Contact: Mother or Country Benoit Duchemin — 02 35 77 28 94
Email: ent.duchemin@orange.fr
1901 Foundation of the Le Havre section in the presence of President LEROUX, Delegate of the General Directorate, Compagnon Ferblantier « Agen the Philosophy of the Union ». He was assisted by a number of Companions who were believed to have come from the cities of Rouen and Elbeuf. The Companion FORTIN is appointed President of the Cayenne.
The evolution of our section could be divided into five epochs:
1) 1901-1909
At its inception, the section had about 50 registered Companions. Madame BEAUCAMP Marcelle, tenancier of a café-restaurant, was Mother of the section. That coffee was called « Gargot ». The Companions were gathering « Gold Apple » Danton.
2) 1909 to 1918
The Companions obtained a local to make it their Cayenne and created professional courses in 1911 at the Franklin Circle. The Country MATHIESE, Companion Charpenter « Normand Solomon's Support » received in Lyon, arrives in Le Havre. 1914 World War I, many Companions were mobilized.
3) 1919 to 1939
1919: a glimmer of hope. The section regains its vitality. A meeting takes place at 21 rue de la Paix (11 Companions present). On 1 October, professional courses were created. Then begins a great time. Charpente, carpentry: Professor of Country MATHIESE.
1920 : at a meeting on 26 February, the Country MATHIESE proposes to make an agape at Madame FOUACHE (wife of Companion) who holds a coffee and wishes to make her receive Lady Hostess, then Mother, which was accepted unanimously.
1921 : Country MATHIESE is elected President and under his leadership the professional and advanced courses will take on a large scale. These will be crowned by the success of trades exhibitions:
- Wheel — Honorary degree 1923
- Paris — Honorary degree 1923
- Paris — Out of competition 1924
- Sotteville — Silver Medal 1925
Student work is on display at the end of the year. Many of them are admitted Aspirants then received Companions and among them some will animate the section.
1933 : the country DUMONT, Compagnon Serrurier « Maconnais the Heart Cef » received in Lyon in 1899, arrived in Le Havre in 1921, was elected President. In 1935, the torso arrow (collective work) won us a gold medal at the Rouen exhibition. Our section then had 150 Companions registered since its foundation.
1939-1945 : World War II. 23 Companions are mobilized, those who remain in Le Havre sleep.
1941 : 10 Companions prisoners.
(4) 1945-2002
1945: everything has to be done again. But no discouragement among Companions. Times have changed and mentalities have changed too. The lure of gain comes before the taste of work. Modernism and machinism have widened the gap between speed and quality. A historic meeting brings together all the Companions in the workshop of the Chicot Country (22 Companions present, 3 excuses). This will be the revival of the Le Havre section with the reopening of professional courses. 13th Congress of theUnion compagnonnique in Montauban. Country DUMONT is present. Delegates refused to cooperate with the Workers' Association created under German occupation in 1942.
25 August 1945: Induction of Mrs Chicot Cécile, Mother of the Cayenne du Havre as « Normande Loyal Heart ».
December 1945: installation of a new Franklin room that will serve as Cayenne and classroom.
1951 : The section of Le Havre celebrates its 50th anniversary. Country DESPRES, President General, and Country LEROUX, founder, are present. The section of Paris offers the banner to the Cayenne.
1953 : the section of Le Havre writes a circular « Alert at the Tour de France » which is sent to all sections. This circular provokes great turmoil and the congress is advanced one year.
1954 : 15th Congress of theUnion compagnonnique. During the course of work, a great enthusiasm arises. The SENECAL Country is unanimously elected President General, the CHICOT Country Vice-President General and the FOUYE Country Secretary General.
1955-1957: the section has a great momentum of activity and many Young people are received Companions. The reconstruction of the city is accelerated.
1957 : 16th Congress of theUnion compagnonnique Towers. The SENECAL, CHICOT and FOUYE Countries are re-elected to the General Directorate.
1958 : the founding country LEROUX of the section dies.
1960 : 17th Congress of theUnion compagnonnique in Châteauroux. The Tour de France once again gives its confidence to the Directorate General.
1963 : 18th Congress in Geneva. After 9 years in the General Directorate, the countries SENECAL, CHICOT and FOUYE resigned under thunders of applause.
1965 : the section of Le Havre organizes the travelling exhibition of the works performed by the Companions. The first takes place in Le Havre at the Town Hall.
1969 : Madame PITON is inducted Mother of La Cayenne du Havre.
1973/74 : The Le Havre section strives to maintain its activities and carpentry courses under the supervision of the UZENAT Country.
1975 : 22ème Congrès au Havre. Les assises ont lieu à la Bourse de Commerce et en même temps exposition de travaux et de vieux outils. A l’issue de ce congrès, sont élus :
- SENECAL Country Vice-President General,
- the GAUTY Country Secretary General,
- le Pays LEPICARD Commissaire Adjoint au journal Nord,
- Country UZENAT Treasurer Deputy General.
1981 : après les travaux de restauration du cercle Franklin, la section du Havre réintègre ses locaux et les Compagnons réaménagent leur Cayenne. Celle-ci sera inaugurée en juin sous la présidence du Pays UZENAT.
1990 à 2000 : participation à divers festivals des métiers (Bayeux, Reviers).
(5) 2003 to the present
2003 : suite à une réorganisation de l’occupation des locaux de Franklin, il n’est plus possible pour les Compagnons de se réunir après 20 h 30. Le 5 mai, les Compagnons visitent les locaux de l’ancienne école Louis Pasteur à Harfleur, accompagnés des représentants de la Mairie. Le 1er septembre, se déroule la première réunion dans les nouveaux locaux.
2004 : le 13 juin, Véronique DUCHEMIN, épouse du Pays Normand « l’Amour du Trait » est nommée Dame Hôtesse de la Cayenne du Havre.
2005 : le 18 juin, après des travaux de mise aux normes (financés en grande partie par la ville d’Harfleur) inauguration de la salle d’exposition de travaux compagnonniques. Reprise des cours de dessin.
2007 : 30 juin inauguration officielle de la Cayenne d’Harfleur.
6) Depuis 2007
Stages d’initiation à la taille de pierre sur le site dit de « La porte de Rouen » à Harfleur en collaboration avec la ville.
26 juin 2010 : intronisation de la Dame-Hôtesse, Véronique Duchemin, Normande la Bienveillante.
Possibilité de logements pour les itinérants (4 couchers).
Possibilité de cours de dessin (charpente, menuiserie, taille de pierre).
Réunion deux fois par mois, le dernier vendredi du mois, et un lundi par mois (dates définies chaque début d’année).
À ce jour, 1 Mère, 18 Compagnons, 2 Aspirants, 4 Sociétaires.
Métiers représentés : pâtissier, cuisiniers, boulanger, tailleurs de pierre, chapelier, sculpteur pierre et bois, couvreurs, menuisiers, peintre-décorateur, vitrailliste, armurier-monteur à bois.
MOF actuels :
- Pierre Déchamps, sculpteur sur bois,
- Pierre Caillet, cuisinier.
