The area changed names several times. In 1814, it was called Concession Saint-Augustin, after its first grantee, Augustin Couture. In 1898, people spoke instead of Chaudière Mills, after the river and the Breakey mill. In the early 20th century, it became Saint-Omer, in honour of Father Omer Poirier, parish priest of Charny from 1903 to 1936.
The neighbourhood at a glance
BoroughCity of Lévis
Central Lévisalong the Chaudière River
Life in Breakeyville
The vibe
A quiet residential area, turned toward the Chaudière River and its wooded trails.
The housing
Mostly detached houses, including those of the Boisé du Faubourg and Boisé des Manoirs developments, with a few plexes.
Nearby
Parc des Chutes-de-la-Chaudière · Saint-Jean-Chrysostome · Pierre-Laporte Bridge
Good to know
Highway 73 reaches the Pierre-Laporte Bridge in about ten minutes. Without a car, check the Société de transport de Lévis routes before the viewing.
Landmarks
- Chaudière River
- Avenue Saint-Augustin
- Club de golf La Tempête
History
The history of Breakeyville
- 1814The area is called Concession Saint-Augustin
- 1908Parish canonically established
- 1909Parish municipality created
- 1917Major flood on the Chaudière
- 2002Merged into the city of Lévis
In the 19th century, the John Breakey Reg’d company, founded by Hans Denaston Breakey (1811-1860), handled the cutting, river driving and sawing of timber across the Chaudière basin. In 1908, the parish was canonically created after being separated from Saint-Jean-Chrysostome. It took the name Sainte-Hélène-de-Breakeyville, in honour of Helen Henderson and her husband, timber merchant John Breakey (1846-1911).
The parish municipality was established in 1909; Denaston Breakey was its first mayor, from March 11 to 17. The church, built the same year, was made possible by a $5,000 gift from Mrs. Breakey. In 1917, a log jam formed near the village and caused what was probably the worst flood in the history of the Chaudière.
In the early 1920s, the Breakey family’s sawmill employed many workers, and river driving supported several families through the Depression of the 1930s. The mill closed as river driving declined and transportation modernized. On January 1, 2002, Breakeyville merged into Lévis and became a district of the Les Chutes-de-la-Chaudière-Est borough.
Frequently asked questions about Breakeyville
Where is Breakeyville?
On the South Shore, along the Chaudière River, south of Charny, in the Les Chutes-de-la-Chaudière-Est borough of the city of Lévis.
Where does the name Breakeyville come from?
It recalls timber merchant John Breakey (1846-1911) and his wife, Helen Henderson, hence the official name Sainte-Hélène-de-Breakeyville, chosen when the parish was created in 1908.
How do I get to Québec City from Breakeyville?
Take Highway 73, which reaches the Pierre-Laporte Bridge in about ten minutes.
How do I find an apartment for rent in Breakeyville?
Rental units managed by Lease Lane in Breakeyville will soon be listed on the site, along with the online rental application. In the meantime, Cléo can notify you as soon as a unit is posted.
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