Molinological Study: A Research Mission to France
To ensure the restoration of the Pointe-Claire Windmill would be historically accurate, in 2006 the Pointe-Claire Heritage Preservation Society undertook an extensive research mission to France. The findings of this mission form the basis of the “molinological study” that has guided this project ever since. This journey to the heart of French mill-wrighting traditions laid the groundwork for the professional, architect-led restoration we are leading today.
The Research Dossier
Below you will find the complete collection of research documents and reports from the mission to France. These materials form the historical bedrock upon which the current restoration project is built.
Please note that all documents in this archive are in French only.
Research Mission on Windmills in France, Summer 2006: Preliminary Mission Report
This is a preliminary report detailing a 2006 research mission where representatives from Québec traveled to France to study historic windmills and interview experts in preparation for restoring the windmill in Pointe-Claire.
A Photographic Tour of French Windmills and Milling Craftsmanship.
This document presents a visual catalog of the diverse windmills (numbers 25-71), specialized millwright workshops, and milling-related museums visited across France and Belgium as part of the 2006 research mission.
Research Mission on Windmills in France – Stage 2
This document details the second, more intensive phase of the research mission, focusing on video interviews with key experts, technical surveys of 18th-century mechanisms, and a photographic introduction to the influential millers, restorers, and historians encountered.
Newspaper Articles (Québec-France) and News from Regional Associations
This document compiles press clippings from both Québec and French publications that reported on the 2006 research mission, alongside newsletters from French windmill associations announcing and discussing the visit.
Post-Mission, and Appendices of Drawings and Inventory Sheets
This section concludes the main report with key findings, outlines future research and a planned international colloquium, and includes appendices with detailed technical mill drawings and an official historical inventory sheet for the “Moulin du Rat.”
Interview with Mr. Jean Bruggeman, Molinologist
This document is a full transcript of a 94-minute interview with pioneering French molinologist Jean Bruggeman, recounting his lifelong dedication to saving and restoring windmills since 1961.
Research Mission on Windmills in France, Summer 2006: Interview Transcripts Volume 1
This first volume of transcribed interviews sets the stage for the research with a preface by the mission’s French organizer and includes foundational discussions with key molinologists, multi-generational millwrights, and regional experts.
Research Mission on Windmills in France, Summer 2006: Interview Transcripts Volume 2
This second volume of transcribed interviews captures detailed conversations with a wide array of French windmill stakeholders, including owners, restorers, millers, mayors, historians, and technical experts.
Mission Synthesis Report
The strategic roadmap for a full and faithful restoration. This summary report synthesizes the key findings from the mission and outlines the historically authentic path forward for the windmill’s reconstruction.