Rimogne

Rimogne is a common French, located in the department of the the Ardennes and the area Champagne-Ardenne.

The Habitant S of Rimogne are Rimognats .

Rimogne is a formerly important village to have been one of the largest basins French slaters and that as of his origin. The Ardoise was extracted there from 1158 with 1971, that is to say during 813 years. With the image of the destiny of the minors of Germinal Zola in , the destiny of the village is closely related to that of the mining extraction. It is through this history that took shape the majority of the aspects of the social life, the economic life, the cultural life.

So today any salte quarry activity ceased, it does not remain about it less than Rimogne is a Village with the industrial last rich person. The salte quarries worked this village indeed so much that the world of slate and all that is attached to it are still very present in the daily newspaper.

Geography

General information

Rimogne is located on the Plateau of Rocroi, with 17 kilometers in the North-West of Charleville-Mézières. The village has an extent of 353 Hectare S and culminates at an altitude of 252 meters. Its relief present of many coasts and one a long time distinguished besides “two Rimogne”: Rimogne of bottom and Rimogne top. Bottom being most rural and the top, where the Trunk road passes 43, richest. This reality was translated also a long time in the name of the streets. The rare street names of the 19th century were for example: street of In-Low, street of In-High or Close the Royal Roadway. In its illustrated Geography of the Ardennes , Meyrac will say besides “is divided into Rimogne-Haut, Rimogne-Bas and the Enclosure. ”

Rimogne cuts out in several localities, names which for the majority are disappeared today: the Large Tern, Sauvoy, Gard, Hourbise, Lairy, Hubert-Field, the Enclosure, Good Fountain or the Black Hen. The borough cuts out in several main roads which for the majority cross it right through. The first axis which one can quote is the trunk road. The other axes are the main streets of villages: the street of Mellier, the street Jean-Baptiste Clement, the street Jules Guesde, the street of Gard.

The communes bordering are: It Châtelet-on-Sormonne, Harcy, Murtin-and-Bogny. The territories mix until in becoming fuzzy by place in the imagination of the inhabitants. One can find of it an example simple at the old station of Rimogne. Once the crossed rails, one finds oneself on the territory of the commune of Harcy. It is the same for Richolle. If it belongs to the history of Rimogne, this variation is on the territory of the commune of Harcy. It is the same for the Doby pond (or of Oby).

Geology and hydrology

The basement of Rimogne, which belongs to the Cambrien, is characterized by an alternation of benches quarzites and schists among which several levels slaters whose main thing reaches 25 meters of power, noted as larger slate benches with roof than there is in Europe in 1784. These grounds present a dip of 40 degrees. The slate of Rimogne is of two kinds: the grained slate and the blue slate. The grained slate, generally gray-bluish, presents an iron crystal multitude oxydulés. The blue slate does not present these crystals and is much easier to work, contrary to the grained one.

The brook which crosses Rimogne calls Rimogneuse. It occurs with the brook of Richolle which takes its source in the marshes of Ambeuval to the locality White-Marsh. It forms then the pond of Rosainrue (or Rosainruz) which is located at the north of the village. In the east of the village, water of the pond of Rosainrue and pond of Doby meet to form Rimogneuse which runs out towards the west of the village to join the ponds of Pierka before throwing itself in the Sormonne. The river, today large brook, supplied at the 19th century the mills of Rimogne and the Châtelet-on-Sormonne. One counts two principal bridges and another of smaller size all located in the low part of the village.

The village thus counts several ponds. Largest of them is that of Rosainrue. With a surface of seven hectares, it was used by the Company of the salte quarries in order to feed from the water falls to make turn of the turbines and thus produce electricity.

Climatology

The climate of Rimogne is that of the Plateau of Rocroi, a rather hard climate. The recorded average temperatures with Rocroi are with few things close the same ones as in Rimogne: 0°C in January and 15.9°C in July. However, climatology nearest that one can quote is that of Charleville-Mézières.

The rainfall on the plate of Rocroi is very important and extends over approximately 200 days. The annual total of 950 millimetres corresponds to few things close with the pluviometry of Bordeaux.

Communication network and transport

The main axe of communication crossing the village is the Trunk road 43 connecting Holy-Ruffine to Calais, formerly called “Fitted royal” or “royal Road”. On the level of the village, it merges with the Trunk road 51. Once in the village, the trunk road cuts out in street Pasteur and street Jean Jaurès. Many heavy trucks borrow this axis. The realization of “Y” highway inhabitant of the Ardennes should unchoke the center of the village. One of the alternatives under consideration for the construction of this highway however presents risks which had with the basement of the village. The old salte quarries in south-west present risks of collapse.

The station ensured the communication between Hirson and Charleville-Mézières. It does not exist any more since the years 1970. Two lines of bus ensure the shuttle between Rimogne and Charleville-Mézières. The departmental Régie of transport of the Ardennes (RDTA) proposes indeed a line on the basis of Signy-le-Petit and another on the basis of Rocroi with two buses the morning and two buses the afternoon. Two bus stops are present in the village, one at the western entry of the village and another in the center of the village close to the Maison of the Slate. A company of Taxi S is installed in Rimogne, it acts as well medical transport as of transport in personal matter.

History

Heraldic

Toponymy and origins

There exist several etymologies. The first says that Rimogne would come from “Ru”, brook and of “magnus”, large. The combined whole would have given Rimogne, large brook. Rimogneuse of it would be a proof. The second etymology would be of origin Celtic. Rimogne would come from “rim”, slope and of “agne”, rise, wide. Rimagne, large slope, would have become Rimogne. A third etymology is proposed by a teacher in 1855. Rimogne would come from “Mons ridens” meaning laughing mountain, pleasant.

Lastly, a last etymology which concerns the anecdote is also proposed by this teacher. Two workmen slaters were eating. The first, foreigner with the Village, was put to make fun of the second who laughed the full Bouche by saying “See see laughed there and mougne” (see see it laughs and eats), thus giving his name to the village.

The C-W communication of the name Rimogne evolved/moved with the wire of the centuries. Here is succession of the forms: Rieumogne, Rimegne, Rumogne, Rimoigne (Rimonium) then Rimogne.

The name of Rimogne appears for the first time in an act signed by Pierre of Montcornet, lord of the place in 1158. It consists of a concession of ground granted to the monks of Signy for the exploitation of a mineral resource, the slate. According to the Champsaur abbot, Rimogne was not whereas a simple hamlet dependant on a village more in north: Farigny where a castle was which was destroyed about 1436 by the Inhabitants of Li2ege. Pierre de Montcornet, wire of Hugues de Montcornet, renews this authorization to them before extending it, in 1220, with the monks of Signy. The monks of the abbey of Foigny enter the exploitation of slate the same year. The monks will share the resources until the 16th century, date on which they sell their possessions. The laic ones come into play. The memory of the monks is still present in the village through the locality and the street of Good-Fountain.

The time of the lords (1245-1899)

Rimogne was the possession of lords a long time. At its origin, Rimogne belonged to the châtellenie Châtelet, raising itself of the baronnie of Montcornet. Nicolas de Montcornet was the first to receive the title of Lord of Rimogne in 1245. After the marriage of its grand-daughter with Jean de Jeumont, the seigniory of Rimogne changes hand until half of the 16th century. In addition to the castle of Châtelet, the lords of Rimogne had another castle located at the locality the Enclosure, surrounded by ditches and comprising a tower.

It is at the 13th century that the church is built, with the locality of Large Stone. The church is of ogival style, comprises a great nave and a bell-tower added in 1697. The Gothic chorus is bored of two windows and the church comprises two side chapels. The cemetery is contiguous with the church. At that time, Rimogne is not yet a Paroisse, it became it only in 1801. The village depends on the parish of Murtin-Bogny.

The Hénin-Liétard family reigns until 1603, then it is the family of Robert of the Chatelet, originating in the Béarn, which will reign until 1789. In 1634, according to the abbot Champsaur, Rimogne would have counted 40 fires including the widows is approximately 250 inhabitants. In 1714, the village counts the double of it. The French revolution and the Terreur did not make victims with Rimogne, the lords of the time having been good for the population, this one required them only one thing: that they cut off the particle from their name. The last lord of Rimogne was Jean Baptiste Louis Of Robert. Born in 1724, he becomes the first mayor of Rimogne in 1793. He is attached to the revolutionary period a particular episode. The marquis of Fayette indeed stopped in Rimogne in July 1792, where the Castle of Farigny was drawn up before (Vandamme division also stopped there a few years to go later to Waterloo).

If the Revolution put an end to the privileges, Rimogne remained under the cut of a family a long time still: Rousseau de Rimogne. Originating in Burgundy, this family was established in Rimogne with Jean Louis Rousseau about 1779. Rousseau reigned as a Master on the village. The latter indeed having almost the totality of the subsoils of the commune. Living a rich person called masonry the castle Rousseau, one finds them allied with the family De Noirfontaine and the family Of Valiant of Monchy.

The common point with all these families is the slate. The various salte quarries indeed were their possessions with the wire of the centuries. One cannot determine with precision which were the lords at a given time because each family kept a share of interest in these salte quarries. The history of Rimogne seems to want to summarize itself only with this life salte quarry. It is around this Schiste that all the aspects of the social life crystallized, economic and policy of the village.

19th century

Throughout the 19th century, the increase in population is accompanied by the development by the services and the infrastructures. In 1839, a post office is open. First of all office of distribution, it becomes office of direction in 1845. One also builds markets not far from the post office, on the Large one Places village, current place of the Republic, allowing to organize markets and fairs. These markets will be destroyed at the beginning of the 20th century.

The school, which until 1841 was exempted in the sacristy of the old church, takes place from now on in a large building built in the top of the village on a ground granted by the Company of the salte quarries after the commune gave him the right to exploit slate under the streets of the village. It accommodates a class of girls and a class of boys at the ground floor. On the floor is the room of the town hall and the residences of the teachers. The first teacher to be lived there is Jean-Baptiste Buridant. The childish school will be created in 1900.

The old church where the lords of the place were buried is sold then shaven. Its walls did not make it possible indeed any more to accommodate the growing population of Rimogne. It is on May 11th, 1845 that work of the new church dedicated to Saint Brice begins with the locality Gard . Built in the fields of the architect Louis Clement Labarre, the church is devoted on October 13rd, 1847 by the archbishop Gousset. The church shelters the relics of Brice saint and holy Chantal. The cemetery located close to the old church is abandoned about 1825, the new cemetery is created (one will open a second section of this cemetery in 1937).

Another of modernizations of the village, and not of least, is the construction of a railway station on the line which connects Charleville to Hirson. Work begins in 1867 and it station is operational later two years. There will be on the territory of the commune three stations of Garde-barrière S, one located close to the station, one located at the Pont locality of Stop-Water and one located close to Hubert-Field. The station allowed the development of the salte quarries. The routing of the Ardoise S manufactured was indeed tiresome in carrioles. The train made it possible to increase the productivity. In the years 1940, three trains circulated per day: a passenger train the morning and the evening and a goods train.

The end of the 19th century also sees arriving at Rimogne the water pipelines. Several public fountain are installed in the village. An employee is charged to close water every evening and to reopen them the following day. Principal control is under the trunk road. These water conveyances without question improved the living conditions of the made up population of Rimogne in major part of slaters. Several laundrette S comes to supplement this device in several places of the commune.

It is also at the 19th century that a community of nuns with Rimogne settled. These sisters were of the Ordre of the Very Holy Saver. They lived a house not far from the presbytery. This community will remain in Rimogne until in the years 1960. The sisters occupy themselves with the priest of the religious life of the village by framing for example the leisures of the young girls at the time of patronage or by exempting the care male nurses in the village.

Rimogne and wars

From its geographical location, Rimogne was on the passage of all the armies. It is only to look at the three last Great Wars to include/understand. The war free-Prussian of 1870 is the first of them. The Prussian bombard the village three times between on November 16th and on December 22nd. The general Boulanger indicates in his work on the Invasion of 1870 that the population rimognate is frightened by the advertisement of the arrival of the Uhlan S and of the volunteers supervise the way of railroad. The following day, the army orders the occupation of the station. Before the invasion of the village by the Prussians, Rimogne also accommodates a Ambulance to look after the French soldiers. This ambulance placed in the castle of Châtelain wood is amongst other things taken of load by the Champsaur abbot who will be taken along like hostage during the invasion, Charles Thiébault, syndic of salte quarries, Antoine Theophilus Philippot, the teacher and Sebastien Wautier, the director of the salte quarries. Six soldiers wounded at the time of the Bataille of Sedan die in the ambulance.

In 1914, Rimogne again will know the invasion of the enemy troops. The Germans enter the village very quickly after the release of the conflict: August 26th, 1914 they ravel on the Trunk road. Rimognats which was with the current of the advance of the armies of Guillaume II leave in a forced exodus, the village is emptied gradually. A military ambulance is installed in the Rousseau castle. The civil population can there be made look after by German doctors. The Kommandantur is located not far from there in the house and the offices of the director of the salte quarries. Under-Kommandantur is installed in the house of the Farmhouses/Normand to the 31 of the current Pasteur avenue. An Issue syndicate of Communal Goods was founded on February 16th, 1916 to emit payable goods one year after the end of the war. The president of this trade union was Doctor Desplous, doctor of the commune. November 6th, 1918 in the morning, Kommandantur is evacuated. Doctor Desplous, who had devoted himself to the villagers remained at the village, dies of exhaustion. He is declared died for France “of the continuations of his tirednesses of the hard mode which he had to undergo for 50 months”. Fifty four people are registered with the war memorial of the village, six of them are civilian victims.

May 10th, 1940, Rimogne is again the target of the enemy troops. The village is bombarded by Luftwaffe on several occasions. Several people are killed and several others wounded. Several buildings are puffed up of which the castle of Monchy as well as the house of the owner of the factory of enamel Mr. Sinniger. The targets of the bombardments were not only the axes of communication but also a medical staff posts some in several houses of the village. Much Rimognats as into 1914 launched out on the roads of the exodus to go for the majority in the Vendée and in the the Rhone. Once the entered Germans with Rimogne, the grounds of the farmers are requisitioned to be shared in order to produce for the Reich. A chief of culture is in station in the castle of the Enclosure. The German soldiers also set up two observation posts: one in the bell-tower of the church and one with the locality the Black Hen. The inhabitants remained in the closed area carry out a very difficult life. Rimogne is released on September 4th, 1944 by the Americans. The names of the seventeen victims rimognates are carried to the war memorial. Last nines of them were victims of the bombardments of May 10th, 1940.

From 1945 with today

The post-war period will mark in Rimogne the beginning of its economic decline. The most critical years are the years 1970. July 15th, 1971, the salte quarries close their door. It is the same for the station which will be reconverted in housing. In 1973, the factory of Enamels closes in its turn as well as the last brewery. The economic activity of the village is reduced to nothing. There remains the slate grinding plant located close to the station. However the latter being located on the territory of the commune of Harcy, the tax repercussions do not benefit Rimogne.

The trade and the craftsmen will be also touched. The last firm shoe-maker in 1980 whereas one counted at least 11 at the 19th century of them. The last butchers close, them which were 12 at last century. The modernization of industries also made disappear gradually the shoeing marshals. One counted 27 between 1800 and 1900 of them. The trade of food and supplies, very many at the 19th century closed one by one. With the beginning of the year 1990, there remained nothing any more but two about it, today closed and replaced by a mini-market.

Rimogne which had had a long time a brigade of Douane and a brigade of sappers firemen is deprived today by it. The brigade of gendarmerie is since January 1st, 2003 in community of brigade with that of Renwez. There remains nothing any more but one permanence. The post office founded in 1839 does not sort any more the mail which from now on is sorted with Maubert-Fountain. Today in fact the schools and the college make it possible to keep a great activity owing to the fact that many pupils of the villages neighborhood attend them. Rimogne became a village of services which turns gradually to the Tourisme.

Rimogne and the slate

History of the exploitation of slate

Exploitation until the 18th century

The first exploitation of the Slate, formerly called scale , goes back to 1158. It is done then with open sky and they are the monks of three powerful abbeys which make exploit these salte quarries: the Abbey of Foigny, the Abbey of Bonnefontaine and the abbey of Signy. The abbey of Foigny obtains a concession of Hugues de Montcornet in a concession known as Escaillère and in May 1230, the monks of Signy receive a Charte. As for those of Good-Fountain they will receive from it one in July 1273, in which one can read: “Us Nicoses de Montcornet knight of Rimogne and Basile his wife, let us inform all those which these present letters will see and have, that we granted and grant purely and simply the church of Bonnefontaine fifty feet of stones to make scale which are Ci Large Pit of Rimogne between the oyster knives of this same church and the oyster knives of Signy and Foygny. ” the slate is used primarily for the cover of the buildings.

In 1358, Jean of Jeumont, then lord of Rimogne, declares “all their escaillères of Rimogne frank and free from fortifying” . In 1470, the monks of Good-Fountain repurchase a ground with Pierquat Caigneaux, thus melting what became one of the oldest salte quarries of Rimogne: the salte quarry of Pierka. If the monks of Good-Fountain withdrew exploitation of slate by selling their possessions to help with the repurchase of François Ier captive with Pavia, it seems that they kept importance until the 16th century. The laic ones which exploited tiny pieces before, can benefit from the departure of the monks. It is into 1663 that Charles d' Ambraine, receiver of the attic with salt of Aubenton, repurchases for forty years a concession with the monks in Hallevoye, then the most important pit.

In 1702, Jean Baptiste Collart de Boutancourt succeeds Charles d' Ambraine in Hallevoye before exploiting a few years later the Large Pit. With died of Jean Baptist Collard, the Large Pit, then only exploited pit, has its first great problems. Antoine Collard de Ville, the nephew of Jean Baptist, inherits the salte quarry indeed then bequeaths it to his son into 1773 who ransacks it for lack of experiment and will of profit.

With the other end of Rimogne, Pierka is opened by the sior Châtelain in 1767.

The advent of Rousseau

The exploitation of slate with Rimogne will be revolutionized with the arrival of Jean-Louis Rousseau and the repurchase of the Large Salte quarry in 1779, the industrial machine is started truly. The Large Pit was one of the most important pits of France and Jean-Louis Rousseau will make him find his row. Before arriving at Rimogne, Jean-Louis Rousseau had been general dealer of the coal mines of the province of Drill. The first hydraulic machine had been installation in 1775. Rousseau will continue to work with the exhaustion of water, improving the work conditions and consequently the productivity. Seven million slates is produced on average each year. It is at that time that the encyclopedists will be interested in the exploitation of slate with Rimogne in order to write the article entitled Ardoiserie of the Meuse . Rimogne and its exploitations indeed were used as example. The Vialet inspector at that time notes in all the details the exploitation of slate with Rimogne.

Old Hallevoye become Saint-Quentin pit is taken again by several partners (in 1776 Rammer is combined in Bruslé, Dagneau and Cochart) and becomes the direct competitor of the Large Pit. The day before the Revolution, more than 5 million slates remain unsold. The leaders of the various salte quarries then agree on the percentage of production granted to each exploitation. The Large Pit obtains the production of 50% of the market, Saint-Quentin it, will have of them only 25%, the remainder being left with the salte quarries of Deville and Monthermé. The advance which Jean-Louis Rousseau takes on the others is decisive. With share of this date, the dynasty of Rousseau is founded. It will reign on Rimogne during more than one century. Jean-Louis Rousseau has 4 wire which will help it to carry out the company until its death on April 27th, 1788. In 1817, Rousseau repurchase the other pits. It is the beginning of the Company of the salte quarries of Rimogne which is founded a few years later in 1831.

The Company of the salte quarries of Rimogne

The Company of the salte quarries of Rimogne and Saint-Louis-on-Meuse is founded on October 14th, 1831. The Company reigns as a Master on the village, his statutes reveal immense properties, its funds of a company is evaluated with: 1080000 francs. The shares of the company are distributed between 9 family members and it is specified that the actions are indivisible even in consequence of succession. It is also specified that the shareholders want, as much as possible, to avoid the introduction from abroad into the company. As from 1839, the Company takes part in the World Fairs.

If the company has almost all the subsoils of the commune, there remain places where the exploitation is still possible. They will be it by several companies: that of Truffy and Pierka created in 1836, that of the Pit to Wood created in 1839, that of Rubble in 1840 and that of Richolle in 1842. The Company will repurchase them one by one all, not suffering any competition. In 1843, a well of 120 meters is drilled with the Saint-Quentin pit for the passage of the stone in the barrels. The output of all the exploitations of Rimogne rises with: 51200000 slates. It is not the deepest well, in 1826, a well of 170 meters had been dug with the accesses of the Large Pit with a same aim.

Rimogne had known several strikes, into 1825,1869,1874,1878,1887 with each time like claims a rise of the wages. The slaters live in misery. April 9th, 1888 bursts one of greatest strikes the. 340 slaters out of 390 put themselves in strike. The claims are the following ones: 10% of increase i.e. 4 francs for the splitters and 5 for the minors as well as the restitution of the funds of the pension fund to the employers' federation. Jean-Baptiste Clément comes in Rimogne on April 20th (a street of the village will bear its name thereafter). The Company does not grant anything and the leaders are laid off. The latter will reopen the old salte quarry of Risquetout, attempt which will not last because them fresh enormous to spend. A similar strike will take place in 1901, it will last three months.

Between 1893 and 1895, one installs the first compressors and in 1903, one opens the Saint-Brice pit to compensate the Large Pit which starts to be blown.

When the First World War bursts, 600 workmen are employed by the Company. The two world wars will slow down the production which will be stopped per moments. In 1920, one opens a workshop of splitting machines and a school of formation for apprentices. In 1945, the pits are drowned partially, it is necessary to give all in state.

End of the salte quarries

The slate which is used primarily for the cover loses ground, its price with the purchase is much higher than other materials. Violent ones crumblings occur in 1936 in the Large Pit, the increase of the stone is blocked. The Large Pit closes in 1948. One tests redynamiser the basin by réouvrant the Saint-Quentin pit. One installs a steel head-frame there, in fact an elevator which made it possible to the minors to go down and to go up but also the increase of the coaches charged with slate facilitated. The inauguration takes place on December 4th, 1961.

In 1965, the Company of the salte quarries of Rimogne buys the company of the salte quarries of Fumay where approximately 150 people work. Leon Voisin will write on this subject: “Fault of making a success of modernization desirable, if not necessary, it is possible to imagine that the Company, become a Limited liability company (limited liability company) wanted, in 1965, to ensure its future by definitively eliminating any competition close by the repurchase to the Rebirth and Saint-Joseph Fumay” . Unfortunately, the exploitation of slate knows its last years. The company files for bankruptcy in 1969. After Fumay, in April 1971, the last pit in activity of Rimogne, the Truffy pit closes in its turn a few weeks later. 1971 are the year when all the installations still in activity close. Eight centuries had been passed since the extraction of first slate of the ground of Rimogne and the Ardennes.

Exploitation of the slate perdure however in the form of a company of crushing, the SICA (Industrial society and commercial of the Ardennes). This company of crushing had been open in 1934 by the Company. It extracts slate in a career with open sky (on the territory of the commune of Harcy) to reduce it in particles to granulometry being able to go from a few microns to several millimetres. These powders are intended for the manufacture of protective layers, in the bitumens, cements. This factory involves deep environmental problems in addition. The release of much of slate dust returns the landscapes white neighborhoods. The surrounding forest and houses are covered by this dust grisâtre.

Social aspects of the exploitation salte quarry

Life of the slaters

It is difficult to today think what could be the life of the slaters with Rimogne. The workman who let himself slip on the scale in order to join his work of exploitation, engulfed himself gradually in silence and the darkness. About 1750, engineer written Vialet on this subject: “the workmen make use of candle to clarify their work of the inside of the pit, but they carry their burdens without any light, either in the galleries, or on the scales, by pass by the same place it is formed in the galleries of the species of troughs in which the workmen are to run their magpies, which directs them in their walk. ”

Until in the years 1920, lighting in depths which can go until more than 600 meters was assured only by candles manufactured on the spot in the village. The workmen plunged in this forced night will accommodate with relief the progress which constituted the Acetylene torch or carbide lamp. The work conditions of the workmen having to carry loads exceeding the 50 kilos on their back, hardly protected by a cousin from straw called bassat , were very difficult. The tools of years 1900 were very similar to those of the years 1700.

Moreover, the miners as of the day are exposed to a respiratory disease called schistose (it is the Silicose minors of coal). The slate dust breathed by the slaters was deposited little by little in the lungs. 1949 had to be waited until to see this disease recognized like occupational disease.

This very difficult life is rythmée by the wounds and the accidents. The cuts, the fractures, the distorsions and the wounds punctuate the daily newspaper of the workmen. The accidents fatal occur more or less regularly and them causes are very diverse, generally going from the death by crushing following the fall of a block, with the death due to a fall or the death due to a badly controlled explosion. Fifty-nine accidents fatal are listed of 1753 to 1970. The youngest victim was 13 years old, oldest had 71 of them. With each accident, a siren called loud-voiced person placed at the Large Pit resounded in Rimogne putting an end to any occupation. The population then waited with anguish to know which was the victims. One can indeed note that most of the time, work being done in community, an accident at the same time made several victims as for example in 1787 when five slaters find death, in 1905 (four victims). So only 59 accidents fatal in the pits are listed in a little more than two centuries, it as should be noted as the wounds often resulted in death and one thus forgets to enter these workmen.

Religious enthusiasm and traditions

One of the other impacts of the exploitation salte quarry in Rimogne was the religious impact. The owner of the slaters, Holy Beard, is omnipresent. One finds it at the entry of each descending shaft, taking care on the life of the workmen. One does not find today less than four different statues of Holy Beard. First is exposed to the Maison of the Slate, the three others are in the church. It is besides in the church that the most concrete expression of the religious impact of the salte quarries is. Of the two vaults located in the arms of the transept the church, that of right-hand side is devoted to Sainte Beard. Grid of entry of the vault until more the small details, all points out the importance of the Holy one. The furnace bridge of the vault presents in a low relief the tools of the slaters, the tools of the day and the tools of the bottom. The tools are also presented in one of the stained glasses. The stained glass introduces Christ giving Eucharistie to Sainte Beard and in the content various monuments of the village were represented.

The workmen also perpetuated the worship of holy Barbe within a brotherhood which they founded in 1851, association of piety present at the time of the great demonstrations. If holy Barbe is very present, it should be noted that the great landowners of the salte quarries played a great part in the religious life. A simple visit of the church lets appear this irrefutable fact. The Rousseau family gave several of the stained glasses or the two caves representing Bernadette Soubirous. The world of the salte quarries marked the church of the nave to the bells, one of them has as a godfather one of the directors of the Company. Armand Moreaux, mayor of Rimogne and director of the salte quarries offer even the wrought iron balustrade laid out in front of the organ installed in 1878.

Influence of the Company in the local life

In addition to the fact that the owners of the salte quarries had almost totality of the subsoils of the commune and thus so to speak had the village, they had the hand put on a multitude of things in the village. Housing enters within this framework. The workmen slaters were placed by the Company, generally in cities salte quarries of which oldest located in the district of the Large Pit were built about 1825. But the greatest whole of cities, an alignment of brick houses on a floor, was built along the trunk road. The dwellings are exigües but the workmen have at their disposal a piece of ground located behind which it can draw its subsistence. The influence of the Company on the residences is enormous. In 1932, it had 192 residences in the village.

The Company of the salte quarries was also very present in the political life and associative. Since 1789, eight mayors played a part within the salte quarries. The first of them was Pierre Joseph Bétry, manager, just like his successor Jean Baptiste Péridon who will be mayor by twice. Vincent Adolphe Rousseau de Rimogne, grandson of Jean Louis Rousseau, is mayor of Rimogne in 1837 and that until 1848. Several other leaders it are succeeded: Louis Pierre Teissier, Constant Beuret, Ferdinand Aubriot or Armand Moreaux, grandson of the general Rene Blacks. The Company is omnipresent. It is it also within associations. The founded municipal harmony in 1892 a long time had the leaders of the salte quarries as directors. Mr. Gilloteaux, director of the joined together Salte quarries with Rimogne was Honorary president of the Sporting union in 1922. Mr. the count de Monchy, principal shareholder of the company, is member of the company of hunting founded in 1929. He is the same for the Hope of Rimogne, sports association founded in 1932, of which one of the vice-presidents was the director Alfred Derancourt.

Demography

The population of Rimogne gradually increased thanks to the employment provided by the salte quarries. There were two waves of immigration. The first which took place after the First World War primarily related to the Italy NS. The second wave of immigration which followed the Second world war saw arriving of the Polish in major part in the village. Today Rimogne does not have any more a concentrator of employment like were the salte quarries, the motivations of the arrival of the new inhabitants are mainly a pleasant framework of life or the family roots.

The figure of 1856 is absent. Thanks to the monograph of the Buridant teacher, one knows that in 1855, the number of inhabitants amounted to 1894.

Demographic table

One can say that since 1945, the population of Rimogne remains relatively stable.

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Population pyramid (1999)

Rimogne counts about as many men (50,6%) women (49,4%). The Population pyramid watch a light increase in the male population between 1990 and 1999, passing from 676 to 716. It is the same for the women, they pass from 647 in 1990 to 699 in 1999.

Rimogne counts the most people located in section 30-44 years (23,9%), followed by the category of the 0-14 years (22,6%) showing a relatively young and dynamic population. The share of more than 75 years accounts for 3,2%, almost the same percentage as in 1990 (3,4%). The pensioners represent a percentage of 14,1% of the population of the village, that is to say 4,1% less than the national average. However, birth rate is in retreat of 3,19% compared to the period 1982-1990 when it was of 15,07%. The percentage of households having a child or more is of 50,6% and the percentage of the childless couples or alone is of 49,7%.

Housing

In 1999, Rimogne counted: 535 residences of which: 501 was main homes. The same year, 67,5% of the residents were owners of their housing against 28,5% tenants. The housing stock of the village east made up of rather old houses. 60,7% of the houses were built before 1949 and 239 of the 501 main homes were built before 1915. 6,8% of the residences had in 1999 neither of bath-tub nor shower.

Always in 1999,74,1% of the residences were composed of four parts, followed by the residences of three parts (16,2%), then those of two parts (9%) and finally, the studios accounting for 0,8% of the park. For a few years, many zones hitherto not inhabited have been built (zones located close to the river, the cemetery or the verdoux). The rural turning into a desert less seems to especially touch Rimogne from the point of view of the dwelling.

Rimogne counts a zone of housing managed by OPAC. This zone is located in the castle of Wood Lord of the manor and houses around. It is in all 17 residences of the T1 in T4 which are proposed with the hiring.

Administration

Intercommunality

Rimogne belongs to the Communauté of common Valley and Plate of Ardenne.

Political tendencies and list of the mayors

A long time, Rimogne was controlled by notable rich person, in particular by land great landowners, owners of salte quarries, breweries, etc the beginning of the 20th century marked a change in this situation, in particular after the First World War.

Many slaters became mayors. The best example of these workmen become mayors is Henri Biston, marshal-shoeing who filled two mandates. The village was directed thereafter by socialist mayors. The street names testify to the political tendency: street Jean-Baptiste Clement, street Jean Jaurès, street François Mitterrand or street Jules Guesde.

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Municipal budget and taxation

The municipal budget 2006 rises with a total of 1.860.000 euros. The receipts of operation are assembled to: 327.319 € of taxes and taxation, 700.428 € of equipments and participations (DGF, professional tax), 37.518 € of income of the buildings, 75.388 € of contract labor carried out by the personnel of maintenance, 4.577 € of financial and exceptional products, 104.867 € of refunding of remunerations of the personnel and 57.061 € coming from the products of the services.

Always in 2006, the operating expenses are divided into: 617.532 € of staff costs, 430.465 € of general loads, 1.055 € of exceptional responsibilities, 138.523 € of loads of current management, 29.086 € of financial expenses and 90.498 € of surplus of deferred operation.

The debt of the commune at December 31st, 2006 rises with 1.049.000 €.

The principal investments in 2006-2007 relate to mainly the construction of the Médiathèque (700 000 € to which are added the fees of the architect) and the refunding of the loans (129 335 € for 2006 and 112.188 € for 2007).

In 2007, the rate of the Taxe of dwelling is of 18,43% (in comparison, the departmental rate is of 8,66%). One can note a fall of this rate which rose in 2002 to 30,78%. The rate of the tax on the land frame and 33,31% (that of the tax on the land one not built of 53,61%) and that of the professional tax of 10,53%.

Inheritance

Monuments

The church Saint-Brice built in 1845. This church of neo-classic style does not have a particular external seal. It contains however interesting things. The church is a good witness of the history salte quarry of the village. The family Rousseau de Rimogne offered three stained glasses as well as the two caves on both sides of the furnace bridge of which the plane part makes up of tomb plates taken in the old church. A vault is dedicated to the owner of the slaters: Holy Beard. The furnace bridge of the vault and its stained glasses are decorated tools of the slaters who also offered a stained glass. The painter Eugene Damas carries out three fabrics located in the vault of the Sacred Heart. To also see a lectern of the 18th century in the shape of eagle as well as a very particular statue of Holy Beard in its tower.

The war memorial of 1870 carved by Aristide Croisy, it is located in the cemetery. Inaugurated on October 24th, 1904, it represents a mobile, soldier of 1870, charging. In the rough beginning, the statue was painted with the colors of the uniform of then.

The war memorial of the two world wars: inaugurated on May 7th, 1922 by, the deputy of the Ardennes Henri Philippoteaux, it is located on the place of the church and the elementary school.

A plate affixed on the walls of the square of the exploitation Saint Quentin takes again the names of the workmen slaters killed at the time of the two world wars. One can there count thirty of them.

There exists or was several castles with Rimogne. The first of them, the castle known as of the Enclosure, was sold in 1529 to take part in the ransom of François Ier de France. During long years, a brewery was established in its walls. It is a farm today. There remains the tower of the castle as well as the big room. The second castle, is that of Wood Lord of the manor where formerly resided the marquis de Bérulle and the Teissier family, owner of the salte quarries, before him. Located at the exit of the village, it was burned in 1944 and rebuilds with the identical one. It shelters residences today.

The castle of Rousseau, remains historical owners of the salte quarries, is located along the trunk road. Very close the house of Monchy was also located, bombarded in May 1940.

Verdoux and supportings

The slate reigns as a Master in the landscape rimognat. Where was the old pits, still draw up at many places the verdoux. They are places where waste of exploitation was stored, formant at certain places of true hills. When the current nursery school was built, old the verdoux of the Truffy salte quarry had to be levelled.

A specificity of Rimogne lies in the gigantic walls made out of slate which hold only by the stacking of the various slate parts which compose it. Highest of these walls is located street of Mellier and more length is in the street of the Truffy Pit. These walls are of an major importance because if their structure is looked at, one realizes that they are made of two parts laid out in two different directions, thus allowing to support the grounds. That also makes it possible to have been able to build on grounds raised compared to the streets as it is the case between the level of the Large Pit and that of the street of the Truffy Pit or between the level of the place where is built the head-frame of the Well Saint Quentin and that of the street of Mellier.

Industrial waste lands

When the salte quarries closed, all the industrial structures were abandoned such as they are. Separately the Large Pit which shelters the Maison of the Slate, the other pits remained in the state. Even if the buildings sheltering the descending shafts were walled, the squares are always accessible.

Construction more the symbolic system is the head-frame of the Saint-Quentin well builds in 1961. This steel construction is the old elevator made it possible to kill and go up the workmen slaters of the Saint-Quentin pit. It had been built to ensure a renewal of the basin slater, it is today the proof of its fall.

The hut of the splitters of Brice Saint, the descending shaft and the winch, the square of the Truffy salte quarry, the square of Saint Quentin, the descending shaft of the Vault or the immense slate walls of Pierka make live the past slater. That is not without danger. The buildings of the splitters of Saint Quentin were destroyed by an accidental fire.

Funerary slate and stones

If the slate is used to make walls or to cover with the roofs, it was also a long time used to make the tomb stones. The use of slate to make tomb stones is a characteristic which one finds not only in Rimogne but also in other salte quarries cities like Fumay or Haybes. The two types of slate, the grained one and the blue one, were used for manufacture. The stones made out of grained stone are exhausted more quickly than those out of blue stone.

In Rimogne, one still finds of them some examples in the cemetery of the village. The tomb most singular perhaps is that of the former director of the salte quarries Sebastien Wautier. Its tomb plate is indeed engraved, reproducing tools like the compass or the square. One also finds tombs more modest where a very simple round slate is drawn up with the head.

Economy

In 1999, unemployment rate with Rimogne was among 14,3% and that of the active population of 41%. The average revenues by household were of 12.844 euros per annum is nearly 2200 euros less than the national average. Rimogne is a village mainly of workmen. The latter account for 42,8% of the inhabitants. They are followed by the employees to 32,4%. The craftsmen, tradesmen, heads of undertaking account for on the other hand only 3,4% of the active population. Rimogne formerly counted several farmers, those are not that 0,7% of the Active population in 1999. 27,3% of Rimognats are provided education for young people.

If the exploitation salte quarry occupied the major part of the economic scene of Rimogne, one can also mention other industry. In 1881, Auguste Rifflart opens the first factory of enamel. He works as from 1890 in collaboration with Louis Lens who will have his own factory thereafter. The Rifflart Enamels will close after the Second world war. As for the Enamels Lens then Sinniger, they will close in 1973. Rimogne also counted several breweries, a foundry, a nail factory and a brickyard.

Although Rimogne is a village, it counts still today in spite of the closing of many trade since years 1970 of many services. It has a mini-market (Shopi), of a bazaar, two bakeries, two hairdressers, an office of tobacco-press, a florist, an banking agency, a pharmacy, three doctors, a speech therapist, a kinesitherapist, a dentist, a nurse, a driving school, a bar-restoration and a permanence of the gendarmerie. It should be noted that a dechettery is available. This accumulation of services is explained partly in the past economic of Rimogne.

Teaching

Rimogne has a nursery school, of an elementary school as well as college of mainstream education. The founded nursery school in 1900 is the school Henri Biston, of the name of a mayor of Rimogne. First of all located in the buildings of the current town hall, the new nursery school is located street of the Truffy Pit and was built in 1992 on old a verdou. With the re-entry 2007, it counts five sections: a class of great section with 24 pupils, an intermediate class made up of 8 pupils of great section and 13 of average section, a class of average section of 21 pupils and a class of small section formed by 19 small and 5 whole small. The school thus accommodates 90 pupils in all.

The elementary school Jules Desplous is located on the place of the church. Built in 1839, it accommodated a school of boys and a school of girl. Mixed since, it accommodates with the re-entry a 2007 totality of 160 pupils. The distribution of the classes is the following one: a class of CP of 25 pupils, a class of CE1 of 23 pupils, a class doubles level THIS 1 it 2 of 18 pupils, a class of CE2 of 25 pupils, a class doubles level CE2 - CM1 of 22 pupils, a class doubles level CM1-CM2 of 22 pupils and a class of CM2 of 25 pupils. The school thus counts 7 classes.

The college of the White-Marsh is located in the top of the village, it succeeded a college in prefabricated built in the Sixties close to the church. Threatened of closing in 2005, it was maintained. From its geographical position, the college accommodates many pupils of common the neighborhoods. On 330 pupils in 2006,273 were school lunchers. In 2005-2006, the college counted three classes of 6th, three of 5th, three of 4th and three of 3rd like four divisions of SEGPA. Since 1975, an exchange between the college of Rimogne and Städtisches Gymnasium of Übach-Palenberg are organized. The Community home proposes clubs numbers: choral society, data processing, circus, theater and the ONES makes it possible to the pupils to take part in various sporting events.

Sport

The club of Football of Rimogne (the FCR) was founded in 1936. The teams play in promotion of the first division and the second division. The team has two football fields: a normal ground and a ground in stabilized allowing for example the drives when the principal ground is softened. Buildings into hard shelter the cloakrooms of the players and the referees.

The FJEP is the most important association of Rimogne. Many sports activities are proposed: Tennis, table tennis, shooting, Volleyball, Music, Badminton, Gymnastic musculation, (children, adults and third age), workshop creation and know-how, Handball, excursion. The FJEP has a room where the shooting for example is exempted: thousand Club. There is also in Rimogne a club of Judo created into 1986 which accommodates every year 125 people.

The COSEC (Evolutionary Sports complex Cover) is a structure where the courses of sport of the schoolboys take place. It also makes it possible the sports associations of the village to practice their activities. The stored material and the equipment allow many sports: basketball, football, handball, volleyball, athletics, gymnastics, etc Beside the COSEC are a Boulodrome.

During July, a recreational center is placed at the disposal of the inhabitants of the village and the villages neighborhood. Opened to the children from 3 to 16 years, it is open 9:00 to 17:00. The children can play two plays interior and external, take part in stroll in forest and of many other activities. This recreational center rises from the hive founded in 1974 by Rosemonde Castle.

Culture

The House of the Slate, museum on the past slater of Rimogne, is installed in the buildings of the old Large Pit and the powerplant. The House of Slate recalls in several rooms what was the life salte quarry of the village with such as for example the room of the winch. Various objects belonging to this past are presented to the visitor: old tools, postcards, models, statues. The point of organ of the visit is the vertical well of 185 meters on which a pane was posed, thus allowing to see the place by where the coaches full of stone went up until 1937. Lately, the museum was altered and stresses from now on more the social life and the working life with for example the model of a working house.

Rimogne also counts among its associations the only club of Questions for a champion of the the Ardennes. A Médiathèque is in construction. It is built where the old college was located, in the middle of the village, close to the church. To note that Rimogne is a village flowered rewarded by a flower since March 21st, 2007.

Personalities related to the commune

Eugene Damas, born in Rimogne on March 9th, 1844, painter, founds the artistic Union of the the Ardennes with Alphonse Colle.
Jules Desplous , born on September 26th, 1852 with Liart, Jules Desplous was doctor of medicine. He supports his thesis in 1879. July 28th, 1889, he is elected member of the council of district to represent the canton of Rocroi. He is elected general adviser on July 11th, 1893. One owes him the prolongation of the railway line of Rocroi worms Brûly-of-Couvin. Jules Desplous was mayor of Rimogne of 1899 to 1905 and 1908 to 1912). He dies on April 30th, 1919. He is made knight of the Légion of honor on a purely posthumous basis.
the abbot Gridaine , born in Rimogne on October 29th, 1764, it enters to the seminar then is named vicar of Rethel. When the Révolution bursts, it leaves in exile in Sweden where he becomes tutor at the apostolic Court then vicar. He dies in Sweden in 1832.
Armand Polèse , born in Rimogne on October 31st, 1922, resistant. Liaison officer then team leader to the Maquis of Banel, it is assassinated by the Germans on June 18th, 1944. It rests in the cemetery of the village.
Of many noble families lived and made the history of the village: Of Robert of Châtelet, Hénin-Liétard, Rousseau de Rimogne, Bodson de Noirfontaine, the Valiant one of Monchy, Habert de Montmort.

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