the ice road (when it was well taken) on the Des Envies river allowed an access route between Saint-Stanislas and the foot of the village waterfall at Saint-Séverin; as well as between the top of the fall and Saint-Tite. The church opened its doors in 1897.

The first bridge (formerly known as "Pont Bordeleau") spanning the rivière des Envies at this point was erected in 1875, the same year of the opening of the Côte Saint-Paul road to which it gives access. This bridge was aimed at facilitating the passage between the villages of Saint-Tite, Saint-Stanislas and Saint-Narcisse. In 1932, the Ministry of Colonization had the bridge rebuilt with a roof to ensure an extended lifespan.

Among the worst tragedies in local history was the fire of ten houses which occurred in 1921. In 1944, another fire destroyed 33 buildings including 18 houses in the village.

The falls of the rivière des Envies, one located downstream from the village and the other upstream, have been a vector of economic development. During its history, there were two flour mills; people came from afar to grind their grains. In addition, there were at least ten sawmills in the history of Saint-Séverin, nine of which were powered by the power of water. The most important is the Crête mill (now operated by Kryger), the only one to run on electricity. The card mill, also powered by water, accommodated families; a tour was made in the region to collect from door to door (even as far as Lac-aux-Sables and Saint-Ubalde) the bales of sheep's wool.

The Kapibouska electrical centre was built on the rivière des Envies in the village of Saint-Séverin. This plant supplied electricity mainly to the houses of the village of Saint-Séverin and those of the Grand Rang de Saint-Tite.

The book Saint-Séverin de Proulxville, 100 ans d'histoire (two editions) was published during the centenary festivities of Saint-Séverin.

Geography
Saint-Séverin is part of the Batiscanie (hydrographic basin), being crossed by the river of Envies, a tributary of the Batiscan River.

Taking its source at Lac de la Traverse in Sainte-Thècle, the Rivière des Envies flows over crossing Sainte-Thècle, Saint-Tite, Hérouxville, Saint-Séverin and Saint-Stanislas. It flows into the Batiscan River at Saint-Stanislas. The Rivière des Envies passes through the northwestern part of the territory of Saint-Séverin. This river has been a vector of economic development, in particular through its ice roads in winter, transport by light boats, mills (flour, saw and card) and for fishing activities. The great floods washed away many bridges and created great floods.

The Tortue river has its source at Lac à la Tortue in Hérouxville. It flows over especially in agricultural areas, crossing Hérouxville, Saint-Séverin and Saint-Stanislas. Finally, it flows into the Desvies river in Saint-Stanislas.

Get in
The village of Hérouxville is accessible by road, snowmobile and all terrain vehicles.

By car

 * From Montreal (. Time: 2 hr 17 min. From Montreal, take highway 40 (north shore) eastbound, to Trois-Rivières; take highway 55 (northbound) to Grand-Mère, which becomes route 155 and cross the Saint-Maurice river bridge; take route 153 to Hérouxville; take rang St-Pierre (southbound); take the Lefebvre road; take Chemin de la Rivière-des-Envies Sud-Ouest, as far as the village of Saint-Séverin.
 * From Quebec City (. Time: 1 hr 26 min. From Quebec City, take highway 40 westbound to Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade; then take road 159 (northbound) through the village of Saint-Prosper and Saint-Stanislas, to the village of Saint-Séverin.

By trail

 * The Quad trail (www.quadmekinac2011.com) passes through Saint-Séverin.
 * The equestrian trail (www.tourismemauricie.com) passes through Saint-Séverin.