In its “Images d'antan” collection, Éditions Hervé Chopin has just published “Le Puy-de-Dôme d'Antan”, a work made up of texts by Jean-Baptiste Ledys and a selection of 250 images created during the Belle Époque to be sold as postcards.
A book of old postcards illustrating the history of the department is not really new and even “déjà vu”. But when we have in hand The Puy-de-Dôme of yesteryear by Jean-Baptiste Ledys, we say to ourselves that this formidable iconographic material accumulated by collectors can be used to articulate large chapters to constitute a real history book which respects a clever balance between texts and illustrations.
The Puy-de-Dôme of yesteryear or the images of a bygone era
250 old maps, from different collections, have been selected and divided into 7 thematic chapters: agriculture, economic activity, transport, large cities, everyday life, leisure and hydrotherapy. In his foreword, the author recalls that at the beginning of the 20th century the department was undergoing profound change even if the postcard images give the impression of “a society living an eternal day”. Their observation stimulates the imagination and it is with a hint of nostalgia that we imagine the life of the inhabitants of a region still marked by rurality. The way of life has remained simple, rhythmed by the seasons. But during what we call the Belle Époque, reality is not exactly what we like to fantasize about. Indeed, from the middle of the 19th century, France changed, and so did Auvergne. In 1846 there were no fewer than 600,000 inhabitants in Puy-de-Dôme, but many were increasingly attracted to large cities. The countryside begins to depopulate. The workers moved closer to Clermont, but also to Lyon and especially Paris, which quickly became the meeting point for the bougnats. Between 1846 and 1911 Puy-de-Dôme lost 76,000 inhabitants.
And the department is gradually moving towards modernity
Despite everything, life goes on. The numerous photos bear witness to the activities of the countryside where vines are cultivated, forests are managed, herds are looked after and cheeses are produced. In the cities they make tires and knives, they roll cigarettes. Elsewhere, ore or trachyandesites are exploited and to support the activity, a road network is developed, tram and railway rails are laid, which requires the construction of bridges and viaducts. If the towns are modernizing, they still offer the spectacle of fairs and markets while during the week, women frequent the wash houses while the children learn. On Sundays, all these little people meet up at church or at the bistro to indulge in a hobby or attend the first sports clubs. Auvergne is even at the forefront of leisure and tourism. Helped by the train, hydrotherapy is developing and Parisians are discovering skiing on the slopes of Sancy. The native Auvergnats find themselves in vogue and dance the soufflé, the general mobilization order has not yet been posted.
Puy-de-Dôme d’Antan is a work published by Éditions Hervé Chopin in the series Images of yesteryeara vast collection which has titles notably devoted to France, Auvergne, Clermont and Saint-Etienne in identical formats.
Jean-Baptiste Ledys for his part is a journalist, he works for the regional daily press which for 20 years has assigned him to numerous offices located in the four departments of the former administrative Auvergne. His extensive knowledge of the land allows him today to pass on his knowledge of local heritage. He is also the author of several books includingHistory of aviation in Cantal and the Dictionary of Auvergne aviators of the First World War.
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