Gueugnon

Gueugnon is a common French, place chief of canton gathering 9 communes, located in the department of Saône-et-Loire and the area Burgundy.

Its inhabitants is called the Gueugnonnais

Heraldic

Blasonnement: quartered, to the 1 and 4 of gold to a sinople tree, the 2 and 3 of sinople to a money currency; on the whole of azure to the crawling gold lion. Stamp: a crown of marquis. Support: two lions" (Precise details that into heraldic, sinople means green, gold indicates the yellow and money the white)
Gueugnon forever have recognized armorial bearings, i.e. declared and recorded with the Chancellery. Heraldic research which was made on this subject lets think that these armorial bearings are those of the marquis de Barthelas, who had grounds with Gueugnon and his area during the 18th century.

Geography

Gueugnon is located in the Saone and the Loire (71). Charming city crossed by the Arroux, Gueugnon is in the center of a triangle Lyon, Dijon and Clermont-Ferrand and with the crossroads of 3 geographical areas: Morvan, Charolais and Bourbonnais.

Gueugnon nested in the plain consisted the valley of the middle price of the Arroux (that much sees like " the column vertébrale" of Gueugnon). The morvandelle river, which goes down from the ponds of Arnay-the-Duke, crosses the city of north to the south. The town of Gueugnon has could develop on the two plains stretching banks of Arroux: the plain of the Gachères on Right Bank to the feet of the hills of the Contettes and the Essanleys, the plain of the Fresne (or Old man-Fresne) on left bank to the foot of the hills of the Wood of the Count and the Layer to the Knight.

In this part of its course gueugnonnais, the river receives few affluents if it is not, on Right Bank, the brooks descended from the boxed slopes of the Vault-with-Mans the: brook of the Burot (or Beurot or Valette), of the Plessy, the Fattening and Reuil and those come from the communes of Curdin and Rigny-on-Arroux: brook of the Bridge and Ropenot. The left bank counts much less affluents with the three only brooks of the Gorat, Baulon or Robolin and of Clessy.

The heights close to Contettes (304 meters), of the Wood of the Count (281 meters) border the river and are inclined gradually to its banks.

The Wood mosaics of Breuil and Essanleys are encrusted in those with close and of the cultures which advance almost to banks of Arroux.

Climatology

Gueugnon is subjected to a Climat which is characterized by one drills dominant generating winds of west of rains of the oceanic type. It is this rain which, when it falls regularly at certain times the year (with the autumn and the beginning of spring) ensures the luxuriant growth of grass intended for the cattle. In winter, in cold weather and dryness, the north wind come from the Morvan in north blows and is engulfed in the natural corridors of which the valley of the Arroux forms part, thus it is not rare to have strong frosts. When with the wind of south, it is engulfed in this same natural corridor in the opposite direction since Digoin going up until Morvan. The east wind only blows very seldom in the year.

There exists however a Microclimat in the plain of the valley of Arroux sheltered by the bordering hills and plates and also perhaps heated by the background radiation of the town of Gueugnon.

Geology

The valley of the Arroux on the territory of Gueugnon consists of Sable S and not very faded gravels consisted by the Limon or more generally fine sand.

The course of Arroux is surrounded by a red belt of sandstone (saxonien) and of Argile S of reddish or greenish colors associated with conglomerates containing of the old schist and granite rollers (in particular on the heights bordering Right Bank). These schistous outcrops discontinuous, are masked on rather broad surfaces by the Alluvions of Pliocène and the Quaternaire.

On the part is territory of Gueugnon, we discover a zone of marl S and Calcaire S with Bélemnite S from 50 to 60 meters of depth which extends then largely on the communes from Oudry, Clessy and Marly-on-Arroux. The roadbase is made up of compact limestones of little thickness forming an escarpment on the sides of the liasic hills with large Fossile S. In the medium, appears a thickness in circumferences of marl S not very fossiliferous yellows Micacée S. The sub-base is made up of kneaded fossilized limestones of bélemnites containing many nodules of Phosphate of lime. The latter were exploited besides in the lime kilns of Clessy.

One also discovers small zones of fall near the Breuil, on the south-western part of the commune. These deposits come from deteriorations on the spot of the Jurassic faults which recover the plates and paper the slopes. Disappeared limestone, the flints remained. The ones are remained on the plates, the others slipped along the slopes.

In the extreme south of the commune, on the hills of left bank which belong to the complex Me-plicène of the " sands and clays of the plateaux" , one finds these formations which one attaches to the higher Pliocène, in Elephas Southerners. One finds there a mixture of Jurassic faults and Silex Crétacé S which testifies to the importance of the ablations which have occurred in the area.

The nature of the elements which constitute sands and the gravels is variable. It depends primarily on the geology of the grounds which form the edge: thus the fireclays are only in the vicinity of the red sandstones or the old grounds. In the south-east of the commune little close the limit with the commune of Clessy, exists a yellowish gleaming, compact limestone zone with remains the entroques ones, very exploited from the Gallo-Roman time in 1930.

Mineralogy

One discovers Barytine, Calcédoine and Jaspe a little everywhere in the valley of the Arroux, calcite and quartz on the heights delimiting the limit of the commune with those of Clessy and Chassy (also Rigny-on-Arroux for the quartz) and of course of the Silex in the form of nodules in significant amount.

Paleontology

In the valley of the Arroux, one finds splendid wood portions fossilized. The majority of these wood are Cordaïte S, which were trees of big size (35 to 40 meters height). Their stem, covered with a bark smoothes was hollow in the center. The branches carried at their ends of the tufts of oval and ribboned sheets, with parallel veins. They belonged to the Flore of the primary . The fossil flora of the area of Gueugnon counts forty indexed species.

One finds many fossils in the careers blue of Clessy. The worked seam of bluish limestone (calcareous with gryphées) has a thickness of several meters. One finds this calcareous base with Marly-on-Arroux (where one also finds limestone with Bélemnite S very fossiliferous) and with Oudry.

History

Gallo-Roman period

The Old man-Fresne, in the south of Gueugnon, usually occupies the punt left bank, noneasily flooded, of the Arroux. The memory of an activity Gallo-Roman E in Gueugnon was lost until the beginning of the 19th century. Indeed, it is necessary to await fortuitous discoveries years the plain of Fresne and also with the localities " Thou" , " Soulcy" and " Mercully" between 1808 and 1885, so that this past re-appears with many remains of vases, Marbre S broken of all the colors, conduits of Plomb and especially a great quantity of Roman currencies. In 1965, excavators update a first furnace of Gallo-Roman potter and a superb decorated vase. However, in spite of several archaeological excavations and of the magnetic prospections, the site of the potters of Fresne and their dwellings remain unknown. It is thought that the manufacture of ceramics of gray color which continued in the valley of Arroux during the Moyen-âge would have its production site with Gueugnon.

The many archaeological parts (ceramic, metal and glass) and the structures discovered prove that the workshop of the potters of Gueugnon was already in activity in Ier century before J. - C. Indeed, it was found under the Roman level of the fragments of Urne S assembled to the hand, of the black ducted bowls, the fire-dogs head of ram which are of Gallic-éduenne invoice.

The 1st century after J. - C. sees the manufacture of simple ceramics: Cruche S in great quantity and wine Amphore S of a type specific to Gueugnon (what would tend to prove that the Burgundian vineyard existed already and that it exported its production).

2nd and 3rd century mark the apotheosis of the workshop. Sigillées ceramics (of color orange red), imitated Italic productions and Gaulle of the south is then produced in the forms of moulded vases with decorations. Ceramics with glaze métallescente (imitating bronze) gives place to the manufacture of a great quantity of Gobelet S with fine wall decorated of guillochis, excisions or applications of Barotine and vases to outfall in the shape of head of lion. This same time saw the manufacture of many white clay statuettes (Venus, goddess-mother, animals, etc…).

The 4th century is that of the abandonment of the workshop: rare coins, some shards of ceramics paléochrétienne decorated palmettes and rivet washers. And it was then the vacuum and the lapse of memory.

The two more famous parts of the excavations of plane of Fresne are the bowl of sigillée ceramics Satto (overdraft in 1970, dating from the end of the 2nd century or the beginning of the 3rd century by the Master Satto potter) and white the terra cotta Venus statuette (discovery in 1971, it belongs certainly to a batch of four statuettes found assembled in a wood box for a forwarding ever carried out). A copy of these two archaeological parts were offered the September 17th 1985 to the president François Mitterrand at the time of a visit on the site of Bibracte, close to Autun.

Origin of the name

The name of the city was at the origin of what gueugnonnais calls " the legend of the passeur" : " in the patois charolais, the word gueugnon means geindre, to groan languissamment. However, like formerly, there was no bridge on the Arroux in this place, it was necessary to await the boatman and his boat, it was necessary, consequently, to languish, groan, geindre or gueugner: from there the word Gueugnon". It should be said well high, this explanation raises of the most imagination, since invented of all parts by the Chaumet Priest in 1872 in its register of the parish. To thus want to explain the word Gueugnon by a word even patois, resembling to him, it is to despize instruments which exist indeed.

In 876, in the Charter of foundation of the Priory of Perrecy, Gueugnon is a small village called Quininum. This name seems to come from an old Gallo-Roman rural field pertaining to a rich person landowner undoubtedly named Quininus (probably contemporary of the workshops of potters of Fresne). Gueugnon did not preserve this name well a long time, in the same way that Latin was replaced by French like spoken language.

This transformation brutal, but on the contrary was not spread out during the centuries (and there, the patois played a big role). In a later charter, dating from 10th or 11th century (let us say around the Year millet), the place is named Guinnum. A medieval text, a " seek feux" (tax census) of 1397 calls it Guignon. In 1666, the great investigation of the Bouchu intendant specifies that the parish of Gueugnon is made of two parts separated by Arroux: the Right Bank depends on the bailliage of Autun, the left bank of that of Charolles. There thus were two investigators: the first writing Queugnon (or Quevgnon), the second Geugnon writing. Lastly, on the parochial registers, the priests write sometimes Gueugnon, sometimes Geugnon. Gradually, with the rules of orthography, it is the Gueugnon form which was essential.

The Middle Ages: Feudal and house-strong mounds

The south of the valley of Arroux was a long time on the border which separated the Kingdom from France and its Duchy of Burgundy of the Kingdom of Aquitaine. However Gueugnon did not have, at the time feudal, of large castle-forts, fortress kind or " castrum" such as those of certain close communes (Bourbon-Lancy, the Mound-Saint-Jean, Guerreaux with Morillon, Grury with Montperroux and Faulin) although the territory of Gueugnon was divided in several strongholds. It is on the other hand rich in feudal mounds (in particular those of Breuil and Gachères) and in house-strong Indeed two fortresses (or house-strong) were built with 14th or 15th century: Breuil (which always exist) and Essenleys (which was dismantled at the time of the French revolution of 1789.

The XVIIème century

Gueugnon hardly counted more than 800 inhabitants. One found there the priest, the doctor, the surgeon, the apothecary, the royal notary, the tax prosecutor who perceived the taxes, the baillif which returned justice, the usher, one or two merchants and as many landlords. One cultivated there the Chanvre which was used to weave the fabric. The salmons abounded in Arroux. There were vines and vine growers in the small hamlets of Essenlès, Breuil, Contête, Beurot and Fresne, but also of the ponds have Beutout, in Breuil, in Merculy, of the mills with Villecout, in Verne, Beutout, Beurot and the small mill.

The village of Villecourt was to be most important and owed it with its pleasant site on a plate dominating Gueugnon and Arroux.

The village of the Breuil was bought by the noble lord Nicolas de Chargères, lord of Fir plantations, with the noble lord Charles of the Brush. There the castle of Breuil rose.

The village of Merculy was populated only one handle of plowmen.

The village of Essenlès, to the top of raised an enough hill, offered a Castle-extremely dominating the valley of Arroux.

The village of the Fresne drew its name from a great quantity of ashes that there was. It was a separate small village of the borough of Gueugnon by the river.

Fairs and markets of Villefay

Gueugnon at the dawn of the 18th century was still stripped of Foire S and Marché S. That was perhaps had with the fact that several lords shared the borough of Gueugnon, namely:

- the baron de Vesvre who had the rights of toll on the Arroux river and the ways leading to Toulon-on-Arroux to north, Bourbon-Lancy in the west and Rigny-on-Arroux in the south.

- the priest of Gueugnon which, only, had the right to carry the title of lord of Gueugnon.

- the baron d' Essenlés.

- and various others, because in their Register of grievances, gueugnonnais them complained in 1789, to see their divided parish enters 14 seigniories in extreme cases vague and of sometimes remote jurisdictions.

On its arrival with Gueugnon in 1728, Jean-Hector de Fay, marquis of the Turn-Maubourg, new baron d' Essenlés, makes set up in stronghold part of its grounds which constitute the last part of the borough of Gueugnon and which it names Villefay (of its family name). It can then charge a right of toll on Arroux, the lock of the channel of the forging mill being on its grounds. Undoubtedly playing of the prestige of its title of Marshal of France, it obtained Louis XV, in 1723, the letters patent authorizing with Villefay, six fairs per annum which were attended, at the same dates, until the end of the 19th century and a market every saturday then Wednesdays (until in 1838) and which is held Thursday today. As for the name of Villefay, its arbitrary creation did not enable him to be perennialized until our days.

The time of the " without-culottes"

By the meeting of the bailliages of Autun, Chalon-sur-Saône, Charolles and Mâcon, the Burgundy of the south becomes in 1790, the Département of Saône-et-Loire. Fall of the Old Mode until the Second Empire, demography increases, agriculture develops, while the rise of the Creusot and the basin of Blanzy makes department one of the poles of the industrial revolution of the country. Modeste centers rural few hundreds of inhabitants, Gueugnon was going to leave its moyenâgeux sleep and to know deep transformations.

First new element, the construction of a bridge on Arroux between 1784 and 1787 with the immediate surroundings of the forging mills of Gueugnon in full modernization.

The XIXème century

Until 1835, French agriculture, primarily of subsistence, experienced an unequal development vis-a-vis an industrial production which represents yet only half of the value of this agricultural production.

Gueugnon counted, in 1835, 1659 inhabitants. The agricultural main activities were the Engraissage cattle, the culture of the Céréale S, the exploitation of the Bois and the Vigne (which lost little by little ground until disappearing thereafter in the valley from Arroux).

The basement of the immediate surroundings of Gueugnon contained mine S of Houille, of Fer, Manganèse and Plomb. One also found vast careers of Gypse, stone to be built or of Phosphate of lime.

The rise of the loader-gates

Gueugnon towards 1835 had become a crossroads between the secondary road 8 connecting Bourbon-Lancy to Tournus and the secondary road 9 connecting Châlon-sur-saône to Digoin, which enabled him to be disenclosed and be able to export the production of its forging mills more easily. A few decades later, it is under the family Campionnet (leading big family of the forging mills of Gueugnon) that will be dug a navigable drain (always existing under the name of drain of Arroux but the port of Gueugnon was shaven and embanked in order to arrange dwelling there only the house of the lockkeeper remains) towards the channel of the Center to height of Neuz there close to Digoin and that will be established a line of Railroad with narrow gauge railway in 1893 connecting Pond-on-Arroux to Digoin (the railroad was dismantled several decades later, only remains the station of Gueugnon and the bridge of the railroad spanning Arroux transformed into road bridge).

Gueugnon in the interval war

During the Twenties and Thirties, Gueugnon saw the increase in its population which gallops. It is the time of great constructions during which this modest rural city will transform little by little its face downtown with the urban accents. Thus many districts leave grounds to a constant pace. The large district of Gachères (built to place the workmen of the Forging mills) is born as of 1900 but it is in the Twenties and Thirties that constructions in this district. Other places of the city are also born, nibbling the meadows and fields neighborhood, the such street of the convention which is born in 1921, the district of the place of the Forging mills finished in 1922, the district of Villeneuve which finishes its construction in 1924 - 1925, etc It is also the time when the name of the streets resulting from the popular tradition disappear, according to the will of the Municipal council, between 1925 and 1927, to leave room to names of great men, cities, dates historical or even of plants. Thus the main street of Gueugnon, “Main street” becomes Rue of Freedom. The classification of the houses will come in 1927. The very large majority of the names of the current streets and their classifications go back to this time.

The Thirties were one period the carefree for city but hard for the population. Indeed it is the time of the great strikes which shake France and Gueugnon following the crisis resulting from the stock exchange ace of 1929. Gueugnon, which counted at the time 5487 inhabitants, continues its enlarging, the equipment of the city flower, the birthrate is strong, the schools fill the tank. As in the continuity of the Twenties, the Thirties are thus years of great work.

The enlarging of the place of the market (current place of the church) is carried out thanks to the purchase of pieces of grounds belonging to Mr. the Count de Chargères and Mr. baron of In Lescout. It is a question of arranging the place to divert the brook of the Burot (known as of Beurot) which skirts it and the access difficult from there by single the small bridge makes which connects it to the road.

On the plain of Fresne, with the locality “the strikes of Arroux”, the Municipal council decides to build sports equipment of which a stage (the future Stage Jean Laville), a swimming pool (project which will be abandoned because of a too high cost and which will be carried out only in 1971), a gymnasium, etc Conséquence of the installation of the place of the market and sports equipment. In 1936, a footbridge on Arroux is built in order to facilitate the access to the latter.

The enlarging of the school of boys becomes also urgent. Indeed, the situation is alarming: 409 pupils for 10 classes. Unfortunately the project trails fault of State grant and the situation worsens. But it is only after the war that one finally decides to build a new school of the boys, on a piece of grounds, pertaining to Mr. the Count de Chargères, contiguous to the old school, larger. Thus is born what is the current school Jean Macé. The school of girls being today the school Louis Pasteur.

In 1937, a cinema is built in order to replace the travelling cinema. The site, which is not far from the school Jean Macé is always the site of the current cinema “Danton”.

While Gueugnon is modelled, its inhabitants see arriving, with far, towards the east, of dark clouds heralding a terrible Period.

Gueugnon during the Second world war

September 3rd 1939, the posters of mobilization are placarded on the doors of the town hall. Far from the joy which had marked the mobilization of 1914, it is in gravity that Gueugnonnais accommodate the news.

To replace the men left to the face, the Forging mills of Gueugnon engage women on the majority of the stations (if it is not that of the turners required on the spot). The teachers of the schools are replaced with the haste by their female fellow-members or even of the volunteers, men or women, having passed the age to be mobilized.

During several months, the face is blocked, it is the funny one of war. Then suddenly it is the confusion which seizes then the city between floods of refugees come from north from France and the east near fleeing the German offensive to May 1940 and part of the population gueugnonnaise taken fear and leaving the city towards the south.

The June 17th 1940 at 6 o'clock in the morning, under a heat already choking, at the time when the radio that the new chief of the government indicated the day before, the marshal Pétain, should address to all the French, an unusual silence, had with the stop of the production of the Forging mills lasting during the night, precedes an abrupt hubbub by two hundred trucks and armoured tanks, coming from Autun, which furrow Gueugnon. At 8 o'clock in the morning, German officers meets the mayor, François Moine, then install the “Kommandantur” with the castle of the Furrier, vis-a-vis the Forging mills of Gueugnon, on other bank of the Arroux. German also settles with the castles of Breuil and Presles while the soldiers camp with the municipal Hearth (built in 1934), in the schools, the houses given up with guardrooms to the principal crossroads and the accesses of the working cities.

Then the life begins again as it can, under the occupation. The line of demarcation, separating the occupied northern zone (to which belonged Gueugnon) and the free southern zone, passes only to one about fifteen kilometers of the city.

If there were certainly only four deaths of combatants to regret for the town of Gueugnon, of the hundreds of prisoners were fact of which certain were sent towards the camps.

The November 2nd 1941, Vichy deposits the Municipal council elected in 1938 whose mayor was François Moine and a decree of the sub-prefect of Autun designates as new mayor Felix Moine (near to the government of Pétain before taking its distances in 1943 with regard to the political line of Pierre Laval).

In 1942, Laval institute STO (Service of Obligatory Work). Many young people, refusing to leave, hid in the surrounding countryside of Gueugnon, mainly in the mines and other companies of the area. Repression, the raids carried out by the occupant, as that which took place with the Forging mills of Gueugnon, will precipitate the surge of young people in wood surrounding and the increasingly active groups of resistance in the area.

Louis Boussin, former underground worker of Montceau-the-Mines, founded in 1941 a group which became the “Régiment Valmy”, one of the most important units of combat of Saône-et-Loire. The June 15th 1944, German start a “operation of cleaning” in the solid mass of Uchon, between Autun and Montceau-the-Mines, where 600 FTPF (Frank Gunners and French Partisans) with the commander Charlot are gathered who is not other than Louis Boussin. The fixing made 13 dead and of many casualties at the resistant ones, who remain however Masters of the ground.

In front of the possibility of a return in strength of the Nazis, order is given to disperse. The maquis of Lieutenant Georges (the most important of number) thus settles in the south-west of Gueugnon (in the wood of Clessy). This last will be equipped thanks to vehicles with the gendarmerie and Forging mills with Gueugnon, in order to prepare the battle of Autun. It took place the September 8th 1944 and 10 gueugnonnais fell at once from honor.

As for the deportees, Gueugnon, there too, paid heavy a tribe since 25 gueugnonnais and gueugnonnaises, whose mayor Felix Aulois, were off-set (majority with Neuengamme), whose 9 will never return, and 4 were imprisoned by Gestapo, of which Georges Joyeux, future mayor of Gueugnon. During the totality of war 49 gueugnonnais and gueugnonnaises died for France.

Gueugnon was released the September 6th 1944 by the tanks of the 1st army under the command De Lattre de Tassigny.

Gueugnon in after war

Baptist Chambonnier, mayor of the city after the release in 1944, having presented his resignation, an election took place in April 1947 and it is the doctor Marc Humber T who becomes mayor of Gueugnon.

It is in the name of an alliance between the socialist party (SFIO) and the center line that Doctor Humbert reaches the presidency of the General advice of Saône-et-Loire, giving up its mandate of mayor who returns Mr. Georges Joyeux elected under the “independent and apolitical” label in October 1947.

During this period, Gueugnon does not differ little from the national situation: the first “babies-boomers” are born, the countryside around is depopulated with the profit of the cities, the economic revival calls an enormous need for labor, livable constructions, schooling, of urbanization of the social type. But also, one knows new needs as regards leisures, of culture, service.

In this phase of growth and change, the political confrontations are numerous. In Gueugnon, the municipal majority led by Mr. Joyeux is disputed by the left opposition which reproaches a certain stagnation in the achievements vis-a-vis the enormous needs for the population.

However, it was at this period that, in the line of what Gueugnon in the Twenties and Thirties had known, that the city will continue to change. The buildings of the street of Geneva are born in 1947/1948, the district of Gachères is completed finally with new residences between 1949 and 1952, other residences working are born street of Brussels until in 1948 like street of Verdun between 1949 and 1950.

Years of gold

During the Fifties, the factory of the Forging mills is modernized then arrives at the height of its fame, becoming n°1 world Stainless steel and engaging 3750 paid towards 1960. What will push the town of Gueugnon, closely related to the dynamism of the Forging mills, to know, it also, its golden age.

It is starting from 1950 and this until the end of the Sixties that will be built a grouping of buildings in the district of Gachères, city HLM of Riaux, road of Toulon-on-Arroux, and that of the Heathers, road of Digoin, is hundreds of residences which come to be added to the real offer of the city in order to answer the requests which do not cease flowing. Indeed the population does not cease growing until reaching its maximum in 1975 of it with nearly 11.000 inhabitants.

Gueugnon lived a great period of collective and individual constructions. Finances of the commune were almost entirely devoted to these constructions and installations necessary: water, gas, electricity, sewers and access roads to the new districts.

After several mandates, Mr. Joyeux passes the hand in 1965 to Mr. Alexandre Buisson. The mayor of Gueugnon, Mr. Alexandre Buisson died abruptly in 1969, before the term of his mandate. The veterinary surgeon Albert Nageotte succeeds to him during two mandates.

Gueugnon vis-a-vis its exodus

According to the Gueugnonnais proverb “when the Forging mills catch cold, Gueugnon coughs”, and when the Forging mills enters in crisis starting from the middle of the Seventies and especially with the beginning of the year eighty, Gueugnon well really suffers. The birthrate in strong fall and a climbing mortality combined with a series of closing of company and one is added there the starter of an escape of the population (mainly young people) worms moreover big cities, Gueugnon which had never known strong fall of its population, will know one without precedent of them.

Indeed, whereas in 1975, one counted nearly 11.000 gueugnonnais, the figure drops to 10.456 in 1980, then tumbles down to 9.817 in 1990, to 8.563 in 1999. Still today, this considerable handicap weighs on the future of Gueugnon, since INSEE at the time of the last census in 2006 estimated that the population would border the 7.000 (definite figures in 2009).

Mr. Albert Nageotte yields in his turn the armchair of mayor with Mr. Roland Cottin in 1983, candidate of a left coalition which is renewed at this station in 1989, then in 1995, like with the mandate of general adviser of the canton of Gueugnon.

Since March 2001, it is Mr. Alain Bailly which is elected mayor of Gueugnon and general adviser of the canton of Gueugnon and which is always has this station. Mr. Bailly confirmed his intention to aspire to a second mandate in March 2008.

Forging mills of Gueugnon: the floret of the city

The Forging mills of Gueugnon are at the origin of the economic dynamism of the city. The history of the commune often merged with that of its forging mills. Indeed, the population of the city progressed at the rate/rhythm of its industrial plants which ensured him at the time prosperity. Today they became the Ugine company & ALZ attached to the group Arcelor - Mittal.

Beginnings

In 1724, Jean Hector de Fay Marquis of the Tower Maubourg (which became Marshal of France) founds the base of the forging mills of the City (Forging mills of Villefay). The building work began in 1720 and the factory functioned as from spring 1728 with ten workmen. Composed of a double Blast furnace, a forging mill and a foundry, it produced cast iron and finished iron of bars for the nailsmiths foréziens. The marquis being deceased in 1764 with Gueugnon (and buried in the parish church), his Burgundian grounds échurent with his grandson Augustin Jean Louis Antoine Duprat count de Barbançon. He never came in Gueugnon. These goods were entrusted to business men, more concerned of their personal fortune than of that of the count.

English, Michel Alcock, tried to produce steel starting from the iron of Villefay. But its financial associates, and the managers of the count, made their possible it to drive out, which it made in 1770 after three years of preliminary works.

Having carried with him the trade secrets, the factory returned to the traditional productions. The business was then entrusted to racketeers: Louis Carrouges of the Terminals which then subleased them at the company Renault de Larive and Compagnie. Their managements were disastrous. At this point in time the count de Barbançon sold all these goods arroumois with Jean Baptiste Perrot, Conseiller of Roy and remaining merchant with Châlon-sur-saône.

Jean-Baptiste Perrot, born in 1744, came from a former autunoise family. He married Marie Bordat in 1767, of which he had six children who made stock. Although man of law (To advise of Roy), he was also wood and wine merchant. It is in this context that it went purchaser of the Forging mills of Gueugnon in 1788.

But, if he became about it thus the owner, he could not be the operating one about it since the factory was leased in Carrouges of the Terminals, itself having subleased it at the company Renault de Larive. To be able to exploit it itself, Perrot was to treat with the owners of the moment; what led to an interminable lawsuit which lasted nearly three years. When Perrot became finally “ironmaster”, the Révolution of 1789 was already quite advanced.

The factory went back to work. It is known that she worked for the armies, in collaboration with the Forging mills of Perrecy bought to they-also by Perrot, by manufacturing balls and by providing cast iron to the new iron-foundry of the Creusot directed by Michel Ramus. It is as during this period as the first strikes with Gueugnon took place, in 1792 and 1793.

Jean-Baptiste Perrot died in 1803. But, as of 1798, it had entrusted the exploitation of the Forging mills of Gueugnon to his/her son (Nicolas Perrot) and to his sons-in-law (Guillaume Trullard and Jean-François Simmonot). Those had to face the imported industrial novel methods of England. Also started they to modernize the company: installation of puddling furnaces and Rolling mill S. not wanting mono-industry, they installed also Tannerie S and workshops of Cloutier S.

After the crisis of the metallurgy in Saône-et-Loire of 1830, it remained only 4 factories: Creusot, Verdrat, Perrecy-the-Forging mills and Gueugnon. In 1838, Gueugnon was specialized in the manufacture of Feuillard S for circles of barrels and Verge S for the Clouterie and the Tréfilerie. These products were very required and one could not be enough with the requests.

Under the effect of the English competition of which the new methods bring great changes in the trade of irons and the situation of the establishments, the forging mills which employ 80 persons, périclitent and are forwarded to an inescapable end.

The descendants of Jean-Baptiste Perrot, Denis Perrot and Jean-François Simonot, were more of financial than ironmasters and vis-a-vis the decline of the forging mills of Gueugnon, they chose to sell the factory, in 1845, at the company Campionnet and Compagnie which exploited already the factory of Verdrat with Martigny-the-Count which closed in 1887.

The Campionnet Era

Campionnet and its family settled in Gueugnon in 1849. Very careful, it increased the power of the factory gradually all while modernizing it.

It will make its fortune with that of Gueugnon, producing Tinplate primarily in the workshop of the etamery.

Pierre Joseph Campionnet dies in Gueugnon the February 26th 1888. The factory, which occupied 80 paid on its arrival, counted some with its death 600 out of 4000 inhabitants with Gueugnon.

The June 29th 1890, the company and the factory paid to him a posthumous homage by inaugurating its bust to the entry of the forging mills.

The great strike of 1899

In 1878, Pierre-Joseph Campionnet passes the hand to his/her François son then will become the only manager with dead of his father in 1888.

At that time all the communal life turned around the factory whose owner also directed the town hall.

With François Campionnet, the factory of Gueugnon increased its production further, by modifying its structure: installation of a Steel-works (Open hearth furnace), Rolling mill S hot for the intensive production of Black plate (which was used until in 1976); while continuing the production of tinplate by modernizing the etamery. Printing works on metals will supplement the device.

Only concerned about the production of his factory, François Campionnet does not live to arrive the dissatisfaction with his workmen. Following the strikes of Creusot and coal basin of Blanzy, the workmen of Gueugnon deposited claims and are reflected in strike in June 1899. This fight can break up into three phases:

• 14 with the June 24th 1899: popular holiday.

- June 14th: sick leave of the workmen of the etamery, then of those of the steel-works.

- June 15th: François Campionnet returns from Paris; the strike spreads.

- June 16th: a delegation of strikers presents her claims; Campionnet refuses categorically.

- June 17th: arrival of Braum, trade union leader of Paris.

- June 18th: new attempt of the strikers in the residence of Campionnet: new refusal.

- June 19th: the strikers organize themselves. Creation of a trade union of the metal-workers and similar of Gueugnon with the installation of the seat of the strikers to the Hotel of the Navy, at Bardin.

- 20 with the June 21st: passage of the deputies Sarrien, Simyan, Lasang, Zevaès, with many speeches. The journalist Maxence Roldes settles downtown. Many processions with flags, night speeches, drums and bugles, with the accents of the Marseilles and the Carmagnole.

• June 25th with the July 5th: the showdown.

- June 25th: the strikers try to occupy the factory. Campionnet requires of the Prefect the sending troops.

- June 26th: manifestation of the women of strikers on the place of the forging mills. Second attempt at occupation of the factory. The Chadefaud director is sequestered a few moments. Arrived of the Sub-prefect (Mr. Vitry), a company of infantry and a squadron of hunters with horse which settle with the forging mills. A delegation of strikers, accompanied by the sub-prefect, is received by Campionnet which refuses any concession. Dismissal of all the workmen who are invited to come to touch pays them Wednesday June 28th.

- June 27th: disturbance of the peace at night. Campionnet, as a mayor, a request with the sub-prefect to make evacuate the place of the forging mills; refusal of the sub-prefect. The soldiers frame coaches having to convoy tinplate; scuffles with the strikers and the women.

- June 28th: organization of the pay in the presence of the sub-prefect: the trade union gives the order to its members to refuse to touch their pay. Arrived of the Prefect at Gueugnon and meets with Campionnet with the town hall (the prefect teaches him that the strike of Montceau is finished).

- June 29th: new interview of the Prefect and Campionnet to the factory; total dead end. The Prefect refuses the protection of the troop for the convoy of coaches of the factory at the station.

- Of June 29th with the July 6th: unchanged and tended situation. New speech of the Simyan deputy. Concern at the population; the money starts to miss. Campionnet makes run of the alarmist noises (displacement of its factory more close to Paris).

• July 6th in October: rotting of the strike.

- July 6th: a hundred workmen are re-employed; the troop protects their entry and exit of the Campionnet factory announces that it will make relight fires on July 16th.

- July 16th: The Prefect comes to announce in Campionnet which the strikers give up their claims in the condition that there is no reference: refusal of Campionnet which requires the reference of about thirty leaders.

- July 17th: fires are relit and part of the factory takes again its operation. New réembauchages; Campionnet calls upon labor recruited in Marseilles.

- July 22nd: arrival of 10 Italian workmen.

- July 24th: the Prefect announces the withdrawal of the troops if Campionnet persists in engaging foreigners.

- July 29th: Raise of the troops present by another squadron and a new company of infantry. Engage many workmen (former strikers) coming from Bourbonnais.

- August 15th. Arrival of 20 Italians in station of Gueugnon. In the same train, presence of Maxence Roldes and several trade unionists; the gendarmes avoid violences.

- Second fortnight of August: The two Campionnet brothers are taken with part by strikers; Simon Campionnet protects himself with his revolver. The following day, complaint is deposited by the strikers.

- September 2nd: The court of Charolles condemns François Campionnet to 15 days of prison and 200 F of fine, his/her Simon brother at 8 days of prison and 100F of fine.

- at the end of September: a decree of the prefecture suspends François Campionnet of his functions of mayor for one month. Resignation of the Prefect. Second strike in Creusot.

The Campionnet heritage

François Campionnet dies in 1913; he is automatically replaced by his only son, Pierre Campionnet. He will have the heavy task to make function the factory during the First World War, providing various productions for national defense. He increases the capacity of the steel-works (3 open hearth furnaces of 30 tons), and begins the electrification of the factory.

In 1921, Pierre Campionnet dies suddenly. It is its widow, Philiberte of Boissière, which will replace it in simple mixed liability company. The company is then transformed into Public limit company called " Public limit company of the Forging mills of Gueugnon, Campionnet" Establishments; the February 4th 1921. The board of directors entrusts the presidency to Mr. Hubert Aulois, cousin of Pierre Campionnet. The company counts 1500 employees then.

The new manager continues the development undertaken by his predecessors. The factory produces its steel now completely. In 1917, a thermo plant is installed with the factory, including/understanding six boilers supplied with six hoppers and a chimney of 70 meters. Since 1922, the power station of the factory distributes the electric light and the driving force to the town of Gueugnon. Then a new powerplant of 10.000 kw was built to feed the factory and even the town of Gueugnon.

At that time, thanks to its transformations and improvement, the Company of the forging mills of Gueugnon becomes one of the most famous steel-works of France. The production of the factory reaches on average 50.000 tons of products per annum. This production includes/understands black plate for articles of stove setting and metallurgical packing, the sheet pickled for stamping of articles of household galvanized, enamelled and galvanized, the polished sheet for body of cars, the tinplate, the terneplates and galvanized.

The time of Wendel

At the time when the Campionnet family passes the hand, the Forging mills of Gueugnon in full change, are obliged to specialize to survive.

In 1928, the first furnace to be standardized in France is installed in Gueugnon in order to allow the treatment of sheets of body for “extra deep” stamping. In 1930, the first contacts are made with the Company of Electrochemistry, Electrometallurgy and the Electric steel-workses of Ugine, with an aim of converting with the treatments and the work of stainless and special sheets.

Gueugnonnais, like the whole of the French, badly live the deep economic crisis which followed the world crash in 1929. In two years, the production regresses.

In 1931, Sirs de Wendel and Compagnie ensure the administration of the Forging mills of Gueugnon whose financial position, caused by the world economic crisis, is difficult.

The Forging mills know their batch of strikes like everywhere in the country during the Thirties. In 1936, the electoral victory of the Popular front causes an enormous dash with Gueugnon. The workers become aware of their force and express salary demands. The trade union of the Forging mills prohibited and dissolus, after the great strikes of the beginning of the century, by Mr Campionnet, reappears with the support of the mayor of Gueugnon of the time: Jean Laville. This Socialist admiror of Jaurès was not other than that which had taken the head of the city vis-a-vis the Campionnet family which directed it since of almost 70 years. Let us note that it was among the workmen fired by Campionnet following the strike of 1899.

Forging mills in the war

At the time when German enters in Gueugnon, the production had been stopped a few hours before. Then the Forging mills were under the German yoke. But contrary, with the other iron-foundries of the area (Creusot, Imphy, etc…) who were completely annexed by the German forces, the Forging mills of Gueugnon were a particular case. Indeed, the company depended on the administration of Vichy and remains placed under the responsibility of its owner, of Wendel. The other factories of the group of Wendel and Compagnie are practically annexed in the north and the east which constitute even a closed area.

Years of the change

After the release, a work's council is created in the factory. That does not go without squeakings of teeth on behalf of De Wendel which sees social works thus, formerly employers' “reserved domain”, to escape to him and fall directly elected officials of the personnel.

With the autumn 1949 and spring 1950, the employees are committed in new suspensions of work in order to obtaining an improvement of the purchasing power. This new conflict will not be without repressive measurements: of Wendel had even recourse to the CRS in order to make evacuate the occupied factory and to the dismissals of the trade-union principal leaders.

The duet Douheret-Michoulier, places at the direction of the factory since the Thirties, is replaced from there by Mr. Clerget and a new team is installation to promote another orientation. The factory specializes then in the steels silicon and the stainless steels cold rolled (which will become its great speciality).

1950 is also the year of the creation of the mark Uginox. In addition, the Forging mills take an important participation in Sollac (Lorraine Company of Continuous Rolling).

Then in 1955 begins an important program from installations in cold rolling with the acquisition of the first reversing mill cold Sendzimir (of the name of the engineer polono-American which developed it) to treat the stainless steel reels. Provisioning of raw material is then ensured by Ugine, which runs the steel ingots with Moûtiers (Savoy) which are then transformed into hot reels by Sollac, before arriving at Gueugnon.

In 1956, Mr. Clerget associates engineer, Rene Favier whose role will be determining in the choice of the future installations. He will become executive vice president in 1963.

It is during the year 1962, that the first European line of annealing shining in wide strips is installed in Gueugnon. Two other lines will follow quickly.

The golden age and world domination of the Forging mills

During twenty years, the Forging mills will transform while obtaining tools increasingly more sophisticated which will confer a dominating place to them among the world producers stainless flat products, becoming even n°1 world of the stainless steel. The factory engages with all goes and of the thousands of induced employment are created in the companies of subcontracting which revolve around the factory of Gueugnon but also in the companies of the building and the local arts and crafts. The Forging mills will reach 3.750 paid with the beginning of the year sixty.

This golden age will last until the middle of the Seventies. Only the famous strikes of the end 1967 and beginning 1968 (with as not organ May) will come to disturb this prosperous period but marked a great change in remunerations of the personnel. Indeed, before 1968, the purchasing power of the Blacksmiths was lagging behind. After the events of May 68 and in the years which followed, the personnel of the Forging mills had best remunerations of the department, even of all the French iron and steel industry, for the large good of the regional economy.

Forging mills: crisis…

In 1973, via Sollac of which they are adherent, the Forging mills of Gueugnon take a participation in the steelworks of Solmer in Fos-sur-Mer (Rhone delta). The latter then supplies by trains the factory of Gueugnon in semi-finished products.

The Forging mills plan to saturate with 300.000 tons with capacity the current factory and to install one second factory on the arranged site of Chazey, at the southern exit of the city, of a capacity of 100.000 tons stainless steel. But the oil crisis of 1973 makes defer the project.

In 1975, the installation of the planetary rolling mill n°6 makes the pride of the city. Indeed, it most powerful and most modern was ever built in the world and made increase the capacity of the factory of Gueugnon to 300.000 tons per annum.

In 1977, the government Giscard - Barre decides a catch of majority stake of the State on the essence of the French iron and steel industry, in order to rectify this basic industry.

However, vis-a-vis successes of the results of the factory of Gueugnon, contrary to the majority of the other iron and steel plants which start a decline, the De Wendel are authorized to preserve some companies gathered within a holding called CGIP, to which the Forging mills of Gueugnon belong.

This situation then will carry a strong blow to the Forging mills of Gueugnon. The company is then overlapping in a national iron and steel policy without receiving the appropriations of installation from them. Quickly, of Wendel try to disengage iron and steel branch. Most of the housing stock of the Forging mills, is nearly 1200 residences, is sold. Thus an enormous share of the inheritance of the Forging mills is then abandoned.

In 1976, a historical page of the Forging mills of Gueugnon is turned. The hot rolling which had marked during more than one century the history of the Forging mills finishes with the closing of the two last lines employing this type of production.

In 1980, it is the closing of the subsidiary company “Equipinox”, located close to the district of Gachères, producing hub caps and dishes out of top-of-the-range stainless. The personnel in female majority will be integrated into the Forging mills.

In 1983, it is the setting on sale of “Francémail”, another subsidiary company of the Forging mills of Gueugnon located on the plain of the Old man-Fresne, who occupied 250 paid and manufactured bath-tubs enamelled. The personnel is also integrated into the Forging mills.

… towards a new destiny

January 1st 1983, the Forging mills of Gueugnon are integrated into “Ugine Aciers”, subsidiary of Sacilor, and take the name of “Ugine Gueugnon SA” in which the CGIP of Wendel holds nothing any more but one minority of actions.

In 1984 Mr. Fievet (named chevalier of the Legion of Honor under its determining role in the prevalence of the factory of Gueugnon on a world level during these twenty last years) is replaced by Mr. Aussure. Mr. Fievet will have marked in a positive way his passage to Gueugnon. Privileging a respectful and grateful industrial relations policy know-how of the Blacksmiths of Gueugnon.

Collaborator close relations of Mr. Fievet will then be named successively at the station of person in charge of the site of Gueugnon: Mr. Baillet then is placed in retirement in July 1985 and is replaced by Mr. Borne. One year afterwards, it passes the hand to Mr. Perdu.

This last takes its functions in an atmosphere in charge of electricity. In September 1986, follow one another of the sit-in strikes, ballet of CRS, forcing of the grids of entry by the top executives in order to take again possession of the factory, blocking of the lines of TGV to Montchanin by the employees. After several weeks of confrontations, an east agreement concludes not satisfying neither the direction nor the personnel.

January 1st 1987, following a fusion of Usinor and Sacilor, the two subsidiary companies which produce stainless flat special steels, are integrated under name “Ugine steels of Châtillon and Gueugnon” (UACG). From now on the group nationalized Usinor-Sacilor includes the totality of the French iron and steel industry, certain processing industries, like close Creusot-Loire. The chairman of this group is then Mr. Francis Mer, that of Ugine ACG becomes Mr. Chopin de Janvry in the place of Mr. Pierre Hugon and the person in charge of the site, Mr. Perdu, is maintained at his station. He will be transferred on January 1st 1990 and will be replaced by Mr. Chassagnon, ex-person in charge of the site of Bridge-of-Roide (Doubs).

With the old UGSA, which included/understood the sites of Gueugnon, Slate and Defense, the new business associates the sites of old Usinor-Châtillon, namely, Isbergues, Bridge-of-Roide, Firminy and Saint Chély d' Apcher is on the whole 5.500 paid.

January 1st 1991, Ugine steels of Châtillon and Gueugnon becomes Ugine SA which includes/understands, in addition to the whole of the branch stainless steels and special flat products of the group, that of the products length stainless: Ugine-Savoy and Imphy SA become subsidiary of Ugine SA. The new unit, with its other French and foreign subsidiary companies, represents 12.000 people and a sales turnover of surroundings 15 billion francs.

From Ugine SA in Ugine & ALZ

The progressive introduction of new technologies and the improvement of the quality of the products generate an increasing share of automated work and require an always increased training of the employees. But other side of the coin, manpower out of decreased spring. However the production capacity of the Forging mills of Gueugnon will not cease increasing. For proof, in 1974, Gueugnon produced between 180.000 and 200.000 tons of stainless with 3.500 paid per annum, while in 1993, with 1.700 paid, the Forging mills produced 245.000 to 300.000 tons.

Important installations thus were born in the company Ugine SA, in particular on the site of Gueugnon. In the development and research field of new technologies on steels, the advance of the company is certain and rests on a know-how of Ugine going back to the Twenties, in collaboration with Gueugnon in the Thirties, and at the post-war period. Thus, throughout the Nineties, a considerable and fast change of the apparatus of production was carried out, not only in Gueugnon (which remains the most powerful unit of cold stainless steel rolling of the world), but in all the country, making the French iron and steel industry one of most modern of the world and consolidating Ugine SA among largest and most powerful groups iron and steel world. Attracting all covetousnesses these last years.

In 2002, Ugine SA and ALZ N.V were gathered within the framework of the creation of the group Arcelor. This bringing together gave birth to “Ugine & ALZ” (U&A) within the framework of fusion Arbed, Aceralia and Usinor.

The group counts 4 production sites: Genk and Charleroi for Belgium, and Isbergues and Gueugnon, for France.

In 2005, Gueugnon counted 1.279 paid and produced 450.000 tons of steels per annum.

The January 28th 2006, Mittal Steel Company makes a hostile public offering of purchase on Arcelor for 18,6 billion euros whereas Arcelor has only 17,6 billion euros of equities. At the end of February 2006, after a rise of Arcelor, the market cap of the two groups is almost identical.

Fusion is done in spite of fears of the stockmarkets vis-a-vis the emergence of this superpuissant of the iron and steel industry. The company resulting from this fusion then joins together the first and the second producer of steel of the world, Arcelor and Mittal Steel.

The Arcelor-Mittal group born and becomes incontestably the world number one of the iron and steel industry, with 320.000 employees in more than 60 countries. Its sales turnover passes to 70 billion dollars. The group is directed by the Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, the fifth richest man of the world according to the magazine Forbes in March 2007.

In March 2006, Mr. Jean-Yves Gilet takes the succession of Mr. Philippe Darmayan to the head of Ugine & ALZ attached to the Arcelor-Mittal group.

The FCG

It is quite difficult not to speak about Football Club of Gueugnon (FCG) so much the city owes most of its notoriety in the hexagon with this one.

The creation of the club

In July and August 1940, demobilized return in their hearths. The members of the local, sad and disillusioned companies sporting by the defeat, take again courage although their rows were cleared up. However, a group of friends of football pertaining either to the Sports association Gueugnonnaise or in Foch, engage of the friendly conversations on the errors made before the war, and estimate as united we stand, divided we fall, as well in the sport as in the life. The September 5th 1940, Sirs Tracol and Thomas, secretaries of the two companies, meet in order to consider the fusion of their associations. After agreement of the players, the September 15th 1940, at the time of a meeting between the leaders of two associations, fusion is made and gave rise to Football Club of Gueugnon. The new club adopts the colors gold and blue and will play in the very new stage Jean Laville inaugurated the July 14th 1939 by Mr. Paul Faure, minister of state and deputy of Saône-et-Loire. Mr. Alexandre Buisson (future mayor of Gueugnon) takes the presidency of the FCG and Mr. Paul Vannier becomes the honorary president about it.

The championship amateur

As of its first steps in the championship of honor of Burgundy, FCG started to make speak about him, since over the six seasons spent on this level, it obtains five times the right to dispute final hens. It is thus, which having gained the championship of the Burgundian league, that Gueugnon finds vis-a-vis Arago of Orleans the June 15th 1947. On a score from 2 to 1, the very young FCG becomes champion of France amateur. Then 4 years later, in the very new championship of France amateur, Gueugnon, Sedan leaf, Draguignan and Bordeaux, and by marking 7 goals without boxing only one of them, becomes one second time champion of France amateur.

Amputee of certain players because of the events in Algeria, the FCG finishes penultimate his hen in 1955 - 1956 and will be relegated in division honor of Burgundy. He will find his place in championship of France amateur the following year. It will be one of two only relegations of its history.

The professional championship

In 1970, the FCG obtains the right to reach the very new championship called “National” or “Open” and which will become the championship of France thereafter the 2nd division then of League 2. Championship where the FCG holds the absolute records of participations.

At the time of the season 1978 - 1979, the team of Casimir Nowotarski meets Brest that it bldg. Ainsi the FCG obtains its third championship of France. The fact of having finished first of its group gave to the FCG the right to reach directly the championship of France the 1st division… to condition however that the club adopts the professional statute. The conditions of the time made that the reason carried it and the leaders refused to cross Rubicon.

The season 1994 - 1995 remained in annals. The team of Roland Gransart played 42 matches, gained 24, lost 10 of them and makes 8 null. However the suspense lasted until the last match, the May 31st 1995, where Gueugnon had obligation to be binding on Jean Laville to obtain his accession. That was done with one 2 to 0 against the Red Star. The stage and the city were in jubilation: Gueugnon reached finally the first division and this time finances allowed it. Although not having remained with this more high level over the only season which followed, this season will remain most beautiful of the history of the FCG.

Cut of France

The first time that the FCG to leave truly anonymity in this competition, it was at the time of the season 1947 - 1948, the FCG had reached the eighth of finale but had lost them vis-a-vis Colmar. But the true exploit was to arrive 21 years later.

The March 2nd 1969, the FCG is found vis-a-vis Nice in eighth of finale. The first confrontation with Gueugnon (the qualification was played at the time with a match outward journey and a return match) seemed to have cut the wings of the Blacksmiths on a score from 3 to 0. But with the return match to Nice, inversion of situation: Nice is inclined on the score from 2 to 0. Thus the FCG reached its first quarterfinal. Unfortunately, the drawing lot was hardly favorable since the FCG went meeting SCO Angers, the team which carried out one without fault and caracolait championship at the head advances a comfortable advance. This match was the first retransmission of ORTF in the history of the stage Jean Laville. The miracle did not take place and the FCG was made eliminate.

The year which followed, the FCG, after having beaten the Châtillon-on-Seine, Couron, Thiers and Ajaccio, was found, on March 1st 1970, vis-a-vis Valencian in sixteenth of finale but there too it will be eliminated.

It will be necessary in makes wait 7 years, to attend a new exploit of the Blacksmiths. After having eliminated Decize and Masevaux, Gueugnon, then second of the championship of the 2nd division and having coaché by Casimir Nowotarski, saw itself offering the second of the championship of the 1st division and coaché by Aimé Jacquet, Lyon. In front of 14000 spectators, the single goal of the evening was gueugnonnais. Thus the FCG, extremely from this exploit, went in sixteenth from trustful finale. Vis-a-vis Chateauroux, Gueugnon was shown shining (2 to 1 with the outward journey and 3 to 1 with the return). The fate indicated FC Lorient like next adversary for the eighth of finale. After having dominated 3 to 0, the FCG is made eliminate vis-a-vis a more combative team.

The season 1978 -1979 is that which, out of cut of France for Gueugnon, was not equalized yet. After having eliminated Clermont-Ferrand, Roanne and Ales in sixteenth of finale, Gueugnon is drawn with the fate vis-a-vis large the Saint Etienne from this “time of the greens”. The Friday the 13th (!) April 1979, the outward journey with Gueugnon finishes, in front of 16000 spectators, with the advantage of the FCG on an unimaginable score: 3 to 0. The return to Saint Etienne, who proceeded the next on April 17th, finished on the score from 2 to 0 in favor of the inhabitants of Saint-Etienne. But the account was good, Gueugnon, with its three goals to go it, came to eliminate the green ogre with amazement from whole France. And here, for one second time, Gueugnon in quarterfinal. The May 9th 1979, in front of 18000 spectators, Gueugnon is made strike by Strasbourg by 6 to 0.

At the time of the season 1990 - 1991, and this for the first time of its history, the FCG was to reach the semi-finals of the test. After having beaten Ales, Turn and Niort, it was Monaco which was drawn with the fate against Gueugnon.

Sporting and associative life

Foch

Founded in July 1920, Foch is the first association multisports but also multi activities (football, gymnastics, brass band, etc…). The Foch marshal had accepted the high presidency by letter-autographie of it, which explains its patronym. The founder is the marquis de Chargères who provided rooms, grounds and all the necessary one for association.

Schools of Gueugnon

They are the Marist brothers who taught at the elementary school boys until in 1886. On this date the first laic teacher was named: Benoît François Pays well. There remained 11 years at this station.

School of boys (School Jean Macé)

We do not know practically anything about this school (even the names of the teachers did not arrive to us) before 1856, date on which where the municipal council expresses his will to build a new school of boys larger than the preceding one. It is today the current school Jean Macé. Enlargings took place in 1930 thereafter and 1958 then classes in prefabricated buildings will be added to it in 1959 and 1960.

School of the girls (Pasteur School)

The project was evoked at the time of a municipal council in 1851 to build a school for young girls. However the money missed. One decided to open this school in an already existing building, although inappropriate, held by sisters, in the current street of the fountain. They are a participation of the commune but especially the gifts of Sirs de Chargères and Campionnet which allowed the beginning of its construction in 1880 in the street Saint Charles (today street Pasteur). It becomes laic in 1888.

Nursery school

It functioned initially in the buildings of the school of boys until the construction of buildings in the enclosure of the school of the girls which began in 1903 and was finished in 1907.

Nursery school Robolin

Opened in 1954 - 1955 and is located on the road of Chassy, in the east of the city. In 2007, it is threatened of closing had with a lack of manpower.

Nursery school of Riaux

Opened in September 1969 with two classes, a third was created in September 1971, year when it reaches its maximum in manpower with 124 pupils. This level is stabilized then will drop starting from 1977 - 1978 bringing the closing of the third class in 1991. Today manpower is located at surroundings 50 pupils.

Nursery school of Gachères

Opened in September 1973 with four classes to which a nursery in September 1989 will be added.

Nursery school and primary of the Heathers

Opened in 1975 with nine primary classes and three nursery classes. In 1977 - 1978, the school passed to thirteen primary classes and four in nursery school. A nursery was also open in 1978. This same year, one entered the maximum which the school in manpower had, that is to say 370 pupils in primary education and 170 in nursery school. Vis-a-vis the fall of the number of pupils since 1989, the school counts nothing any more but seven primary classes and three nursery classes.

Holy private school Cecile

Opened in 1905 by the Sisters of the Instruction of the Child Jesus de Chauffailles (the school who was there had been closed). She was increased in 1920, date on which where the popular Association of teaching (become SEEPG) became owner of the places. Since 1961, it functions under contract of state and is managed by an organization of management of catholic Teaching (OGEC). The school, accommodating only girls before, became mixed in 1974.

School of the Forging mills

Between 1880 and 1890, was open a school of boys, places Forging mills, led by monks. The latter closed in 1918.

Training college of the Forging mills

In 1942, at the instigation of the directors of the Forging mills of Gueugnon Douheret and Michoulier, was set up a Training college preparing at various CAPE. In 1990, the Technical training school of Ugine, directed by Gardechaux Miss and her Servant boy Maringue becomes an antenna of the CFAI of the metallurgy ensuring the formation of the trades of the iron and steel industry for the Ugine branch.

Polish school

Towards 1920, of Polish started to come to work in Gueugnon. They were increasingly numerous and came with women and children. A Polish school was thus created. It functioned in a room occupied by a class of the school of girl for one long period. These courses thus took place the evening between 17 and 19 hours. The last teacher was Mrs. Barbara Mikolaszek who took reprocesses itself in 1965, date on which one closed this class.

Agricultural training

The agricultural courses for the boys at the school of boys (current school Jean Macé) begin in the Fifties, just like the domestic courses at the school of the girls (current Pasteur school), under the direction of Jean Germain then of Roland Cottin (future mayor of Gueugnon). From a few tens of pupils, manpower passes very quickly to a good hundred. Thus the two classes become too much exiguous. In 1971, the town of Gueugnon buys the Dutroncy farm, located at the locality “Chazey” in the south of the city, to install there the Agricultural Center of Gueugnon in 1974. But, envisaged for an about sixty people and with the multiplication the formations and their diversification, the Agricultural Center became too small to accommodate everyone. Thus, in 1991, the construction of CFA (Agricultural Training center) of Gueugnon is decided with new buildings. A boarding school and the restoration on the spot was set up there. Today its capacity of reception is of more than 100 people.

Gueugnon, country of the race charolaise

Gueugnon is certainly for a very long time included in the cradle of the race charolaise. Some foreign crossings took place towards 1830 but they were without consequence, the majority of the stockbreeders of the moment having preserved the pure race. In the area of Gueugnon, one can suppose that being near the Morvan, that there were some crossings with the morvandelle race but there still without much consequence on the phenotype. Of race of work (for the feature), the charolaise became, by a rigorous selection of the stockbreeders, one of the most beautiful beef breeds of the world. It adapted in all the cattle-rearing areas of the world and adapted to all the climates. Each year, it gains ground that it is in pure race or crossing with the local races. The stockbreeders selectors of Gueugnon take part massively in its expansion and exploit thoroughly the great genetic possibilities of this marvellous race charolaise.

Administration

Equipment of civil security

The help center

It is in 1927, that was created the body of firemen of Gueugnon, with like godfathers, lieutenants Gaspard Marmorat and Rene Rousset. Before the creation of the body of firemen of the city, the fire-protection was ensured by the firemen of the Forging mills of Gueugnon.

The help center was then installed place of the church (current Center Henri Forest), after one short period when the material was installed close to the Town hall, until in 1985, date on which the municipality refitted the buildings of an old company to make a new help center, located today in the plain of Fresne, in order to serve new the neighborhood communes. Manpower is of about thirty voluntary firemen.

• the chief of police

1927 - 1938: Lieutenant Gaspard Marmorat 1938 - 1965: Captain Raymond Garchery 1965 - 1985: Lieutenant Roger Furrier 1985 - 1990: Lieutenant Marcel Devillard 1990 - 1992: Lieutenant Georges Ledey Since 1992: Lieutenant Jean-Pierre Bouiller

Gendarmerie

The 50 rue de la convention, which sheltered perception until the end of the last war, was the first gendarmerie. This large masonry, going back to 1794, was a hotel during the following years before being, in 2007, the seat of the House of Associations and the Tourist office.

In 1892, one builds a new gendarmerie in the main street of Gueugnon (old Main street and current street of Freedom). It was then transferred street from the Heathers in 1970.

Administrative equipment

Post

Before 1888, it was established with Perrecy-the-Forging mills and then in downtown area. It was then in the new town hall starting from 1905 until installation in the current building located De Gaulle place.

Social security

Medical protection with the Forging mills exists since the beginning of the 20th century. Created in 1946, the Social security was street Jean Bouveri with the angle of the street of November 11th in the center town, then it was transferred in the new building in 1961, with the site of the old cemetery, on the current De Gaulle place.

Administrative building

It was arranged in October 1977 beside the town hall.

School facilities

Colleges

A CEG (College of Mainstream education) settles, in 1966, in the west of the city, on the plain of Fresne with 430 pupils. This one was nationalized in 1968. It is today the current college of the Old man-Fresne.

A second college was built in 1973 in the east of the city. It is today the current college of May 8th.

Vis-a-vis the fall of the number of pupil in these two establishments, the municipality decided to gather them on only one site (the site selected is that of the college of May 8th). Fusion will give rise to the new current Saint Exupéry college 2009.

Medical equipment and medical

Doctor's office

Located street of the port, it functions since.

Private clinic

The private clinic-maternity of the Furrier, installed with the Castle of the Furrier (in the north of the city, road of Toulon-on-Arroux), functioned of 1968 to 1971. It was closed then replaced by an average stay of the hospital of Paray-le-Monial in 1978. Currently, a MAPAD (House of Reception for Dependant Elderly) functions and is supplemented by a long medicalized stay.

Private clinics veterinary surgeons

The first, in 1938, temporary because was held by a German political refugee who left right before the German invasion. It is not that in 1946 qu' a holder settles in Gueugnon and opens the first private clinic veterinary surgeon. One second will be open in the Nineties in the artisanal zone of the Fountains between the plain of Fresne and the district of the Heathers, on the road of Digoin.

Social equipment

HLM

Two sections of 49 and 62 residences in 1950 were built and a third in 1957 with 50 residences in bands with the district of the Heathers, road of Digoin, in the south of the city and 4 buildings of 14 residences in the City of Rieux, road of Toulon-on-Arroux, in the north of the city. Many others will follow between 1960 and 1980.

Social center of the Heathers

Located in the middle of city HLM of the Heathers, road of Digoin, the social center opened its doors in January 1981.

Residences for elderly

The Residence of the Acacias was built on the site of the old port in 1976 and counts 80 residences.

The Hearth of the Park, located between the place of the church and the castle of At, at the edges of Arroux, was built in 1982 with 20 apartments.

Came to be added the Eriva Hearth recently beside the Residence of Accacias.

Sports equipment

Stage Jean Laville

There were several grounds of foot in the city (district of Gachères, which exists still today, district of the seedbed, etc…) but the construction of stage Jean Laville (of the name of the mayor of Gueugnon which founded the project) started in 1936. It will be arranged starting from 1942. An enlarging will be carried out in 1961. In 1995, the construction of 6000 places set out again in two platforms is and western the capacity will carry to more than 15000 places. In 2007, after remodèlement of the environment of the stage, the northern platform was destroyed in order to be rebuilt by doubling its capacity of reception. The southern platform should follow the same way.

Swimming pool

It was in project since 1935 but was realized and opened only in 1971 close to the stage Jean Laville.

Equipment cultural and associative

Cinema " Danton"

In 1928, school film shows were instituted at the old school of boys (with meetings for adults Wednesday evening) then, in 1933, at the school of girls. In parallel existed a travelling cinema. In 1937, a cinema was built in order to replace this last. The site, which is not far from the school Jean Macé (old school of boys) is always the site of the current cinema “Danton”. In 2007, the cinema was completely renovated with in particular a more roomy hall.

Municipal hearth

Built on the site of the old cemetery on the place of the jonchère (current De Gaulle place), it opened in 1934. It will increase in 1967 and 1990 (with restoration outside and interior).

Hall of the exposures

Old cookie factory then Equip' stainless, company subsidiary of the Forging mills of Gueugnon, the buildings were bought and given in state by the AMEICAG (Municipal Association for the Expansion Industrial, Commerciale, Agricole, and Avicolous of Gueugnon). Varied exposures and demonstrations proceed there since 1992.

House of country

Arranged in 1990 at the instigation of the SIVOM (Intercommunity association with Multiple Vocations), resulting from the will of the elected officials to instigate the canton at the economic, cultural and tourist level.

Associations

Gueugnon counts some more than 200. What makes of Gueugnon the associative city of the department. Oldest is the “Pole gueugnonnaise”, gathering fishing amateurs and professionals, created in 1903.

Other equipment of the town of yesterday and today

• Slaughter-house

Started in 1910, opening in December 1913. Closed in September 1985. It was located at the southern exit of the city, road of Rigny-on-Arroux.

• Water conveyance

Function in 1934 on a first batch then will continue by sections to the war and will begin again with the urban expansion of the Fifties to seventy.

• Cemetery

Formerly, it was close to the old church, it was transferred in 1865 - 1866 on the part of the place of the jonchère (current De Gaulle place) where the hearth municipal, the music school and the social security are today. But it became also too small and especially the presence of the brook of Burot (or Beurot or of Valette), which was diverted later, made it too wet. Thus had to be sought a healthier place, which took several years. Thus, in 1901, was open that of Montariange (small hill in the south-east of the city, road of Bourbon-Lancy), increased several times since.

• Waste water

The sewers of the city were started in 1937. Then they extend on all the city at the same time as the drains from drinking water and than the urban expansion from the Fifties to the Seventies. A modern purification plant, located at the south of the city, road of Rigny-on-Arroux, was brought into service in 1995 - 1996.

• Electricity

In 1892, a company made the proposal in town hall light the streets and the houses with electricity. One refused because the commune had a contract with gas. In 1923, public lighting becomes electric. In 1928, the first electrical installations for the private individuals are born finally. But it is between 1934 and 1937, that the totality of the city will be connected.

• tricolor Fires

The first are installed in 1975 with the crossing of the street of May 8th and the road of Bourbon-Lancy (they do not exist today any more, replaced by the roundabout Eric Tabarly).

• Gas

It makes its appearance in the city in 1880 then in 1887 with the old town hall then in 1906 in the news.

• Tarring of the streets

Started starting from 1927.

• Clock

The first was installed in 1862 on the pediment of the old town hall-school. One second followed in 1930 on the bell-tower of the church.

• Data-processing

The first computerizations of certain municipal services function as of 1983. In 2005, the town of Gueugnon becomes “city Internet” with its 4 @ thanks to its innovating installations and their sensitizing near the public.

• War memorial the

It was set up in 1922 in the center of the place of the jonchère (current De Gaulle place).

• Footbridge

Built in 1937 - 1938 to facilitate the access of the stage Jean Laville since the place of the church. Destroyed because of its outdatedness and entirely rebuilt today.

• Bridge of the railroad

Transformed into road bridge with a way in 1969 and remade in 1984 two-track.

• Port

Stop of the traffic in 1977. It was embanked completely and today rises, on its site, a residence for elderly, a park and dwellings. Only the house of the lockkeeper remains who was charged with the lock n°1 on the drain of the Arroux which connected the channel of the Center to Neuzy, close to Digoin.

• Quays of Arroux

Today in the past called quays of beaten (laundrettes) and named quay of Europe, the installation and the consolidation of the banks began in 1964 and lasted more than 10 years.

• Diversion of the brook of Burot (or Beurot or of Valette)

The brook crossed before the district of Gachères and Marnays, the place of the jonchère (current De Gaulle place) then the place of the church before being thrown in Arroux. Become obstructing as much for the residents that for the road users (without counting the single access to the church by a small bridge, spanning the brook, become too small and decayed), the diversion of the brook was in project 1936 but will make only in 1954 - 1955. Today the brook forks right before the district of Gachères, skirts the college of May 8th (future Saint Exupéry college) before being thrown in Arroux, more in the south that its original layout.

• Telephone

The very first installation goes back to 1900 but at the town hall only in 1930 arrives. The first cabins will be installed in 1934.

Demography

Places and monuments

Pont Émiland Gauthey

Within the framework of large the alteration work of the highway network which took place in second half of the 18th century, the States of Burgundy decided the January 23rd 1782 to create a road link intended to connect the Franche-Comté to Bourbonnais. This road, carrying number 25, was to pass by Lons-the-Salt maker, Louhans, Cuisery, Tournus, Saint-Gengoux-the-National, Joncy, Perrecy-the-Forging mills, Gueugnon, Bourbon-Lancy and to join Moulins.

The economic importance of this route required the construction of works of art, in particular the construction of a bridge for the crossing of Arroux with Gueugnon. Hitherto, indeed, this river could not be crossed, in Gueugnon, that by a ford.

The realization of this bridge was entrusted to the Chief engineer of the Bridge-and-Roadways of the States of Burgundy, Emiland Gauthey, and work lasted between 1784 and 1787.

The bridge of Gueugnon is quasi-single in its kind. Of a 60,87 meters length and a width of 7,10 meters between the interior faces of the parapets of the time, it is established 'a bank with the other with a single slope of 1,90 meters and decreasing Arche S. It corresponds to half of a bridge in back of ass. Indeed, the difference in level between two banks of Arroux could not be unobtrusive because of the average materials of the time, of the rock nature of the ground and the presence of constructions close to banks. Only, the bridge of Mazères in the Gironde builds between 1877 and 1879 is laid out like that of Gueugnon.

The structure of the basket-handle vaults by boxes, already employed by Emiland Gauthey with the bridge of Navilly on Doubs, was used in Gueugnon (21 boxes per arch); but because of the decrease of the arches, the carriers of Clessy had to prepare blocks of stone and the workmen to cut voussoirs different for chacunes from the five flattened arches, as for five distinct bridges.

The pyramids at ogival base which decorate the piles of the bridge of Gueugnon compose very simple and excel reason for decoration.

Bridges built by Emiland Gauthey, only that of Gueugnon has wing walls having a concave curve very favorable to the water run-off.

The bridge belongs to the bridges built at the 18th century, which are, in general, of very good quality as well from the point of view of their architectural design as from the point of view of their implementation. Unfortunately the foundations were made by the use of boxes failed on piles, with a 0,60 meters depth in lower part of low-water, this type of technique, not very at the time sophisticated and badly-known, brought degradations to the level of the foundations and repairs have night with the original esthetic quality of the work.

In 1961 and 1979, the pier foundations underwent repairs by injections of milt, metal protection and concreting which create a disgracieux effect in period of low waters. Other repairs intervened in the following years such as consolidation work, restoration and equipment. This work completed with an aim of saving the essence of this bridge however damaged the balance of a unit, whose classification under the Historic buildings made it possible to give again an aspect in conformity to him with that of origin.

In spite of the weight of the years, the bridge remains the principal hyphen between the two part of the city (even if a second bridge were built in 1984 in the place of the old bridge of the railroad on Arroux) and remains robust and solid by supporting a traffic of 12000 vehicles per day and the passage of all the heavy loads forwarding by Gueugnon (of which heaviest the bridge in 1981 with its 236 tons without aucuns damage borrowed).

Town hall

The old town hall-school was built in 1859 and was demolished in 1904. The current Town hall was built with the same site as the preceding one in 1905.

Church Maurice Saint

The old church of Gueugnon, destroyed in 1870, had been built at the 11th century in a Romance Style brionnais. Directed towards the East, it occupied the site of the Transept of the current church. Its bell-tower, according to description by the Chaumette priest towards 1870, was with six sides with posts with the openings, the Abside had disappeared and on its site the sacristy was, the nave was paved floor tiles but one saw there a certain number of large flagstones being used as tombs with inscription (104 people were buried in the Church starting from 1688 of which the Marquis of the Maubourg Tower in 1764), the transept and the chorus had built vaults in full-clotheshanger, the tower of the bell-tower rose in the center of the transept, finally nave and transept had a surface of 200 square meters and the church could contain 400 people.

The talks concerning the replacement of the old church of Gueugnon, which threatened ruin and whose dimensions had become insufficient vis-a-vis the fast increase in the population, were carried in 1863 before the Municipal council by a proposal of the Count de Chargères. The grounds that this last proposed to give made it possible to reorganize the district of the church. In 1867, the business trails because Evêché of Autun raises the objection that the flood of Arroux of 1856 reached the site envisaged. After discussions with the mayor of Gueugnon, Pierre Campionnet, a new convention had passed fine 1868 with the Countess of Chargères, become widowed, which yielded its garden known as of the terrace. The church will be thus built in 1869-1870 in the place of old but will be directed differently.

Stage Jean Laville

Construction in 1936.

Castle of Essanlez

The stronghold of Essanlez is known in 1379 by the marriage of Bertrand d' Essanlez, whose weapons comprise a wild boar (sanlez or sanliez in patois morvandeau), with Jeannette of Crosat of Bourbon-Lancy. In 1465, their grand-daughter Louise d' Essanlez, rams of Essanlez and of Abergement, brings it in dowry to its husband Anthoine de Montmorilon, rider.

In 1603, the title is carried by Jehan de Montmorillon, knight, baron de Villers and of Essanlez, great-grandson of Anthoine de Montmorillon.

The inventory of 1617 which appears in the burrow (ancestor of the land register established by the lords every ten years) of Lucenier is established with the castle of Essanlez and is signed by Anthoine de Montmorillon (second of the name) rider, lord of Essanlez, Toux, the Rock, Montaguet, Rochefort and Lucenier.

In 1683, these strongholds are taken again by Claude Palatin of Dyo, count de Montmort and fall by heritage with Antoine de Busseuil.

Jean-Hector de Fay, marquis of the Maubourg Tower, baron of Essanlés, has the castle in 1718 (although it does not reside at it). He creates the Forging mill of Villefaye between 1721-1724.

In 1764, its grandson Augustin-Jean-Louis Duprat, count de Barbancon, inherits its properties of Gueugnon. It will sell, in 1788, in Jean-Baptist Perrot, secretary of the King and trader in Châlon-sur-saône, the grounds, fields and seigniories of Clessy, Vendenesse-on-Arroux, Essanlés, Rochefort, Villefaye. Its family will exploit the Forging mill until the arrival of the Campionnet family in 1845.

A plan of Gueugnon, towards 1786, gives us the provision of castle of Essanlés: five turns déimitant a pentagon surrounded by ditches and occupied by a main building in L.

The castle of Essanlés was demolished under the French revolution and today the ruins now disappeared.

Castle of Breuil

A first castle was built with the locality " Breuil" at the end of the 15th century. It was composed of a Donjon surrounded by 13 Tours, of which only one remains today in dovecote. It was girds of a deep ditch spanned by a drawbridge. Although still moyenâgeux in its general aspect, it sheltered a residential main building influenced by the Renaissance.

It was acquired in 1530 by the family of Chargères, connects of Morvan, with the family of Brushes which lived a castle of the same name around Digoin

In 1616, a fire destroyed the keep and the castle was rebuilt in its actual position.

In 1677, the burrow of Breuil specifies that the baronnie of Beuil had vines on the slope of the Arroux near the castle.

Sold by authority of justice at the beginning of the 19th century with a realtor, it was repurchased by the family Casimir Perrier (President of the Republic) which resold it shortly after with the family of Valence.

In 1830, of Chargères, which had a property with Mondemot close to Vendenesse-on-Arroux, made of it the exchange with Valence. Thus the castle of Breuil turned over to its former owners.

At the time of its important restoration of 1930, the castle of Breuil was used as attic with grains and its windows were blocked by brick partitions.

The count Bernard de Chargères and his family reside at it today.

Castle of Presles

Old castle pertaining to the family of Valence, whose last owner was Alain of Valence, there exists nothing any more. Indeed, it was entirely set fire to, at the end of the 19th century or at the beginning of the 20th century, by a manservant which, congédié, had wanted to be avenged.

Later, the site was repurchased by the Campionnet family which made there build the current castle.

Personalities related to the commune

Jean-Hector de Fay marquis of the Maubourg Tower

Born in the the Loire, with the castle of the Guard, close to Montbrison, in 1678, it was before a whole soldier, engaging as of his majority with the Company of the Musketeers and entering, 5 years later, with the regiment of the Roy-Infantry as second lieutenant. At 30 years, it finds captain and of 1703 with 1748, it takes part in the many military campaigns of Louis XIV and Louis XV. Named General inspector of the Infantry in 1718 then Lieutenant Général in 1738, it shines by his heat with the combat and is made Knight-commander of the Orders of Roy. In 1757, finally, it accepted the stick of Marshal of France. With its qualities of soldiers, the marquis de Maubourg joint that of a brilliant business man. Being lord of Clessy and owner of part of Gueugnon (undoubtedly by heritage of his/her mother), it decides to build the forging mill of Villefaye (name of its family) in 1721 to exploit its wood and for which it obtains letters patent the May 29th 1724. This modest metallurgical establishment was going to become " forging mills of Gueugnon" whose national and even international fame is not any more to make. The marquis had a castle on the heights of Gueugnon to the locality " Essanleys" , castle destroyed at the time of the revolution of 1789, but remained however with the old castle in the center of the borough. He died in Gueugnon the May 16th 1764 at the 92 years age.

Emiland Gauthey

Born in Châlon-sur-saône, the December 3rd 1732. His/her father, Pierre, exerted medicine there and his/her mother, Louise Lafouge, were the girl of a receiver of the attic with salt of Toulon-on-Arroux. After started studies with Chalon-sur-Saône, to the college of the Jesuits, his family sent it to Versailles, in an uncle who taught mathematics. Later, it entered the Parisian workshop of an architect of reputation, Gabriel Dumont, then with the school of the Bridge-and-Roadways which it left graduate in 1758. It obtains at once a post of assistant engineer in Châlon-sur-saône. It however had to wait twenty-four years before being finally appointed chief engineer at the 50 years age. The consecutive upheavals of the company to the French revolution brought it to high responsibilities: Principal inspector in 1792, member of the General advice of the Bridge-and-Roadways in 1801 and vice-president of this same Council in 1805. Already decorated with the Legion of honor, it was going to be promoted with the rank of Commander when it died abruptly, in Paris, the July 14th 1806. He was the originator many works in Saône-et-Loire of which the bridge on Arroux de Gueugnon.

Pierre-Joseph Campionnet

Born with Perrouse (Haute-Saône) in 1808, the last wire of a family of small vine grower-farmers. It began as clerk with Besancon, then with Dôle. Then it was sent to the factory of Verdrat with Martigny-the-Count to ensure the service of the foundry. The company being in bankruptcy, Pierre-Joseph Campionnet was with unemployment. Of a nature undertaking, it founded its own company in 1840 and took again the exploitation of the factory of Verdrat. In 1845, the company repurchased the factory of Gueugnon. Campionnet and its family settled in Gueugnon in 1849. It will be named General adviser of Gueugnon in 1848, it is re-elected until in 1874, adviser of district of 1841 to 1848, it became mayor of Gueugnon of July 1852 to 1876. It will be able to then make build the first town hall of Gueugnon (1859), the new church (1870), to install the first elementary schools, to take part in the first discussions concerning the railway of the valley of Arroux, to make carry out the navigable drain (1874). It will modify the town planning of the city while making build many residences for its workmen: Gachères, the street of Villeneuve (left side only), the street St-Pierre. He was proclaimed Chevalier of the Legion of Honor in 1868. Pierre Joseph Campionnet dies in Gueugnon on February 26th, 1888. June 29th, 1890, the company and the factory paid to him a posthumous homage by inaugurating its bust to the entry of the forging mills.

Louis-François Campionnet

Born with the Verdrat, on the commune of Martigny-the-Count, in 1842, wire of Pierre-Joseph Campionnet, married Antoinette de Riberolles in 1875. Graduate engineer, it took part in the operation of the factory as of 1866. He will become the only manager with dead of his father in 1888. He was mayor of 1878 with 1913. Under its direction, the factory increased its production further. More concerned about the latter than of these employees, he did not see coming the large one burdens with June 1899 which led it by a decree of the prefecture to suspend its functions of mayor for one month in October 1899. Louis-François Campionnet dies in 1913.

Jean Laville

Jean Laville was born with Toulon-on-Arroux in 1880, of a family of stone masons. Become carpenter, it settled in Gueugnon. Its marriage with Marcelle Jondot will give him two girls: Alice born in 1909 and Louise born in 1911 (dead at the 20 years age). As of the 19 years age, with the experiment of the great strikes of 1899 with 1901 of the area, the young man becomes aware depth of the injustices but also the force of the proletarians when they are linked and are organized to act together. Gained by the socialist ideas, it exalte in contact with personalities such Jean Bouveri, Meulie, Jean-Baptiste Dumay (hero of the " Commune" from Creusot), Georges Nouelle, Théo Bretin or Merzet. Jean Laville made all the war of 1914 - 1918 as a warrant officer. Seriously wounded with the jaw, it was titular Military Cross, Military decoration and Légion of honor. Hell of the trenches, it will keep all its life during the hatred of the war and will become combatant convinced of peace (it adhered to the ARAC, Republican Association War veterans, founded by Henri Barbusse and Paul Valiant-Dressmaker). Returned of the face, it resumed its work with the Forging mills of Gueugnon, but it was laid off by Pierre Campionnet, Master of the Forging mills and mayor of Gueugnon, when it carried out a strike with the trade union which it had created. It launches out then in the battles of the municipal elections of 1919 when, with surprised of all, its list crushes that united of Mr. Campionnet and Mr. the count de Chargères after having been with the businesses of the city and the canton during nearly 70 years. Its political career starts then. With Jean Bouveri, mayor of Montceau-the-Mines, and Russet-red, a miner mayor of Epinac, Jean Laville is one of the rare elected officials of this time which is of working origin. In 1919 always, it is elected General adviser canton. There will remain Maire of Gueugnon and General adviser of the canton until his death in 1938. In 1928, having adhered to Socialist party SFIO, he will be the candidate of the party for the second district of Charolais. After a baited electoral campaign, he will be elected appointed vis-a-vis Mr. Berthelot, radical candidate socialist, and will also remain it until dead (re-elected in 1932 vis-a-vis Mr. Morin and Mr. Waldeck Rochet, and in 1936 vis-a-vis Jacques Meniaud). It made many improvements for the wellbeing of the inhabitants but will defend all his life the right of the workmen and a company righter. At the time of the electoral victory of the Popular front and the constitution of the government of Leon Blum in 1936, Jean Laville invited the workmen of the forging mills of Gueugnon to create a trade union CGT and the result was impressive since practically all the personnel syndicated, that is to say 1800 members. Jean Laville, mayor of Gueugnon, General adviser and deputy of the second district of Saône-et-Loire, died abruptly of an affection of the liver the August 24th 1938 in his residence at the 58 years age, at the top of his popularity. Already, during this time of dangers of wars in Europe, the population saw in the disappearance of one of the large defenders of the right, of justice and peace, a sign heralding painful tests to come. The burial of Jean Laville was celebrated the August 27th 1938 then a crowd upset of more than 8000 people followed the hearse, draped colors of the French nation, to the cemetery of Gueugnon. In homage to his action for the town of Gueugnon, the Municipal council will give his name at the stage which it had decided to build in 1935 (and which was built after the war). Its tomb and a stele with its effigy is always with the cemetery of Gueugnon.

Anne Martin

Born in 1887 with Bourbon-Lancy, Anne Duchassin marries Martin known as " the Martin" mother; , arrived at Gueugnon in 1909 and there Maria in 1911. She was midwife and carried out during all her career 4053 childbirth that it is with the moonlight, in the light of the candles or of an oil lamp. Of a competence, a devotion and a not very banal outspokenness, it had the quasi-unanimous confidence of the gueugnonnaises families. Thus it became the first woman municipal adviser in Gueugnon. Its exceptional and advised personality was worth to him a massive vote with each municipal elections of 1945 with 1971. She missed only two meetings of the Town council in 26 years of seat due professional. She was in the municipal team with the head of the commission of the Social Affairs and those of the Schools. In 1961, Anne Martin accepted the Cross of Knight of the social Merit. It left the Municipal council at the 84 years age and died 3 years later in 1974.

Felix Aulois

Born the June 12th 1893 with Lyon, Felix Aulois was lawyer at the Court of Appeal of Paris, taking care of the interests of the Campionnet families and Wendel. Then it launched out in the businesses, with the head of a company of construction of telephones. In 1932, it had been elected appointed of Castle-Chinon in the Nievre. This combatant of the two wars, wounded with the face during the First World War, mobilized in 1940, made captive and amputee of an arm, then released under National hero, captain of tanks of the framework of reserve, was named Commandeur of the Legion of honor. Republican of left, it had joined himself the policy of Pétain. In 1942, Felix Aulois was delegated near the charged commission of the committal for trial of the alleged persons in charge of the war (lawsuit of Rion). But as from July 1943, Felix Aulois started to take his distances with regard to the political line followed by Pierre Laval, to which it reproached for being subjected to the influences of the revolutionary elements and collaborationnists. In January 1944, the whole of the Municipal council, mayor at the head, resigns, which challenges the prefect who requisitions all the team in place. The arrest of many patriots, of which that of Charlotte Bailly, head clerk to the town hall, involves the imprisonment of the mayor of Gueugnon. It was transferred to Châlon-sur-saône, tortured then off-set with the camp of Neuengamme, with several Gueugnonnais. In spite of his mutilation, Felix Aulois will survive these tests and will return very weakened.

Gabriel Knight

Born in Lyon in 1895 and died in Cannes in 1969, this famous writer, classified as humorist in the French Letters, is known for its autobiographical account " Peur" but especially for its village chronicle " Clochemerle". If the action of this last, in the village of Clochemerle-in-Beaujolais wine, is not geographically well allotted, the draft of the characters belongs well to Gueugnon where Gabriel Chevallier, teenager, came often on vacation in his/her grandmother and her great-aunt. The house of the Chevallier family always visible although is completely restored.

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