See also: Saint-Symphorien
Saint-Symphorien is a common French, located in the department of the the Gironde and the area Aquitaine.
Geography
History
Administration
Demography
Places and monuments
a particular place…. " The working Circle " The CIRCLE, ENVIRONMENT Of YESTERDAY AND TODAYTo push the door of the working Circle, it is to enter the history, to enter world of the gem and its workmen of the forest landaise now disappeared. To enter the history of a village and “people” dependant since always and for always on this forest of the High Moor.
From this time for a long time completed remains the place. This immense and so beautiful part where still resound for little that one pays to it attention, the laughter, the anguishes and the tears of the life of formerly. Remain environment and heat. Remain the history which one tells, that one transmits, that one writes and rewrites with the mode of today. Remain the tradition. If the life and the world changed, the Working Circle, kept its heart and its vocation of always to him. Find themselves there today like yesterday, and undoubtedly like tomorrow, the men and the women of the village, who, around the liqueur-like white of the soil, come to seek the friends, the meeting, the division. The door carries principal hardly thorough, under the steps cracks the floor, in the stove burn the sticks. Men sat there who play belote. Others, with the counter, tell their last shooting party. One serves the small white to with it and makes run the coffee. The foreigner, sometimes, the foreign one, here is always welcome. To observe, question, it enters the formerly working circle, today of the friends for that it tests the desire of it and can respect it, including/understanding it little. Simplicity is of setting, the heat of rigor. Quiet daily newspaper with the animated evenings, the circle is opened with all. Always. In the respect of the place and generations which shared here their life, their forest, and their heart.
HISTORY:
At the end of the 19th century, many circles were made up in France. Thus, the village St Symphorien saw the creation of five associative establishments.
the circle of St Symphorien, whose seat is Avenue Thiers east creates with the whole beginning of the year 1873.
on December 5th, 1879, the circle of the Future installed at Bannel on the place of the Republic which will become then the coffee of the Hedges.
on June 19th, 1885, the statutes of the circle of the Union are legalized. Its seat is on the place of the Republic which will become the Hotel Commercial.
the circle of Progress is born on April 21st, 1900, with the corner of the street of July 14th and the Gambetta Course. This building, today, does not exist any more.
the circle of the workmen is the only one which currently remains. It was creates in September 1898.
The statutes of the circle of the Workmen are the subject of the order of the prefect of September 14th, 1898. The list of the founders is drawn up on September 8th, 1898. Create by the forest owners of St Symphorien and of St Leger de Balson, the purpose of the Working Circle is “to tighten the bonds of friendship which link already its members and to facilitate their purchasing power to them”. These notable buildings, republican anticlericals, sometimes freemasons, made a point of preserving a popular support near the very poor shepherds and résiniers at that time who resided in many smallholdings.
The first statutes indicate that it will be allowed neither foreign there at the Company, neither woman, nor minor. Today, these prohibitions do not appear any more in the statutes. For the history, the women will enter to the circle as from 1948. To the whole beginning, the annual contribution of 6 francs is increased to 10 francs in 1899. Become the Working Circle, it occupies the left side of the street Carnot, close to the street of July 14th. The ground belongs in 1839 to widowed Madam Hyppolite Martin Naudon. It is bought in March 1898 by the brothers Sore, Pierre and Joseph.
On this property, there exists a joint well whose access must be left free for three owners. It is still visible. It is in 1910, at the time of a general meeting which the members decide to acquire the building of the street Carnot. The Purchase will intervene precisely in 1912 with in the chair Mr Callen.
RESTORATION:
Installations are essential. Calixte Duret, architect, are charged study. The demolition of the interior partitions of the ground floor and their replacement by round cast iron pillars are necessary in order to carry out the beautiful room that the “paroupians” know.
This work is estimated at 15800 francs. The price of the building is of 13000 francs. To cover the lump sum, a loan over 10 years is planned. They are the members who cotisent themselves to join together the totality of the funds, and refundings are done by drawing lot. Eight years later, the last subscriber finds his setting.
The files, almost non-existent, do not make it possible to know all the history of the circle. The names of certain presidents were retained: Albert Dubernet, Cyprien Lacoste, Gaston Dupiol, - temporary during nearly one year - Edward Lanneluc, Rene Hazera, etc It should be noted that the circle was chaired during thirty years until 1999 by a figure of the trade union movement Mr Raymond Lagardere.
If the old files are rare, the circle has a superb collection of the Newspaper the Illustration, of 1900 to 1932. Only certain memories remain. About 1920, the “tenant” is Arnaud Courbin says Richard, comes then Raymond Hazera, as well as a Lapédagne family member. About 1930, Marcel Mérille officiates there during 8 years. Joseph Fillot remains 6 months there before Lalagüe Louis enters there in 1938. Consequently, his/her 18 year old daughter, Raymonde helps her parents, then takes their succession and occupies itself some during long years, until 1982.
The “paroupians” adore to give “chaffres” and for all, it was, is, and will be Raymonde of the Circle, with a point of affection, each one remembering its obligingness and its kindness. It contributed to establish the cordial climate who reigns in this place, favourable with the exchanges and the discussions. Hunting, the sport are the favorite subjects which treat with it, without forgetting, in spite of the statutes which stipulate that “the political questions and nuns are formally prohibited” to mention certain social problems, communal or national. The card decks are current. On the other hand, the games of chance are prohibited.
CENTENARY:
The Circle celebrated its 100 years the L er May 1998. The spectacle given to this occasion “The hand with the pocket” stresses the working aspect of the evolution of the circle: 1925, policy change with the trust of the lefts; 1936, the popular front, 1939/45 occupation and release; 1967 the last great congress of the trade union of the sharecroppers gemmeurs.
During the occupation, part of the circle was requisitioned. The big room converted into dormitory is prohibited to the members. The German soldiers take their meals there. The part postpones where Raymonde sells wine to the members when the leaders of the circle can get some often serves as “mess” to the German officers. The kitchen is installed outside, along the wall, where currently is the garage with bicycles and Bodega.
ANECDOCTE:
An incident makes it possible to measure the noxious atmosphere of this time. About 1943-44, a coffee of St Symphorien proposes with its customers wine in abundance. In front of the complaints of the members, Mr. Cyprien Lacoste, former mayor and President of the Circle manages to get some. This wine is stored in the cellar of the establishment. Two or three days after, a controller presents himself to check stocks, probably on denunciation. The business shows the confiscation of the product, a strong fine to be paid and the resignation of the President. The members have cotiser to join together the sum to be spent.
Today, the Circle is open in evening of the Tuesday to Sunday between 17:00 and 21 hours. Each month, the Circle accommodates regional musical groups. It is the alive memory of the High moor in South the Gironde. The Circle is an associative bar which gathers 240 members who elect each year a Board of directors. Its contribution is of 6 euros per annum. For one year the working circle has been adherent association " Coffee of Country " . It is chaired by Alain Chollon.
Personalities related to the commune
See too
- Common of the Gironde
External bonds
- Saint-Symphorien on the site of the national geographical Institute
- Saint-Symphorien on the site of INSEE
- Saint-Symphorien on the site of Quid
- Localization of Saint-Symphorien on a chart of France and communes bordering
- Plane on Saint-Symphorien on Mapquest
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