In 1815, famine struck because there were no efficient grain mills on the island.

The inhabitants often had to go to Baie-Saint-Paul or Les Éboulements, in spite of the dangerous canoe crossings.

In 1825, the Séminaire de Québec, Who had lordly rights over the island, agreed to the building of a water mill.

Over the years, however, the water mill proved to be inefficient, so a windmill was built on the same site in 1836

In 1850, the Séminaire de Québec sold both mills to private concerns.

Several owners subsequently operated them, including Marie-Anne Desmeules who took over after the death of her first husband.

Until the early 1900s, both mills were in operation, and complemented each other. The arrival of large flour mills marked the new century and caused a progressive change in the types of crops. Land and sea transportation greatly improved and traditional flour mills gradually became obsolete.

Because it was no loger profitable, the water mill was transformed into a sawmill around 1920. It was in operation until 1948. The water mill and the windmill were respectively designated as historic monuments by the Québec ministère des Affaires culturelles (now ministère de la Culture et des Communications) in 1962 and 1963.