LOCAL LIFE: BETWEEN THE WARS, 1919-1939

Lapeyrouse emerged traumatised from the appalling holocaust.

Still, life had to go on: had one not just lived through the "der des der" (war to end all wars)? Without reaching pre-war levels (30 in 1914) , the birth rate rose; 20 births in 1920 (the joys of reunion) then an ebb; 15 in 1921 and 10 in 1922: then an increase ; 7 in 1923, 21 in 1924 (the record of these 20 years), 19 in 1925, 14 in 1926, 20 in 1927, then 15 in 1928, then a slack period ( only 6 births in 1934 and 9 in 1938). On the whole, during these 20 years the demographic balance remained largely in deficit (minus 114). Although diminishing greatly, infant mortality still struck and especially tuberculosis; this terrible illness, now controlled, caused havoc and decimated families.

Apart from 1923, where there was a positive balance of 2, 1927 of 1 and 1932 of 1, the 17 other years are negative (-16 in 1922) here is a table of comparisons;

Year	Births	Deaths	Difference	Year	Births	Deaths	Difference
1920	20	22	-2	1930	11	16	-5
1921	15	19	-4	1931	12	25	-13
1922	10	26	-16	1932	15	14	+1
1923	17	15	+2	1933	15	20	-5
1924	21	22	-1	1934	6	17	-11
1925	19	20	-1	1935	13	25	-12
1926	14	23	-9	1936	15	18	-3
1927	20	19	+1	1937	16	20	-4
1928	15	25	-10	1938	9	24	-15
1929	15	17	-2	1939	17	22	-5

TOTAL: 295 births and 409 deaths; difference: -114

So the population count decreased continually in the various censuses. From 1,300 at the beginning of 1921, we go down to 1,283 in May 1926 and 1,218 in 1936.

The happiest period was without doubt from 1924 to 1930, before the world economic crisis of 1930 to 1935.

From the Armistice until 1924, the readjustment and the reorganisation were quite difficult. Labour was in short supply, (too many missing, and too many amputees, most of whom were unfit for work). The failure of the great strike by the opposition party, in 1920, ended in several dismissals.

The first thought of the Municipal Council was that the memory be perpetuated. On 27th July 1919, in an extraordinary session, the Council decided on the erection of a monument to the dead and asked permission to take 10 m2 of the boys' yard, in which to build it. This monument would be a permanent example for the pupils (estimated cost; 4,255 F).

A public subscription raised 3,076 F (Mr Fournier 70 F), the rest was provided by the commune.

The 6th June 1920, the erection was entrusted to the firm of Tourneaux (3,146 F) with a supplement of 164 F for the palm, 1,155 F for the chains, 20 F for the earthworks, 225 F for the excavations and 150 F for the column. The Council decided on the construction of a granite border (21x 8x 21) and a railing 1m high (cost 1,050 F: paid to Chassagne of Commentry). Session of 6th November 1921.

The 19th October 1919, the Council allocates the sum of 200 F for the celebration of the "Poilus" (nickname for the veterans) of 16 November 1919.

Elections of 30th November 1919: 16 counsellors;

304 votes : DUJON Maire at Manifaix 270 votes : BUVAT
Victor, La Loge

283 votes : THUIZAT Gilbert, Les Cérisiers 269 votes :
Tourneaux Alexis, Le Bourg

283 votes : PHILIPPON Alexis, Le Mont 249 votes : GRAND
Louis, Les Aiguillons

276 votes : ROBIN Alphonse, Montmirail 244 votes : BRUN
Baptiste, La Maison Neuve

274 votes : DURANTHON Gilbert, Le Breux 241 votes : ARDOIN
Alexandre, Le Vernet

273 votes : MARTIN Alphonse, Le Cluzeau 235 votes TOIZAT
Jean at Peuchaud

272 votes : LANDRIEVE Louis, La Corre 231 votes : ROBERT
Alexandre at La Faye

271 votes : FAYOLLE Léon, Le Créchol 214 votes : LEPEIX
Isidore at Le Créchol

The 7th December, Monsieur Alphonse MARTIN was elected mayor by 9 out of 16 electors (7 voted for Monsieur Dujon).

Monsieur Alexis TOURNEAUX was elected deputy mayor by 16 votes out of 16.

The new council fixes the price of bread as the same as at Montaigut, limits to 50l the part of the tobacco quota sold at the Station for local smokers, the rest being for travellers. 600 F is allocated to Monsieur Catel for the census.

The 21st August 1921, it decides to donate 1kg of meat to all the poor of the commune, for the Village Fête, a measure repeated in 1923.

In 1923, 359 F was granted for the Fête (200 F of which went towards fireworks).

From 1st January 1924, 5 F worth of bread a month was given to the poor. Aid to women in confinement was limited from 1st January 1924 to the neediest.

The commune intervened often in these cases, as well as giving aid to large families and helping with hospital charges.

The 27th November 1921, the council asks for details of the high tension line which was to cross the commune.

At the request of the commune of Buxières, the council gives a favourable opinion on the creation of a station at Lannet (25th June 1922).

The council votes a 500 F grant for the fair of 11th December.

The "groupe scolaire" (a grouping of local schools) and the Mairie are insured for 120,000F

In the budget there appear receipts of 38,205 F and payments of 34,069 F, giving a surplus of 4,136 F, making 26,654 F with other accumulated surpluses.

The council rejected the offer, by the administration, of foreign workers (mainly Polish or Italians, friendly countries with high birth rates), as the railway workers were having trouble finding housing and there was a lack of work during some seasons. The purchase of a cinema was decided on (useful for teaching agriculture) as well as the reorganisation of the library.

The cinema cost 2,000 F + 2,000 F increase (25th November 1923). Accounts 1923: overspending; 15,108 F. This sum was deducted from the end of year surplus of 1922 (26,634 F) this surplus thus being reduced to 11, 525 F.

The council refuses the removal of the PN 240 (Les Partiers), as it passes over the St-Eloy line (28 trains a day).

1924: Monsieur Cote is named as mayor's secretary.

After 1924, prosperity grew at Lapeyrouse; on a wind of optimism, they built. The number of bicycles and cars grew, harvesting machines appeared and then presses.

Horses became plentiful, the work was easier, businesses prospered, as well as craftsmanship (forges, carters, carpentry, clog-making, etc…).

On the 15th March 1925, a unanimous council asked the opposition party to create a railway station at Laval. In fact the last stage of the inter-communal 148 would be finished in 1925, coming from Hyds and arriving at the locality of Le Chiez (only 800 m remained to be built in Lapeyrouse) whilst Beaune proposed the construction of a road to Laval, which would make this station very useful for the three communes, especially for agriculture (lime, potatoes; seeds, straw and hay). Instead of travelling 6, 8, or 10 kms, the goods would be nearly on the spot, which would save time. A subscription had already raised 30,000 F and the commune undertook to do what it could.

At this same, most important meeting, it was decided to go ahead with the project of electrification.

Elections of 10th May 1925: Messieurs Martin and Tourneaux were re-elected (each got 15 votes). Accounts: final results; surplus of receipts, 11,525 F (payments 41,525 F).
Final results of 1924: surplus of receipts 25,839 F (payments 37,800 F).

For the census of winter 1925-26, 800 F is allocated to Monsieur Cote. 1926: Monsieur Alphonse Boirot, born 20th February 1895, is named village constable, replacing Monsieur Lescher.

On the 17th August 1926, the council decides to donate 1kg of meat to the 16 poor of the commune.

A bye-law which would make us smile today: that of 21st December 1926, "in built up areas motor-driven vehicles must not exceed the following speed limits; lorries (more than 3,000kg loaded) 10 km/hr, light vehicles (less than 3,000 kg) 20 km/hr".

In the accounts of 1926 the total receipts were 44,458 F and payments 49,981 F, making a deficit of 5,523 F, which brings the general excess to 20,316 F, this surplus being reduced to 11,927 F after 1927, 11,147 F after 1928 but 20,067 F after 1929.

After inflation, today the accounts of 1929 would be 161,533 F in receipts and 152,052 F in outgoings.

The year 1927 saw the progress of the electrification of the commune. The 19th January the council (all members present) proposed the creation of an intercommunal union, bringing together all the communes of the canton and drew up membership regulations. On the 6th November of the same year, the council became a full member of the Union of the region of St-Eloy-Les-Mines, which had been recently created, and committed itself to a contribution of 314,000 F (the state giving a 50% subsidy).

The 31st December 1927, Monsieur Félix Aumaitre replaced Monsieur Cote as mayor's secretary.

The P.O. was asked to install a crane for loading and unloading goods.

Electrification was the great accomplishment of this period.

Founder member of the Union of the St-Eloy region, for an unlimited duration, the commune of Lapeyrouse takes out a loan at the Crédit Agricole, at 5.5%

In the meetings of 10th June 1928 and 4th November 1928, the electrification is declared a public utility and the concession given to the company Loire and Centre, public and private lighting as well as the generator.

On the 18th November 1928, it was decided to sell some of the property of the commune in case the loan was not covered.

Monsieur Felix Aumaitre agrees to provide an after-school course in agriculture, in return for an annual payment of 200 F.

At the May 1929 elections the following candidates are elected:

PHILIPPON Alexis GRAND Louis

CIVADE Auguste ROBIN Alphonse

MARTIN Alphonse LANDRIEVE Louis

LESCHER Marcel BUVAT Victor

DURANTHON Gilbert TOURNEAUX Alexis

GAZUT Adolphe ARDOIN Alexandre

DUJON François BRUN Baptiste

FAYOL Alphonse LEPEIX Isidore

A total of 16 counsellors. Monsieur MARTIN is re-elected mayor with 15 votes.

Monsieur TOURNEAUX was re-elected deputy mayor (10 votes), 4 votes going to Monsieur BUVAT and 1 to LESCHER Marcel.

The 3rd February the council refused the request of the Mayor of Montluçon to contribute to the purchase of an automatic fire-pump, Montluçon being 25 kms away from Lapeyrouse. Meeting of 16th June 1929: the loan taken out with the Crédit Agricole at a very heavy interest rate (5.5%) only being covered for the time being at 200,000 F (and 380,000 F being necessary), the municipal council decides to sell communal property at La Loge and Les Partiers (the loan to close 30th June).

Monsieur Lafanachère Louis Alexandre is appointed village policeman.

A cantonnier (commune worker) is appointed for 6 months (2nd November to 30th April), for a sum of 2,400 F for 6 months: Monsieur Peynet Protais.

The sale of communal property took place 8th Septembre 1929.

It raised more than was necessary for the electrification and the excess was used for the purchase of government stock .

The sale of Bregeat had a fortunate effect on local life. Four houses were built there (the inhabitants of 3 of them were outsiders) and we had (at last!) a garage.

The third decade of the 20th century (the first post-war) finished on a note of regained prosperity, and even improved in the economic, agricultural and commercial sectors.

The school was very much alive; pupil figures oscillated between 130 and 140. While not regaining 1910 levels (when there were 172 pupils 1st April, and 103 boys and 98 girls in winter), the school had a good level of activity.

The agricultural sector was quite prosperous (doryphore not having yet appeared).There were big fairs. Agricultural machines abounded but they were still animal-driven.

Many of the young conscripts served (up to 1928) in occupied Germany. A few served in the Rif war in Morocco. But in general peace reigned in the world and Lapeyrouse savoured the fruits: high levels of production, plenty of trade, especially in agriculture (lime, charcoal, fertilisers, cereals) and foodstuffs (two butchers, three wine merchants, four grocers, two tobacconists, restaurants etc).

The fêtes of Le Bourg and the Station drew large crowds. The numbers of cars and lorries multiplied.

The decade ended in 1929 with a rediscovered prosperity and with a promising future (the magic of electricity was at the threshold…).

LOCAL LIFE: 1929-1939

During this decade there were only 129 births (there had been 166 in the previous decade). There were 201 deaths, against 193 between 1919 and 1929.

The advance of deaths over births is thus 72 between 1929 and 1939, and 27 between 1919 and 1929.

There was a lot of construction during this period: at La Loge, at Le Bregheat, at Le Bourg and at La Maison Rouge.

Prosperity continued; the world crisis of 1929-1930 reached Lapeyrouse only in 1934-5. The benefits of progress were enjoyed: in particular electricity (installed from 1930-1932) and, bottled gas. Coal from St-Eloy was used increasingly; agricultural machinery was improving and was more common (notably presses).

The station was working flat out (coal, lime, fertilisers, agricultural products, wine and all sorts of goods) with a high number of passengers. There was work for all: the transfer of goods wagons onto the narrower economical railway line occupied a large team of workers. The construction, in 1932-1933, of a new branch line (1100 m) for kaolin employed tens of labourers for more than a year (there were no bulldozers yet).

A few Lapeyrousiens took advantage of the railway to visit the Colonial Exhibition of 1930, where they found all things exotic: from crocodiles to the reconstruction of the temples of Angkor.

THE FIRST TARMAC AT LAPEYROUSE

The surfacing of the main road to Villonne took a long time: months and months, even years. The tarmac was delivered in 200 litre barrels, reheated in boilers (huge cauldrons) on the side of the road, poured into buckets and spread out with long-handled scrubbing brushes. The labourers lived with their families in small wooden houses pulled by the steam rollers

Carried out in this archaic fashion, although the top layer was done with tar boilers in tankers, the tar did not withstand very long. With the lack of maintenance inherent in wartime, by 1945 the road was in a very poor state.

The station was busy. Steam locomotives drew into the depot, refilled with water and coal and turned with the help of the turning bridge. The shifting of the points and the many manoeuvres demanded a fair-sized workforce.

The hotel-restaurants were kept busy. In the big waiting room one could buy from the kiosk at passenger train arrival times, newspapers, magazines and tobacco,. When, in 1937, the P.O.-MIDI was nationalised and became part of the S.N.C.F., employment reached its maximum (with more than 50 employees; the 11 railway houses in the commune were all occupied). The contribution of this population of rail workers compensated for the demographic deficit. Certain of these outsiders remained in the village. During the fourth decade of the 20th century, the station knew sustained prosperity and activity.

But the great annual Fête of the Station was in decline; in 1935, it took all the dynamism of Lino, the Italian builder, for it to regain its previous splendour.

AGRICULTURE

Agriculture was not in the same happy situation: the appearance in 1931 of doryphore, the coleoptere which arrived at our ports from the direction of America, was to ruin the production of our "Mijeux de Treuffes"(potato variety) so envied by our neighbours. The damage was to increase in magnitude and the area planted with potatoes diminished. At Lapeyrouse the children had however brought these new insects to show to the "Moniteur of Puy-De-Dome"(a newspaper).

Then came the fall in wheat prices. The agenda of the Laval government was the battle against the high cost of living and the lowering of food prices. After the recognition of the U.S.S.R., an ambassador was sent to Moscow, and a trade treaty was signed which included importation of Russian wheat. This supply of wheat coincided with a surplus crop in France, causing wheat prices to collapse, a problem aggravated by speculation. Wheat which had sold at 80 F the quintal rapidly fell to 56 and even 55 F. In 1934 and 35 it spelt ruin for many farmers forced to sell all or part of their property. The hardest hit were the elderly who were unfit for work and without a pension, as well as large families, there being no child benefit. In October prices rose to 105 F, but producers had already sold their wheat and the damage was done. The Wheat Board was created in 1936, and in 1937 wheat was bought at 200 F the quintal, which led to an improvement in the fortune of our farmers. An improvement lessened however, by the circumstances of a smaller crop and the creation, in 1937, of the arms tax which hit all food, manufactured and industrial goods. To complete the list of disasters in the rural world, there were the droughts of 1936 and (especially) 1939, and the apparition of foot-and-mouth disease, "la cocotte" (pressure cooker), during one whole summer.

Commercial activity was well sustained during this decade (despite the lack of money). In 1928, a butchery opened at La Loge, adding to that at Le Bourg, then a charcuterie in 1935-6. There were numerous groceries; food and agricultural businesses were busy. A doctor, Dr Pierre Gibert, established himself at Bruges. Craftsmanship also progressed: a fixed sawmill at La Loge replaced the mobile saw benches and the seasonal workers who based themselves on communal land (at Le Bregheat and Le Monteix in particular). There were two hairdressing salons at Le Bourg, several joiners, dress-makers, building firms, clog-makers, and shoe-menders. There were several forges and the blacksmiths were extremely busy due to the great number of working horses and oxen. There were as yet no tractors. The wheelwright was busy, as was the carpenter.

The period 1929-1933 passed without too many hazards. But towards 1934, and above all 1935, the atmosphere became subdued and then uncertain. The economic crisis was accompanied by events that were more and more serious. Following the Stavisky affair, the attempted coup d'état of 6th February 1934 fired imaginations. This increased in 1935 with the occupation of the left bank of the Rhine, the war between Italy and Ethiopia and the rupture after Stresa. From then on national as well as international events outweighed all everyday preoccupations. As early as 1935, the priest Bacconet evoked in his sermons our "dangerous Eastern neighbour".

The year 1936 was very agitated. The Popular Front had triumphed in Spain in February; in France the news was similar; of the 8 deputies elected at Ambert all were socialists, except one radical-socialist, Chassaing and the right-wing radical, Lachal. At Riom there were 5 candidates: A. Varenne, Diot (P.C.)Alfred Ratelade (farmer), Galland (on the right and unorthodox) and Chardonnet. At Lapeyrouse the election of Alfred Ratelade with a lead of 84 votes was invalidated by the Chamber of Deputies.

A second election was held: A Varenne not being represented, S.F.I.O. Coulaudon was elected. The impassioned climate, exacerbated by the Spanish Civil war (18th July 1936), and the great strikes and factory sit-ins, lasted more than 6 months. On Sunday evenings the "town lads" passed by in wagons, brandishing red flags and singing the Internationale. The Fête of the Front Populaire took place on 28th February 1937. Prosper Mocquet, a deputy from Paris, came to give a speech; he brought with him his son, Guy (12 years), who, four years later was the youngest of the 27 martyred hostages shot at Chateaubriant. The summer of 1937 was less agitated. At Paris there took place The Universal Exhibition, which was a great success and was visited by many Lapeyrousiens. In the train they passed groups of Spanish refugees. The C.S.A.R. affair, centred on Clermont and Paris fired imaginations. The 15th March 1938, the Anschluss caused great anxiety and led to the prolongation of military service; 28th September 1938, the Munich Conference was interpreted as a capitulation of France and England. Agriculture suffered the effects of a severe drought. The dismantling of Czechoslakia on the 15th March 1939 led to the call-up of certain reservists. (It was the period of the population drop which coincided with the mobilisation of fathers 1914-1918). And although the wheat crop was good, it was right in the middle of the threshing that the soldiers had to leave (23rd August, German-Soviet pact; 1st September, invasion of Poland, 2nd September, general mobilisation and Sunday 3rd, midday, war between England and France, and Germany)

At that time, postmen worked Sunday mornings. One rushed for the latest news. The Moniteur began its editorial with these laconic words: "War has come…" All the youths left hurriedly, often in the first or second day. No shouting as in 1914, only a weighty silence (the bell tolled for only ¼ hour). The catastrophe of 1914-18 was too present in everyone's minds for demonstrations and outpourings. At the same time as the able-bodied men of the commune were "delivered" , the working animals too were given over. From the first day, the horses were driven to Montaigut, to the Requisition Commission. The price was from 6,000 F to 8,500 F. As a result of a long cold winter, lack of organisation and the general chaos, more than 50% of these good animals were dead by spring.

The men joined up grumbling. The goods wagons seemed empty (a train carrying 1,000 to 1,500 men made so little noise one might have thought there was no-one in it). After a few limited operations in Sarre, where the Germans had mined everywhere, and after the fall of Poland, it was the time of the "phoney war", a near total stoppage of operations. Our soldiers were able to return on leave before the end of Vannée.

Thus 1939 ended in sorrow: men absent from their homes, all the best horses requisitioned, a hard winter to come and a future heavy with threats.

Winter of 1939-40 was long and hard; the broadcasts of the traitor Ferdonnet at Stuttgart aroused only general contempt; requisitioned horses died in their hundreds of thousands; oxen had to be trained to do the work. German planes dropped pamphlets designed to set English and French against each other.