Lesterny

Lesterny (in Walloon Lesterni ) is a section of the common Belgian of Nassogne located in Walloon region in the Province of Luxembourg.

It was a commune with whole share before the fusion of the communes of 1977.

Commune of the department of Sambre-and-Meuse under the French mode, Lesterny amalgamates with Forrières in 1823, to become again an autonomous commune on August 26th, 1907 in the province of Luxembourg.

Etymology

The name of Lesterny finds its origin in the name Lesternivis which was transformed into Lesterneias . However it is known that in Celtic language ster or staer means river and that the radical ny rises as for him from niacum which means remains . It is thus extremely probable that Lesterny wants to say dwelling at the edge of the brook - or of the river .

The current site of the village (in Ardenne, unlike the villages close to Forrières or Wavreille which is in Famenne) is however not at the edge of the river nearest, the Lhomme .

De Lesterny with the Lhomme , the uneven one is about 50 meters on a distance from approximately 1 kilometer. It was a long time the cause of a problem of water supply of this small primarily rural village community, formerly equipped with an abundant livestock (see: the typical example of a rural village which dies , below).

At most there it has a small brook which takes its source in the south-west of Lesterny and is thrown in the Lhomme near the old clog factory of Forrière: the laughed of V' nor . But it is difficult to imagine that this lower-case Ru can be at the origin of the Lesterny toponym.

From there, the idea that this etymology could indicate an old site of the village of Lesterny in edge of Lhomme : an abandoned site after the great plague of 1636 heavily struck the population of the village.

History

Genesis

Without turning over until the old mode, it should be recalled that at the end of the XVIIIe century already, under the French mode (1795-1815), the village of Lesterny had received the statute of commune and then formed part for this reason of the canton of Nassogne in the department of Sambre-and-Meuse of the French Republic . In continuation of the annexation of the Austrian Netherlands by France, on October 31st, 1795, and pursuant to the decree of the committee of public hello of the 14 fructidor year III (August 31st, 1795), Lesterny was initially a section canton of Nassogne in the department of Sambre-and-Meuse - as also were it then, inter alia, Embly (thus spelled at the time), Forrière-Our-Lady, Forrière-Saint-Martin, Masbourg or Nassogne, but also Bure, Grupont and Awenne (see the Luxembourg Communes , volume XXI of Annals of the archaeological Institute of Luxembourg, Emile Tandel, Arlon, volume I, 1889, p. 137, in its republication by the Credit Communal, Brussels, 1980). The Constitution of the 8 fructidor year III (August 22nd, 1795), indeed, made canton , not of the common , the basic political community. It is the Constitution of the 22 frimaire year VIII (December 13rd, 1799) which, while devoting the consulate to the top of the republic, conferred a constitutional existence on the communes ( Article 1st. - The French Republic is one and indivisible. Its European territory is distributed in communal departments and districts. ).

Lesterny still kept this communal statute during eight years under the Dutch mode (1815-1830), being always a common canton of Nassogne , but this time in the province of Liege of the Kingdom of the Netherlands . Pursuant to the treated of Vienna of 1815 which dismembered the French Empire, this new kingdom joined together the Belgian provinces and the Dutch provinces under the sceptre of William of Orange. This situation was not modified in 1818, during the fastening of Lesterny to the Grand-Duché of Luxembourg (by a royal decree of August 13rd, 1818, indicates Emile Tandel, COp cit. , volume I, 1889, p. 143). This one gathered the Duché of Luxembourg and part of the Duché of Bubble in a new State. Under the terms of the treated of Vienna , the crown of large-duke of Luxembourg had also been conferred on William of Orange, in addition king of the Netherlands . But this one rather regarded its Grand-Duché of Luxembourg as left eighteenth province of its kingdom that like a new State (v., on this subject, inter alia, Paul Weber, Histoire of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , Advertizing agency, Brussels, 1957, p. 66; in its political History of Belgium , 4th edition, C.R.I.S.P., Brussels, 2000, p. 74, Xavier Mabille written, in the same direction: “ the Congress of Vienna raised the old duchy of Luxembourg to the row of Grand Duchy, which formed then, under the sovereignty of the king of the Netherlands named large-duke of Luxembourg, one of the States of the Germanic Confederation. '' But the king of the Netherlands decided, by a unilateral act, to compare Luxembourg to the Belgian provinces of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and to extend authority to it the fundamental law of 1815. ”).

In 1823, on the other hand, always under the Dutch mode, Lesterny its statute of common lost to become, at the sides of Forrière-Our-Lady and Forrière-Saint-Martin, one of the sections of the common of Forrières , in the district (new denomination of the district) of Walk , within the Grand-Duché of Luxembourg . Emile Tandel on this subject quotes the district of the districts of the Grand Duchy and common composing each district , established by a royal decree of January 2nd, 1823, based on the article 1st of the payment of administration for the dish-country of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg of June 12th, 1822 ( COp cit. , volume I, 1889, p. 159). For its part, Paul Cugnon ( a corner of Luxembourg, Forrières - Tourism, history, archeology, folklore , the permanent Secretariat, Brussels, 1947, p. 43) mentions on this subject an ordinance of the Governor of the Grand-Duché of Luxembourg of September 19th, 1823. Fact to note: this district of the districts of the Grand Duchy and common composing each district , such as reproduced Emile Tandel ( COp cit. , volume I, 1889, p. 161), indicates a fourth sect Insérez the text to put in italic into the place of this one ion for the common of Forrières , namely Lamsoul. But in the volume V of his quoted work, going back to 1892, the same author indicates like sections of the common of Forrières only Forrière-Our-Lady, Forrière-Saint-Martin and Lesterny ( COp cit. , p. 589). Paul Cugnon makes in the same way ( COp cit. , p. 43). It is that after this initial fastening with Forrières, the section of Lamsoul (a farm, in fact) was integrated in the common of Jemelle ( district of Rochefort ).

The revolution of 1830 and the birth of the Kingdom of Belgium on the base of the promulgated constitution on February 7th, 1831, as well as the separation of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Kingdom of Belgium under the terms of the treaty of London of April 19th, 1839, left the village of Lesterny in its position of section of the common of Forrières , from now on common of the canton of Nassogne in the district of Walk of the province of Luxembourg .

However, a request would have been signed as of on December 20th, 1830 by 26 inhabitants of the village to ask for the separation of Lesterny of with Forrières, with the reasons that:

Lesterny was distant from ¾ of mile of Forrières (the mile is an old route measurement, equivalent to approximately 4 kilometers),

the interests of Lesterny were entirely separated from those of Forrières and part of the wood of Lesterny was undivided with Awenne which required division of it (today still, in the south-east of the village of Awenne, right in the direction of Saint-Hubert, a wood of Lesterny is next to a wood of Awenne ),

Lesterny had a vicar and anything commun run with Forrières for the religious service (at that time, the village of Lesterny belonged to the parish of Masbourg).

By deliberation of November 10th, 1832, the town council of Forrières would have granted separation thus requested. In vain.

December 21st, 1858, 49 inhabitants of Lesterny would have signed a new request in this direction. Undoubtedly it at the origin of the deposit to the provincial council was, on July 5th, 1859, of a request of the section of Lesterny claiming its separation of with Forrières - request approved by this council the next on July 9th. Still in vain.

January 30th, 1868, a new action of separation would have been brought. Always in vain: it would have been rejected on April 14th, 1869.

Lastly, after having been during close to septante-sept years, to the Kingdom of Belgium, a section of the common of Forrières , “ the hamlet of Lesterny was seconded from the commune of Forrières and was set up in commune distinct by the law of August 26th, 1907 ” (Paul Cugnon, COp cit. , p. 15). In the Future of Luxembourg of September 3rd, 1965, p. 6, under the title Small commune of one hundred eighty inhabitants, Lesterny defends its grounds, its memories and its future , André Collard wrote on this subject: “ the Lesterny village depended formerly on the commune of Forrières. But it was a missed marriage. Lesterny brought a solid dowry consisted rather vast forests and it was Forrières, appears it, which benefitted from it. One spoke about divorce during many years then came tenderness from a reconciliation. But the honeymoon was not to last. In 1907, the village of Lesterny obtained separation and became a commune. ”. According to the terms used in his report/ratio by the permanent deputy in charge of the investigation preliminary to separation, it was about “ a separation by mutual assent which one cannot that to approve for largest many two parts in question” (parliamentary documents, Chambre, n°137, meeting of May 15th, 1907, p. 2).

Promulgated by the King Léopold II on August 26th, 1907, this law carrying erection of the commune of Lesterny (province of Luxembourg) appeared with the official journal on Saturday, September 7, 1907 ( Belgian Moniteur , September 7th, 1907, p. 4694 and 4695). The references of parliamentary works are the following ones: Session 1906-1907 - Room of the representatives, meetings of March 21st, 1907 (n° 118, bill and exposed reasons), of May 15th, 1907 (n° 137, report/ratio) and of May 29th, 1907 (vote) - Senate, meetings of July 26th, 1907 (n° 27, report/ratio) and of July 30th, 1907 (vote). The content of the law was exposed in the Regional Chronique of the Future of Luxembourg , September 11th, 1907, p. 3. This law counted three articles. Under the terms of the first, “ the section of Lesterny is separated from the commune of Forrières, province of Luxembourg, and is set up in commune ”, the “ separative limit ” of the two communes being fixed such as it was indicated in a plan annexed to the law. The second article laid out that “ the number of members of the town council is fixed at seven for Lesterny and is reduced from nine to seven for Forrières ”, in accordance with what stipulated the communal law of March 30th, 1836 for the communes of less than thousand inhabitants. The third and last article regulated the details of implementation of this reduction of the number of communal advisers with Forrières.

The explanatory memorandum of the bill (Room, n° 118, March 21st, 1907) had in particular indicated what follows: By request of May 9th, 1904, a great number of inhabitants of the hamlet of Lesterny requested the dismemberment of the commune of Forrières and the erection of this hamlet in distinct commune. The petitioners base their request on the following reasons:

# Forrières and Lesterny has absolutely distinct interests. # the commune to be created has a school, a presbytery, a church and a communal room. The local roadway system is in good state. There exists in Lesterny a water supply. # Lesterny has resources independent of those of Forrières, as well as communal wood and grounds. the town council was declared favorable, unanimously, with this dismemberment rightly especially of the difference in interests which exists between the two sections. Forrières is a primarily industrial population, while Lesterny is a farming population. .

The Commission Report of the Interior of the Room (Room, n° 157, May 15th, 1907) added the following explanations: the current territory of the commune of Forrières is divided into two sections, whose character, needs and economic interests are quite distinct and sometimes contradictory. The section of Forrières, centers agglomerated of the commune-mother, is in the vicinity of careers and the line of the railroad, and near the important workshops of the State with Jemelle (Note of the author: They were the workshops of the railroads, still concerning, at that time, of an central administration of the State, the Railway administration, the National company of the Belgian Railroads (S.N.C.B.) having to be created only one score of years later, by a law of July 23rd, 1926.). The industrial spirit appears there in a very particular way and it offers the dwelling to a many working population. The inhabitants of the section of Lesterny, distant from two kilometers and half, provide, on the contrary, a purely agricultural population. This difference in situation involves, consequently, the need for a particular and special management to each section: Forrières must make carry out important work, such as water supply, cemetery, roadway system, and can be brought to seek new resources, of which it would be not very equitable to place the burden on the part of the commune which, far away from the center, would not be brought to profit from it directly. It would be to break the equality which communal administrators of Forrières - L' administrative survey made a point to them of returning homage on this matter endeavoured to maintain, since 1830, between all the sections of the commune. Lesterny has as of now a beautiful church decorated and furnished with taste, a presbytery in an excellent state of maintenance, a school roomy and equipped with a furniture and collections which make honor with the communal administrators. She enjoys a water supply installed under very favorable conditions. The cemetery is established under good conditions, a little apart from the agglomeration. The local roadway system is well established, and of the well maintained roads connect the future commune towards Masbourg, Wavreille, Grupont and Bure. The budget of the commune, which will have a population of approximately 240 inhabitants and a territory of 583 hectares, could be established on strong foundations; this one enjoys resources coming in particular from the hiring from hunting and the sale from ordinary wood-cuttings. .

Lastly, the Commission Report of the Interior of the Senate (Senate, n° 77, July 26th, 1907) still brought the precise details hereafter: the commune of Forrières, close to Jemelle, is composed of two quite distinct sections: that of Forrières, made up of the sections has and B of the land register; that of Lesterny, formed of the section C. the section of Forrières, which borders Jemelle and is crossed in its center more inhabited by the railroad, is involved in the industrial movement of the latter. The hamlet of Lesterny, whose most brought closer dwellings are with two kilometers and half of this center, preserved in its integrity its agricultural character. It is recognized by all the administrative documents that until now the municipal authorities were correct and equitable with regard to the two sections of the commune, but that Forrières is in the very nearest need to carry out relatively expensive work interesting only this section and without interest for that of Lesterny. The inhabitants of Lesterny have unanimously, by petition of May 9th, 1904, asked for the erection of their section in distinct commune. By petition of the next June 5th, 144 inhabitants of the section of Forrières requested the separation of the two sections, which they declare being in the interest of all. The two petitions subjected at the same time to the opinion of the town council of Forrières, this one, unanimously, requests the permanent delegation to accommodate them and notes at the same time as the section of Forrières needs to establish of new loads and Lesterny not. The report/ratio of the police chief of district notes, that at a rate of the good administration of the commune, none of the two sections has repetition to exert one against the other; that Lesterny, whose budget was almost completely separated from that of Forrières, has all the buildings and the institutions necessary to the separate life. The College échevinal of Forrières, replying to a letter of Mr. Governor, recognizes that Lesterny largely has the personnel necessary to the formation of good municipal authorities, the financial resources wanted and that the ways are in good state. The police chief of district confirms of all points these observations and joint in support of his report/ratio a draft budget for Lesterny. He concludes by saying that is to make wise work to separate the two sections, the very nearest requirements of the future of Forrières which can bring serious difficulties. .

The first elections for the commune of Lesterny were to take place within the framework of the communal elections fixed at the Sunday, October 20, 1907. But in Lesterny there were only seven candidates for the seven seats of communal advisers. They thus were proclaimed at the beginning of October elected without fight (v., on this subject, the Regional Chronique of the Future of Luxembourg , October 9th, 1907, p. 3) and, once indicated the two aldermen and the burgomaster, they could very quickly exert their functions: a communal secretary, a communal receiver, a roadmender and a rural policeman, as well as the members of the welfare office, would have been named as of on Thursday, December 5, 1907.

During nearly seventy years, the village of Lesterny found the statute of then common , with a communal autonomy much more important than that which it had been able to know in the French Republic then in the Kingdom of the Netherlands , both fort centralized compared to the Kingdom of Belgium .

But Lesterny was one second time private of its communal autonomy during its integration in the common news of Nassogne on January 1st, 1977, pursuant to the law of the bearing July 23rd, 1971 fusion of the communes and modification of their limits . The regional press brought back in the following terms the last meeting of the town council of the commune of Lesterny at the end of 1976: Friday, the Town council met for the last time. The vote of the budget was with the day order. For the circumstance, many friends and several children who attended for the first time a Town council had made a point of living one evening historical! After 70 years of existence, the walls of this communal small house did not vibrate any more with the voices of those which agreed to take care of the interests of good people of Lesterny. The participants in the vote moderately hid their agitation and the budget was voted unanimously. Homage was paid to the dynamics equips which managed the commune well. It encloses the year by leaving an appreciable profit. It was allocated then to the senior of the aldermen, Mr. Zénon Masson, the honor of speaking in the name of S.M. the King. Of a voice it engraves lute the royal message with the address of Mr. Jules Hérin, burgomaster. It was cordial and vibrating thank you for 30 years for mandate including 18 of mayorat, devoted to the service of the fatherland and Lesterny in particular. As a sign of this homage, Mr. Masson pinned the civic medal of first class. Turning then to Marcel Nicolay, alderman, Mr. Masson, in the name of the King, congratulated this generous man and also the civic medal of first class gave to him. The other members of the Town council, Misters Jacques Andre, Paul Mareschal, Louis Modave (Rene Hody retained by a painful disease was of heart with its colleagues) and the communal secretary, Omer Mareschal, united at the assembly for ovationner both decorated. Mr. Jules Hérin, elected by a very great majority of the village, will represent Lesterny within the new Town council of Nassogne. .

A quarter century later, however, it is any more no inhabitant of the section of Lesterny among the fifteen communal advisers of Nassogne.

Communal agents and civils servant

In accordance with what the communal law stipulated of March 30th, 1836 for the communes of less than thousand inhabitants, the common of Lesterny had a town council of seven members and a college of the burgomaster and aldermen made up of the burgomaster, named by the King, and of two aldermen, elected by the town council in his center.

The first elections for the commune of Lesterny were to take place within the framework of the communal elections of October 20th, 1907. The communal advisers were then elected for eight years, but they were divided into two series leaving every four years alternatively. The first series included/understood the small half of the council, the second series, the great half. Every four years, there was election for the advisers, either of the first, or of the second series. The current system of integral renewal of the town councils every six years - advisers, aldermen and burgomaster exerting a whole a six years mandate is in force only since the elections of 1921.

There were in Lesterny only seven candidates for the seven seats of communal advisers to provide. Thus, as of the first days of October 1907, were proclaimed “elected without fight” (see, on this subject, the Regional Chronique of Future of Luxembourg , October 9th, 1907, p. 3):

for a eight years mandate (“ series leaving in 1916 ”): Joseph Hérin (°1860- † 1940), farmer, Joseph Rémience (°ca 1859- † 1934), farmer, and Edouard Warrant (°1848- † 1932), farmer,
for a four years mandate (“ series leaving in 1912 ”): Jean-Baptiste Hérin (°1879- † 1943), farmer, Jules Mareschal (°1887- † 1970), farmer, Sinned Jean (°1868- †?), shepherd, and Arthur Reumont (°1877- † 1958), farmer.

All the seven have still today their burial with the cemetery of the village (with, for Joseph Hérin , mention of its quality of first burgomaster of Lesterny ).

Joseph Hérin was named burgomaster, Jean-Baptiste Hérin and Joseph Rémience elected aldermen. Since 1908 however, Jean-Baptiste Hérin was replaced in this function by Edouard Warrant . In its functions of burgomaster, Joseph Hérin was indicated by its patronym followed of that of his wife - J. Hérin Mareschal - and signed remainder the acts of its office Jh Hérin Mareschal .

These bodies of the common of Lesterny performed their functions promptly. December 5th, 1907 were named a communal secretary ( Désiré Evrard ), a communal receiver ( Nestor Hody ), a roadmender ( Constant Warrant ) and a rural policeman ( Auguste Ligot ). The same day, the town council appointed also the members of the welfare office , namely, under the presidency of the abbot Hyppolite Fairon then cleaned with Lesterny, the burgomaster Joseph Hérin and the three advisers communal Jules Mareschal , Arthur Reumont and Edouard Warrant .

During some seventy years of existence of the commune of Lesterny, the holders of the principal political offices or administrative were the following (in the chronological order):

Burgomasters

Joseph Hérin (°1860- † 1940), burgomaster of November 1907 at the beginning of 1932,
Camille Coulon (°1888- † 1976), burgomaster making function at the beginning of 1932,
Arthur Reumont (°1877- † 1958), burgomaster of March 1st, 1932 in spring 1941,
Camille Hérin (°1891- † 1958), burgomaster f.f. of spring 1941 in July 1944,
Camille Coulon (°1888- † 1976), burgomaster f.f. from July in September 1944,
Arthur Reumont (°1877- † 1958), burgomaster of September 1944 to December 31st, 1946,
Célestin Georges (°1900- †? ), burgomaster from January 1st, 1947 to December 31st, 1958,
Jules Hérin (°1920), burgomaster from January 1st, 1959 to December 31st, 1976.

Aldermen

Jean-Baptiste Hérin (°1879- † 1943), of November 1907 to 1908,
Joseph Remience (°ca 1859- † 1934), of November 1907 to 1924,
Edouard Warrant (1848-1932), of 1908 to 1926,
Arthur Reumont (°1877- † 1958), of 1925 to 1927,
Camille Coulon (°1888- † 1976), of January 1st, 1928 to 1932,
Jules Mareschal (°1887- † 1970), of January 1st, 1928 to 1932,
Aime Jacques (°1883- † 1941), of 1932 with past 1939,
Camille Hérin (°1891- † 1958), of 1932 to 1944,
Camille Coulon (°1888- † 1976), of past 1939 to 1946 (?),
Jean Laffineur (°1910- † 1992), from January 1st, 1947 to December 31st, 1958,
Jules Hérin (°1920), from January 1st, 1947 to December 31st, 1952,
Emile Baijot (°1894- † 1981), from January 1st, 1953 to December 31st, 1958,
Fernand Borcy (°1901- † Ca 1970), of January 1st, 1959 to 1970,
Emile Duterme (°1908- † 1967), of January 1st, 1959 to its death in 1967,
Zénon Masson (°1907- † 1992), of 1967 with December 31st, 1976,
Marcel Nicolay (°1919- † 1996), of January 1st, 1971 with December 31st, 1976.

Communal secretaries

Desired Evrard (°1866- † 1940), of December 5th, 1907 to 1938,
Charles Hérin (°1914- † 1976), of July 6th, 1939 to its death on September 28th, 1976.

Note: In 1938-1939, to the entry according to Charles Hérin , Jean Laffineur (°1910- † 1992) was temporarily communal secretary making function . Leon " Henri" Charon (°1905- † 1987), communal teacher with Lesterny of 1925 to 1961, was briefly communal secretary f.f. when Charles Hérin was mobilized in 1939 (assigned with the 2nd regiment of of the Ardennes Hunters like soldier militiaman of the class 1933, Charles Hérin joined its company with Libramont on August 26th, 1939, then was placed on unlimited leave on October 19th, 1939). Omer Mareschal (°1940), then secretary of the commission of public assistance of Lesterny (whose Guy Thomas was the president), was in charge of the functions of communal secretary after the death of Charles Hérin , until the end of the year 1976.

Joseph Hérin (°1860- † 1940), farmer and husband of Marie Mareschal (°1863- † 1945), was thus the first burgomaster of Lesterny. It remained it during a quarter century, of 1907 to 1932 (the administrative Annuaire of the province of Luxembourg mentions however in 1928 and 1929, as burgomaster, A. Hérin and not J. Hérin-Mareschal ). At the conclusion of the elections of April 24th, 1921, Joseph Rémience and Edouard Warrant remained aldermen ( administrative Almanach of the province of Luxembourg , 1922), while were communal advisers in particular Alphonse Hérin and Jules Mareschal . For these elections, there had been in Lesterny a “ complete listing, without political color ” and “ an opponent… for the form, café owner of its trade ” ( Future of Luxembourg , April 18th, 1921, p. 2). Elected officials for a six years mandate, the advisers were to leave load on January 1st, 1927, the election of their substitutes having to take place third Sunday of October 1926 (see Future of Luxembourg , April 28th, 1921, p. 4).

Joseph Hérin resigned of his mandate in 1932. Until the nomination of a new burgomaster in April 1932, the function of burgomaster then was temporarily exerted by the first alderman Camille Coulon (°1888- † 1976), driver of engine, native of Lesterny and husband of Mathilde Damilot (°1886- †?).

Arthur Reumont (°1877- † 1958), farmer, native of Lesterny and widower recently of Julie Motkin (°1885- † 1928), took in April 1932 the succession of Joseph Hérin in the function of burgomaster. The same year, Aime Jacques and Camille Hérin replaced as aldermen Camille Coulon and Jules Mareschal ( administrative Annuaire of the province of Luxembourg , 1932 and 1933). Arthur Reumont remained burgomaster until the years of war, with Aimé Jacques and Camille Hérin as aldermen. But because of the age limit 60 years fixed in March 1941 by the German occupying authorities (ordinance of March 7th, 1941 against the “ ageing of the executives ”, aiming at the communal and provincial agents as well as the senior officials), it was deprived by those of its mandate and Camille Hérin , then first alderman, became automatically burgomaster f.f.

In Rèscomte avou Jules and Denise Hérin di Lesterny , by Joseph Bily, in What of nine? , Arts center of the entity of Nassogne, n° 110, July-August 2004, p. 10-11, Jules Hérin , wire of Camille, reports on this subject what follows: “ Year 40, it has stî the guinre. Nosse father, K' èstot èchvin has divnu mayeûr: German wastant the mayeûr di pus 60 year old. It could côzu doblè the hectares as of plans of culture of Lesterny. " Lesterny avot James U ostant of hèctâres. Di it way, our djon.nes omes plint mostrè K' it avint of the ovradje enough voci and I èstint nin rèkizissionès Po Z-ale travayè year Germany. " Early that bin sure avou the assistance C sècrètêre local C CNAA (National Corporation of the Food and Agriculture). ”.

Camille Hérin (°1891- † 1966), native farmer of Lesterny and husband of Jeanne Fox (°1891- † 1944), was the son of Joseph Hérin .

“ In July 1944 - brings back André Collard (see Future of Luxembourg , September 3rd, 1965, p. 6) - the men of the maquis blew up a bridge on line 162 between Lesterny and Forrières. The Germans were annoyed and required of the burgomaster the list of the valid men of the commune. Mr. Camille Hérin says not and was obstinated in his refusal. He was taken along by the Germans with Mr. Amand Maréchal, communal receiver, and the teacher Mr. Leon Charon. This last was released in Arlon, but the two others were sent in Germany in a concentration camp and there remained nine months. ”.

These facts were devoted, with regard to Camille Hérin , by the civic medal of 1st class 1940-1945 which was decreed to him in 1957 “ in reward of courage, of the abnegation and of the patriotism of which it showed during the events war ”, after the cross of the political prisoner 1940-1945 (with the overloaded ribbon of two stars) conferred in 1952.

Because of the arrest of Camille Hérin , Camille Coulon , then second alderman (it had to replace subsequently Aimé Jacques in this function to 1939), briefly became again burgomaster f.f. But the retirement of the troops of occupation at the end of the summer 1944 made null and void the ordinance in relation to the age limit and Arthur Reumont could take again the performance of its duties. During the battles of the Ardennes of the winter 1944-1945, when the German troops re-occupied the village of Lesterny, Arthur Reumont was thus again in function as burgomaster (see the battle of the Ardennes around Rochefort , Jean-Michel Delvaux, 2004, p. 82). In all, Arthur Reumont was communal agent of Lesterny during thirty-nine years.

At the conclusion of the communal elections of November 24th, 1946, were elected communal advisers, in the alphabetical order, Emile Baijot , Fernand Borcy , Célestin Georges , Jules Hérin , Jean Laffineur , Marcel Nicolay and André Ponsard (see the Future of Luxembourg , October 13rd, 1952, p. 2: Of the seven seats of advisers, four returned to the P.S.C and 3 to the Trust ). Jean Laffineur and Jules Hérin was elected aldermen ( administrative Annuaire of the province of Luxembourg , 1947). Célestin Georges was named burgomaster in January 1947.

Célestin Georges (°1900- †?), native of Lesterny and husband of Louise Damilot (°1894- †?), lived the small house located at the end of the high part of old the street of Masbourg , on the left, right before the descent towards Lhomme (with the current 45 rue du Point d'Arrêt number). Just as its neighbor Rene Mareschal (°1905- † Ca 1977), native him of Ramet close to Liege and which exerted the trade of glass-blower, Célestin Georges worked with the Cristallerie of the Holy Valley Lambert . To two, they left the village and went to Liege for the week. Once pensioned, one, Célestin Georges say gave knacks to the farmers, made repairs at the houses, etc On the list of the voters to the legislative Rooms, provincial Conseils and with the valid Council communal from May 1st, 1956 to April 30th, 1958 , Célestin Georges and Rene Mareschal nevertheless are registered with for profession “ farmer ”. ( Rene Mareschal had married Maria Damilot (°1893- †?), sister of Louise, the wife of Célestin Georges ; in addition, Camille Coulon , already quoted as alderman, had him for wife Mathilde Damilot (°1886- †?), sister of Louise and Maria. These three sisters were native of Lavaux-Holy-Anne.)

The mandate of burgomaster of Célestin Georges was renewed one second time, following the elections of October 12th, 1952. The “ list Célestin Georges ” made, list P.S.C. - obtained 101 votes and six elected officials, while a “ list 2, with socialist tendency ”, obtained an elected official ( Future of Luxembourg , October 13rd, 1952, p. 2). Célestin Georges was named burgomaster by a royal decree of February 10th, 1953, published in the Belgian Moniteur on February 13rd ( Future of Luxembourg , February 13rd, 1953, p. 3). The aldermen were this time Emile Baijot and Jean Laffineur ( administrative Annuaire of the province of Luxembourg , 1953), the other members of the town council being, in the alphabetical order, Fernand Borcy , Jules Hérin , Marcel Nicolay and Eugene Rob .

At the time of the communal elections of 1958, were elected communal advisers, in the alphabetical order, Emile Baijot , Fernand Borcy , Jules Hérin , Rene Hody , Zénon Masson (born on December 16th, 1907, Zénon Masson “ was the first with being registered on the registers of the new Municipal authorities ” of Lesterny, brings back André Collard, COp cit. ), Marcel Nicolay and Eugene Rob . Fernand Borcy and Emile Duterme was elected aldermen. Jules Hérin (°1920), farmer and husband of Denise Detournay (°1919), but also wire of Camille Hérin and grandson of Joseph Hérin , was named burgomaster (“ By royal decree of January 31st, 1959, published with the “Monitor” of February 8th, are named burgomaster: District of Walk-in-Famenne: … Lesterny, Mr. Hérin J.… ”, in Nominations of burgomasters , Future of Luxembourg , Tuesday, February 9, 1959, p. 3).

Jules Hérin remained burgomaster during three successive mandates, until December 31st, 1976. He was thus the last burgomaster of the common of Lesterny . The honorary title of its functions of burgomaster of old the common of Lesterny was granted to him in the year 2000, in consideration owing to the fact that he exerted these functions without interruption from February 11th, 1959 to December 31st, 1976. These functions had already been worth with Jules Hérin , since 1964, the gold palms about the Crown and, in June 1976, the civic medal of 1st class.

The town council resulting from the elections of 1964 was made up, in the alphabetical order, of Emile Baijot , Fernand Borcy , Emile Duterme , Jules Hérin , Zénon Masson , Marcel Nicolay and Hector Vierset . Fernand Borcy and Emile Duterme was maintained in their functions of aldermen (“ the installation of the new town councils ”, in the Future of Luxembourg , January 9th and 10th 1965, p. 4; ibid , February 26th, 1965, p. 3, for the nomination of the burgomaster, and the administrative Directory of the province of Luxembourg , 1968-1969). But Emile Duterme died in 1967. It was replaced by Zénon Masson . In addition, Hector Vierset could be replaced by Rene Hody .

At the time of the communal elections of 1970, the last of the common of Lesterny , were elected communal advisers, in the alphabetical order, Jacques André , Jules Hérin , Rene Hody , Jean Laffineur , Paul Mareschal , Zénon Masson and Marcel Nicolay . Zénon Masson and Marcel Nicolay was elected aldermen (each time at four votes against three for Jean Laffineur ), while Jules Hérin was named third once burgomaster. (See “ the installations of town councils - has LESTERNY, Mr. Jules Hérin begins its third Mandate mayoral ”, André Collard, the Future of Luxembourg , February 16th and 17th 1971, p. 5; ibid , January 12th, 1971, p. 3, for the nomination of the burgomaster). With semi-mandate, therefore at the end of 1973 or at the beginning of 1974, Jean Laffineur voluntarily yielded his seat of advising communal with Louis Modave . This is why one finds this one and not Jean Laffineur among the advisers who took part in the last meeting of the council of the common of Lesterny at the end of 1976 (see above).

For the communal elections of Lesterny, there were generally only two lists in competition. By exception, there were of them only one at the time of the first elections of 1907 and three at the time of these last elections of 1970.

Charles Hérin (°1914- † 1976), native farmer of Lesterny and husband of Yvonne Mareschal (°1924), wire of one of the first aldermen of the common of Lesterny , was during thirty-seven years, until its death on September 28th, 1976, the communal secretary of this commune. He was thus the last communal secretary, after having accompanied in his three successive mandates the last burgomaster Jules Hérin . Front, this essential function (“ the communal secretary is the first civil servant of the commune. It attends the meetings of the town council and the college of the burgomaster and aldermen. It is especially in charge of the drafting of the official reports and the transcription with all the deliberations and decisions. Especially in the small communes, it is the pivot of the local government. ”, in Mast, Alen & Dujardin, Precise of administrative law , Story-Scientia, 1989, p. 402) had been exerted by Désiré Evrard (°1866- † 1940) during nearly thirty and one years and, after the death of Charles Hérin , during the last weeks of the commune of Lesterny, it was it by Omer Mareschal (°1940) which was in addition secretary of the commission of public assistance of Lesterny. In the years 1970, the communal offices were opened at managed the three mornings per week. But many inhabitants of Lesterny were going rather to find the secretary communal at his place and thus apart from these days and opening hours. Its activities of farmer and communal secretary, were worth with Charles Hérin the title of Prize winner of work, in 1957 in the group Agriculture (class Managers) then in 1966 in communal the Secrétaires group. Its functions of communal secretary were worth still with Charles Hérin the civic medal of 1st class (1965), the money palms about the Crown (1966) and the medal commemorative of the reign of S.M. Albert 1st (1970). Charles Hérin was also guard private individual of hunting of the properties located on the territory of the communes of Lesterny, Wavreille and Bure pertaining to Maurice Despat of Namur, as from September 1938, of those of Célestin Georges of Lesterny, as from September 1946, and of those occupied by Joseph Borcy of Lesterny, as from September 1949. Moreover, having regularly followed theoretical and practical courses of civil protection, it was named in 1962 agent of the Body of civil protection.

Was the load of communal receiver ensured during nearly eighteen years by Nestor Hody (°1866- †?), husband of Maria Hérin (°1862- †?), then during some four years by some L. Hody ( administrative Directory of the province of Luxembourg ) and finally, of at the beginning of 1929 until its departure to the pension in 1972, is during 43 years, by Amand Mareschal (°1907- † 1975), husband of Marguerite Péché (°? - †?), the girl of the shepherd Sinned Jean (°1868- †?), one of the first communal advisers of the common of Lesterny , and its wife Sylvie Crucifix (°1873- †?). Since 1970-1971, Amand Mareschal was the last communal receiver of the district of Walk-in-Famenne. Its succession was ensured by the regional receiver G. Goffin.

Lastly, after having had as roadmender Constant Warrant (°? - †?) during nearly twenty-three years and like rural policeman Auguste Ligot (°? - †?) during about thirty years, the commune of Lesterny made cumulate these two functions, as from the Thirties, by Constant Andre (°1902- † 1968), native of Arville and husband of Helene Reumont (°1905- † 1988). This one assumed them until its retirement in 1967 - with reason of 3:00 ½ per day as roadmender and 1:00 ½ per day like rural policeman. Constant Andre , which was also farmer, was thus roadmender during thirty-six years and rural policeman during thirty and one years.

Considering that this expenditure had become excessive for small the common of Lesterny , the unanimous town council refused to name a successor with Constant Andre , in spite of pressing requests of the pastoral sergeant of the district of Walk-in-Famenne. Also the latter was opposed it resolutely so that it rural policeman of Masbourg, Lucien Pierre, exerts in more his functions in the district of the commune of Lesterny.

January 7th, 1971, under a title evoking this small commune “ where one employs neither rural policeman nor roadmender ” but where “ one treats to the luxury of a communal receiver ”, Rene Thill brought back these instructive remarks of the burgomaster of Lesterny:

“- Yes, it is an exceptional situation. We still have a communal receiver. But it is about an agent which approaches the end of a career. There remain to him fifteen months. On the other hand, we have neither roadmender, nor rural policeman! We carry out the contract labor. And they are people of the village who carry them out. We had a rural policeman which, in a few years, was just brought to write two official reports! Then, you understand that we can do without rural police force! By reaction, the police chief of district prohibited sergeant-pastoral from coming on our premises! It is the alderman who is porter with Lesterny and the statement of the water accounts is made by a pensioner (It was about Zénon Masson , which was one of the last aldermen of the commune of Lesterny, specifies today the former burgomaster Jules Hérin ). It is enough to be arranged, see you. And that turns well, on our premises! ”

Geography

An informed observer of the things of Famenne and Ardenne wrote lighting lines in connection with the site of the village of Lesterny ( the zone of virgation of Lesterny , Bruno Marée, in the Mail , November 22nd, 2001): the village of Lesterny occupies an astonishing geographical location. It blottit with the hollow of a kind of circus delimited in north, the east and the south, by a series of hills separated by the Brook from V' nor and the Moré Hole. These hills culminate between 300 and 360 meters of altitude, whereas the locality is located around 260 meters. To the west, on the other hand, the grounds extend, more or less flat, until Wavreille. This specific measure of the hills enclosing the village partially represents here the visible facies of the zone of virgation. We are in extreme cases geological between Ardenne and Calestienne. This succession of hills, laid out in curve, in Lesterny, is prolonged in a rectilinear way towards the North-East by marking the relief in the south of Forrières, Ambly, Harsin-Chavanne, Charneux,… In south-west, one finds the same rectilinear prolongation with the localities of Bore-hole, Tellin, Resteigne, Halma… which mark the beginning of the of the Ardennes slope and of the main forest which covers it. To the center of these two alignments of hills and villages, Lesterny presents a zone of unhooking or shift. Two alignments are prolonged more or less in parallel, in the same axis, but with a spacing of more than one kilometer, just with height of Lesterny. This phenomenon results from the zone of virgation causing the provision in “S” of the hills delimiting the south of Forrières, Lesterny, then Bure. To height of Lesterny, a light crumpling of geological bases passes, a simple “undulation” which is enough to produce, on the surface, a shift in the alignment of the rock exposures the general orientation of south-west in the North-East is typical of all Wallonia: It is the zone of virgation! In fact Famenne and the calcareous band which delimits the southern edge of it, Calestienne, form a broken rectilinear zone, with height of Lesterny. This situation creates also a particular relief, an original landscape, a closed environment, a feeling of intimacy from which profit the village… and its inhabitants! . (Note: The hills in incomplete circus thus evoked are Hérimont (top with 360 meters) in the south of the village, the Fire-dog (double top with 320 meters and 290 meters, the second being also called Ronchi by the inhabitants) in the North-East and a third hill (top with 305 meters) with the north-north-west, between Lesterny and Forrières, remained unnamed (but commonly indicated in Lesterny by name hill of Forrières - still that on the chart of cabinet of the Austrian Netherlands to the 1/11.520 lifting of 1771 to 1778 by the count Joseph de Ferraris, this same hill is marked MGNE LAFOUGERE (while Hérimont is Dérimont there and that the Fire-dog is unnamed there). Recently, within the framework of the beaconing of tourist paths (in fact the walk of St Martin ), the communal authorities baptized On Faljau the top of this last hill, by reference to the locality of this name which the charts locate with the top of its side turned towards Forrières. For the opening of this circus of hills towards the west and Wavreille, it is necessary to raise in this direction the hydrographic characteristic that on both sides of the locality Champ Pagnol , with approximately 500 meters in the North-West of Lesterny, the surface water is divided: side of Lesterny, the brook of V' nor (or brook of Lesterny , for the inhabitants of Forrières) runs with the north-north-east towards the Lhomme , while one half-kilometer in the west, the brook of Howisse runs with the west-south-west towards Injures.}

Is necessary it to attach to this particular relief the singular temperament that their neighbors recognize with the inhabitants of Lesterny - “ One says that the inhabitants of Lesterny are characterized by their stubbornness and their obstinacy ” (Paul Cugnon, COp cit. , p. 70) - and that they undoubtedly express also in the nickname of mâkès (literally “struck”, therefore stupid, but also whims, whims,…) what did they give them? Those of Lesterny draw a certain pride besides from it. Didn't their ancestors of the XVIIIe century make already watch of such a temperament, them which, “ needy farmers ”, “ did not hesitate to continue the close rural communities, which ventured themselves to violate their rights of Paisson ” ( communes of Belgium - dictionary of history and administrative geography , Wallonia, Herve Hasquin and Al , the Rebirth of the Book, Brussels, 1983, p. 839)? And aren't their been obstinated claims of the communal autonomy for their village during the XIXe century, the mark, in the chief of the inhabitants of Lesterny, of a strong feeling of village community and of a clean identity?

It is moreover with an equal obstinacy which the old ones of today divide in connection with what would have been the initial establishment of Lesterny, before the great plague which in 1636 would heavily have struck the population of the village. Often referring to the authority of Mister the Master Charon (Leon “Henri” Charon ensured of 1925 to 1961 the function of communal teacher Lesterny), the ones locate with a great insurance this establishment at the top of the hill Hérimont or at least on the side is or south-eastern of this one, just below the top, whereas the others say it with an absolute conviction in edge of Lhomme , side of the bridge which the road borrows leading to Masbourg. Some, among the first, formerly call upon the discovery foundations on the hill. The seconds have for them a certain etymology of the name of the village (of which the known oldest forms go back to the ninth century), according to which Lesterny would come from ster or staer which, into Celtic, would indicate a river, and ny of niacum indicating a residence; Lesterny would thus have as an original significance dwelling (S) close to the river … (See herebefore the heading ad hoc and, for example, Emile Tandel, COp cit. , volume V, 1892, p. 590). Perhaps this with this etymology is which should be attached the orthography the Esterny sometimes met, for example in the chart raised by Philippe Vandermaelen towards half of the XIXe century or on old postcards ( Forrières - Road of Esterny and Chapelle St-Roch ).

Demography and economy

The commune of Lesterny had a surface of 584 hectares. It was next to the communes of Forrières in north, Masbourg in the east, Grupont in the south, Bure in the south-south-west and Wavreille in the North-West.

With Masbourg, Lesterny was one of the least populated villages canton of Nassogne. It counted approximately 260 inhabitants when it became common Kingdom of Belgium into 1907,188 when it ceased being it in 1976.

One can only be struck by the contraction which the population of Lesterny during the period of communal autonomy knew: after a continuous rise from almost 100% in some 110 years, Lesterny lost nearly 30% of its population in less than 70 years.

The cause is known. “ From the economic point of view, the main activity in the Lesterny past was agriculture. ” (Stephan Cugnon, COp cit. ). One could almost about it have made these remarks, which aimed at a village of the of the Ardennes central plate: “ All saw there ground and for the ground. Fields and meadows; meadows and fields, in the shade of the wood of spruces or the coppices of birches and oaks. ” ( a corner of Ardenne - Roumont-on-Ourthe, Test of local history within a national framework , Charles of the Bus of Warnaffe, Brussels, Desclée De Brouwer, universal Edition, 1943, p. 123). However “ the XXe century is primarily marked by the rural migration in the small villages like Masbourg (377 inhabitants into 1910,168 with rock bottom in 1976), Lesterny (from 260 to 188 at the same dates), Ambly (479 to 318), Harsin (454 to 351), Grune (417 to 229). Forrières developed thanks to the railroad, in particular the workshops S.N.C.B of Jemelle which offer employment in the vicinity. Band passes from 759 inhabitants in 1910 to 592 to the census of 1947: the Second world war was tragic there. ” ( Last Present of Belgian Luxembourg , COp cit. , p. 249).

It is in this context that are registered the following considerations published in the daily newspaper the Future of Luxembourg , at the beginning of September 1965 (Andre Collard, COp cit.): LESTERNY: 180 INHABITANTS. The young people from go away, not to answer sirens, but `to be fixed' in the life, honestly and without complex. The village loses each year ten inhabitants. Where will one stop? It is the question which a burgomaster and a town council put. Hills and plains which form 220 hectares of arable lands that cultivate ten farmers. It is that also Lesterny. An average of 22 hectares per owner. One is on the break-even point. All at the edge. It is very right, say some. But in our opinion, it is a good average. The village is discovered also a tourist vocation. Hundreds of young holiday makers animate each year the locality. One rents some apartments and the old houses find purchasers very easily. . “ If my memory is good - adds in 2004 Jules Hérin, the burgomaster of the commune of Lesterny evoked by André Collard- of ten couples of which I celebrated the marriage about 1967, two only remained at the village: those of twin wire of the rural policeman Constant Andre, Alex and Jacques Andre ”.

The authors of the Dictionary of history and administrative geography of the communes of Belgium published in 1983 (Herve Hasquin and Al , COp cit., p. 839-840), summarized in a striking way the decline of Lesterny like village dedicated to agriculture: the land register of 1766 testifies to the rural character of the locality. Many houses were still out of wood and all were covered with straw. The livestock was numerous there: 40 horses, 101 animals with horns, 312 animals with wool, 80 pigs and 72 goats. One practiced a strict three-year rotation there, sowing the German wheat the first year and the oats the following one. The essartées grounds were cultivated only 2 years, receiving rye the first year, the oats the second; the revolution lasted 16 years. The importance of the herd of sheep gives rise to think that the waste lands were wide. We however miss precise information for XIXe S., because after being become common under the French mode, Lesterny was amalgamated with Forrières of 1823 until August 26th, 1907. Become again a small commune of 584 ha, Lesterny kept its rural character. One however notes a clear regression of agriculture, as well as the starter of a decline of the breeding as from 1950; indeed, the meadows covered 22,77% of the commune in 1929 and 30,82% in 1950. This percentage fell to 26,88% in 1959. Many grounds or of meadows were wooded with XXe S., because the surface of wood passed from 32,70% in 1950 to 50,68% in 1970. The goods not subjected to the forest mode represented into 1970,57,43%; the coniferous trees carried it with 56,41% of the plantations; 47,90% of the spruces had less than 20 years in this year 1970. Consequence of the depopulation of the locality, many rural dwellings currently serve as second residence. The census of the trade and industry in 1961 mentions 6 employment; Lesterny is the typical example of a rural village which dies. . Let us note nevertheless, in connection with the frame with Lesterny towards 1766, qu' it remains today, vis-a-vis the school, a house - classified on February 6th, 1970 - which would go back to second half of the XVIIIe century and which is characterized inter alia by squared limestone hardcore walls and a high slate roof.

Sources

Re-examined circle of history of the entity of Nassogne, Grounds between Wamme and Lhomme , n° October 7th, th and th 2004, n° April 8th, th and th 2005, and n° October 9th, 2005.
the monumental Inheritance of Belgium , Wallonia, volume 7, Province of Luxembourg, District of Walk-in-Famenne, Ministry for the French Culture, Pierre Mardaga editor, Liege, 1979, p. 414.
Louisa Diels-In Busser ( Memories of Nassogne , ED. De Postiljon, Kasterlee, 2001, p. 198).

External bonds

Site of the commune of Nassogne.

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