Villeneuve-the-Garenne

Geography

Villeneuve-the-Garenne is located at the extreme North-East of the department of the Hauts-de-Seine, with the limit of the Seine-Saint-Denis. The commune is bordered by left bank of the the Seine, vis-a-vis the island Saint-Denis.

History

August 1st In the beginning Garenne was a hamlet of fishermen and extended on one kilometer along the the Seine (on both sides of the current bridge of the Island-Saint-Denis).
Starting from 1844 this district of Gennevilliers develops rather quickly, with the construction of two suspended bridges.
That located at the center of the borough located in the prolongation of the avenue of Gennevilliers (which occurred of Verdun currently) was conceived by Marc Seguin. It allows, since this date to connect, Villeneuve, initially with the agglomeration of Saint-Denis (while crossing the Island Saint Denis) then of Paris since two years later the Railroad of North connecting Paris to Saint Denis is built.
However the inhabitants pass the bridge with the help of a Octroi. This suspended bridge used until the beginning of the 20th century inspired much painter, in particular Alfred Sisley.
At the time of the War of 1870, there was with Villeneuve a battery, small a fears which never was completely finished. It was located vis-a-vis Epinay on the Seine, currently avenue of Redoute
In 1903 a new broader bridge, (or it is interdict of trotter) replaces the suspended bridge. This modernization contributes to the development of the hamlet.
Canoeing, the guinguettes, bar-restaurants and other bars multiply (the 100 Kilos, Beautiful Gabrielle, money the Head, gold the Head, the Sundial, with the picolo of Auvergne…) In 1920 they has about thirty it there approximately. The dwellings of the hamlet, are essentially concentrated along the quays and of the avenue of Gennevilliers (which occurred of Verdun current) or of superb houses are construites.

The assessment of the floods of 1910 is catastrophic.
In spite of the dams water reached 1,20m in many places.
The cultures are devastated, the houses collapse many animals perish drowned.
In the hamlet of Villeneuve one is quickly obliged to enter the houses by the windows of the 1st stage because the ground floor is impracticable.
As of on January 21st, the avenue of Gennevilliers (which occurred of Verdun) and of Asnières (data base Gallieni) are submerged. January 26th the schools are evacuated.
In the night from January 27th to 28th, the dams are submerged. The most touched families are evacuated in the boats or the boats of fortune.
January 29th the flood is general. It is only at the beginning of February that the fall starts, but it will take several weeks to clean muds and to clear the streets of the clusters of scrap and refuse of all kinds.

Schools; School complexes; College

Before 1888 the schools however are located at 3 km, Gennevilliers of which Villeneuve forms part, except for a small private school installed in 1853.
Starting from 1888 a public school complex is born… (street of the old schools currently…), in 1910 a school of boys is built and the population increasing in 1910 the increased school complex. In the years 1950 the buildings of the school complex are arranged and raised to become the current school complex Edouard Manet.

Independence of the hamlet

After the First World War, the hamlet wishes to become autonomous. The distance of the center of Gennevilliers is increasingly awkward. The economic life and social is organized, the population increases, of the new companies settle, creating jobs and the opening of several trade. At the time of separation in 1927 one counts 3 bakeries, 3 butcheries, 1 pork-butchery, 1 fish shop, 3 slags stockbreeders, 12 grocers, of horticulturists etc…
The first mayor of Villeneuve will be Mr Homère Robert.

Industrial history

the first shipyards are the establishment Rarchaert founded in 1880.

In 1881, the factory Homberger and Allard, manufacturer of the articles for flour-milling, settles street of the Factory (street Dupont de Chambon). It has its office and its store with Paris, 27-29 rue de Viarmes where one can find all the necessary one for the Minoterie.

In 1891 a laboratory of chemicals and medicinal (Pointet) settles, street of the Factory (street Dupont de Chambon).

In 1893, the factory Pointet is increased and transferred to the angle from the avenue from Gennevilliers (which occurred of Verdun) and from the way from Reniers (avenue Jean Jaurès) and becomes Pointet-Girard. This factory which manufactured bismuth quinine and iodine salts. At the same place was established later the company Rhône-Poulenc.

In 1898 the building sites Van Den Bosch settle.

At the beginning of the 20th century Villeneuve is the stronghold of the laboratories; Naline S `installs street of the Green path, and becomes establishments Mouneyrat (name of the doctor which developed several treatments, against the Syphilis and the Paludisme inter alia). This laboratory of point carried out research in particular on the hectine derived from the Arsenic.

In 1903 automotive engineering is in full rise; Charles Petiet then young engineer, creates the company of the automobile Ariès, named thus because of the force and the agility of the ram. Its factory is located quay of Argenteuil (quay Sisley). As of 1906 the factories provide London buses on floor, taxis in New York, vehicles for Russian aeronautics , of the railcars for the railroads. They feed from the transport companies in the whole world, without forgetting the French Army.

Charles Petiet takes part in many automobile contests. Rather than to affirm itself in the sporting field Charles Petiet imposes his model by their quality and their robustness and specializes in the commercial vehicles with body adapted to various activities (passenger transport, delivery, army, etc…) In 1913 the Ariès R6 put at the test of endurance is preceded, it will be useful at the time of the Great War. After the war Ariès settles with Courbevoie.
Ariès remains until in 1938.

In 1919 it is Walter Van Praet on behalf of the Franco-Belgian Shipyards which are established.

In 1923 Walter Van Praet acquires a new workshop located quay of Argenteuil (quay Sisley).

In 1924 the company Davum (company of Deposit and Agency of Sale of Iron-foundries) up to that point installed with Paris, will replace the establishments founded Salmon in 1918.

Installed along the the Seine (quay of the Mill of Cage) the warehouses cover approximately 4 hectares (40.000m2), sheltering steel sheets, sheets, strip iron, nettings, etc… Two kilometers of railways and thirty five meters of wharves made this company (which still exists) one of the largest employers of the commune. It was bombarded the June 22nd 1944 and sudden of the large damage.

In 1926 the establishments Georges Losfeld (successor since 1921 of the Franco-American company of bed linen) located boulevard of Asnières (Boulevard Gallieni) put at the bridge a mattress in Kapok, vegetable sleeping bag light which is used to fill the cushions and life jackets. These mattresses are the subject of original tests on water.

In 1927 work of foundations of the Cokeries of the Seine start. This factory opens its doors in 1929 year or Villeneuve becomes an independent commune. Its activity consists in distilling the coal S French of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais, English of the area of Durham and German of the the Ruhr, which arrive by rail and inland waterway. Located on the Dequevauvilliers boulevard, it constitutes one of the most important industry of the commune. It feeds the very close gas works, which is partly on Villeneuve . It was bombarded on August 2nd, 1944 and undergoes many damage.

Demography

Administration

List mayors

Inheritance

Bar of the 100 Kilos: The coffee-hotel-restaurant of the 100 Kilos was located on the avenue of Gennevilliers, (currently which occurred of Verdun) and street Dupont of Chambon. It was the name of an association creates in 1885 by the owner of the coffee Mr Bernard Judas.

Adhesion with association was reserved to the people weighing a minimum of 100 kilograms.
There exists still a coffee bearing the same name but located on the opposite pavement (place André Malraux).

Personalities related to the commune

Alfred Sisley remained several times at Villeneuve.
Miss Dupont de Chambon (- 1909) living opera singer of Villeneuve, militant for an independent commune. Its house will be the first town hall of Villeneuve.
Philippe Cattiau, fencer, assistant mayor
Roger Provost, mayor during 46 years there deceased in 1999 during its mandate.
Thierry the Gatekeeper, celebrates trainer, who based his activities in Villeneuve-the-Garenne.
William Gallas, Footballer, grew there.

See too

Notes, sources and references

external bonds

official site

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