A look back at an unusual day in Rodez, exactly 106 years ago.
As is the case this year, November 11, 1918 was a… Monday. That day, around 12:30 p.m., the prefect of Aveyron Henri-Jean-François Cassé-Barthe posted the good news on the wall of the prefecture: “The Armistice is signed! The prefect of Aveyron is happy to bring to the attention of the population this happy event which definitively consecrates the brilliant triumph of Justice and Law. Dead and alive of the heroic years, glory to you! “
A “special” day to say the least
In his book Rodez in the 20th century, Yves Carcenac notably returned to this very “special” day of November 11, 1918. So 106 years ago.
The long-awaited news spread like wildfire at the foot of the cathedral, as evidenced by the tricolor flags appearing in the windows.
Faced with this news, the municipal council met urgently in the afternoon. Yves Carcenac then tells us that in the absence of the deputy mayor of Rodez Louis Lacombe, whose functions as magistrate place him that day in Limoges, it is Eugène Raynaldy (who will succeed Louis Lacombe as deputy a few months later before becoming mayor of Rodez in 1925) who chairs the council, in the building on Place Adrien-Rozier.
Georges Clemenceau's column
A resolution is taken to pay tribute to those who fell at the front and joins the forum expressed by Georges Clemenceau.
As one can imagine, the crowd doesn't want to go home. As proposed by the town hall, a procession organized by the conscripts strolls through the streets of the city to meet in front of the gates of the prefecture where the prefect speaks. And harangue the crowd with joy.
The Spanish flu takes over
Cafes are allowed to stay open until midnight but the prefect, “ with great regret “ it is written, does not authorize the popular ball planned on the Place du Bourg. Reason given: “The Spanish flu epidemic which has just killed 27 people in Rodez “.
The party will continue throughout the week. And in particular on Sunday November 17 when a considerable crowd flocked to the mass given by Mgr Verdier. That same day, in front of the kiosk in the public garden and despite freezing rain, a mannequin representing William II was set on fire. Another expectation then takes shape in the streets of Rodez, the return of the “valiant” hairy men.
