A century of history at the Antelme-Bérenguier house in Roquebrune sur Argens

Thanks to family archives, including photos and notarial deeds, I've been able to retrace the history of my paternal ancestors' home.

Located at the corner of Grand'Rue and Avenue Général de Gaulle in Roquebrune sur Argens. It was a two-storey house on a ground floor [1]with an attached shed and hayloft. It stood on the corner of the Grand'Rue and Avenue Palayson (or Villepey) (now Avenue Gal de Gaulle). Its purchasers were Louis and Eugénie Antelme, the parents of my paternal grandmother Jeanne Bérenguier (1908-1992). Louis (1884-1940), originally from the Haut-Var village of Trigance, was a blacksmith and Eugénie (1886-1983) (née Clavel in Roquebrune) was a dressmaker.

Jeanne and Eugénie, holding a photo that I assume is of Louis, during his mobilization in the First World War. As the other photo shows, Louis was mobilized. The 15 on his uniform indicated that he belonged to the XVth Corps, which came from the Marseille region, the Alps and Corsica - Photos Nadine Berenguier.

They bought it in 1919 and, in the forge on the first floor, Louis continued to work as a blacksmith for some time.

Here he is (on the left in the photo) in front of the forge with an unidentified companion - Photo Nadine Berenguier
Louis with Alfred, one of his younger brothers, who was also mobilized - Photo Nadine Berenguier

For reasons that I don't know exactly, but which I assume had to do with the arduous nature of his trade and the fact that Eugénie was a dressmaker, Louis changed his line of business, following the purchase in 1921 of the goodwill of Mr. Turc, a novelty and fabric merchant. A store selling clothes, hats and other fashion items was set up in the space where the forge once stood.

The store, with Eugénie (on the threshold), Jeanne in front of the window and an unidentified woman - Photo Nadine Berenguier
The store in 1930, a date suggested by the age of the baby who is none other than my father, Georges Bérenguier - Photo Nadine Berenguier

A little later (at a date unknown to me), the old coach house became the store and the hayloft was converted into bedrooms. The space thus freed up on the first floor became the family's kitchen-living room, a place I knew well as a child.

In this undated photo, the curtains in front of the door and window suggest that the store space had become the living room-kitchen - Photo Nadine Berenguier
Photo Nadine Berenguier

The Maison Antelme-Bérenguier can be seen in a number of photos of public events. Indeed, any parade from the lower part of the village to the town hall would pass in front of it. During a parade on August 15, 1939, when officials, followed by the Chasseurs Alpins brass band, were about to take to the Grand'Rue, it can be recognized by its balcony overlooking the store's banner.

Photo Nadine Berenguier

It was also at this intersection that, following the liberation of the village on August 17, 1944, a group of Roquebrunois gathered to celebrate this historic moment.

The street was already called Avenue Général de Gaulle (a plaque can be seen on the wall of the house), a change that had probably taken place not long before.

 

A few decades later, the name "Jane" was given to the store. The cane blind had disappeared.

The store in the 60s and 70s-Photo Nadine Berenguier

 

"Jane's" existed until my grandmother Jeanne retired in the late 80s. The store was then sold to the Concerto real estate agency, which was based there for several decades. Since the early 2020s, the space has been occupied by an architectural firm (Architecture.20) and a landscaping firm (Simoncini Jardin).

Jeanne continued to live in the house until her death in 1992. The house was then sold and divided into apartments. However, the front door, as I've always known it, has been preserved. The former kitchen-living room, now a commercial space, has seen a succession of businesses (a grooming salon, an electronic cigarette store). For several years now, it has been home to the design agency, Donnie & Glyde.

Jeanne in 1975-Photo Nadine Berenguier
The old Antelme-Bérenguier house in 2023- Photo Nadine Berenguier

Nadine Berenguier - March 2023

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