Martigny-the-Baths

Martigny-the-Baths is a common French, located in the department of the the Vosges and the area Lorraine.

Its inhabitants is called the Octoduriens .

Geography

Martigny-the-baths is located at the Western end of the plain of the Vosges, with 40 kilometers of Neufchâteau, chief town of district, with 5,5 kilometers of Lamarche, chief town of canton, and with 22 kilometers of Bourbonne-the-Baths, the Aquae borvonis of the Romain S. Before the exploitation of the Railway in 1881, it bore the name of Martigny-lès-Lamarche, but confusions with the station close to Lamarche, as well for the mail as for the travellers, led to the adoption of the current name.

The borough is built on a plate widened between two levels of the Monts Sickles of which highest is covered with forests of Chêne S and of Hêtre S alternating with Sapin S. the relief court of is in west, with one kilometer of the dwellings that it guarantees against the winds and the too abrupt variations of temperature.

Altitude is of 370 meters at the station, that is to say 114 meters above the valley of the the Saone with the Tunas which is distant only of 14 kilometers. The commune is close to the line which separates the basins from the the Saone and to the Meuse. On its territory the rivers of Angers and Mouzon occur (corruption of the word Meuzon , the small Meuse). They run initially in opposite direction to meet only after one race of 30 kilometers between Pompierre and Circourt. The valley of the Mouzon which goes from is in west before turning to the station of Lamarche to north, is not boxed, it forms a quite ventilated, suitable plate in all points for a health resort, the air is very healthy there and the cases of longevity are not rare there.

History

After the wars against France at the XVIIe century, the village included/understood two sections, Martigny-Saint-Remy and Martigny-Saint-Pierre. The village of Saint-Pierre had been entirely destroyed by the Swedes with the pay of king de France. The inhabitants had then taken refuge in Martigny and had built the named part of the borough Martigny-Saint-Pierre, as well as the church from which the vestiges disappeared recently.

Administration

Demography

The thermal spa

In 1800, in the center even of the village on bank of the brook of the Alder, Affluent of Mouzon, there existed for an unmemorable time a source, where drop ux and rheumatics of the neighborhoods came to seek cure, it had as a name the Fountain with iron . This source emerged on left bank of the brook, the municipality collected it in an open hollow cube on only one side in the shape of sump, water escaped from it by a one meter length drain cut in the sandstone; in the middle of this drain was dug a basin of the form and dimension of a round dish in Faïence. To drink there, the people not provided with a vase ad hoc knelt the feet on stones of the bed of the brook and plunged the face in the basin.

In 1829, a first analysis was made by it by Collard; it appeared in the newspaper of medical chemistry in 1829, but nothing remained of these first data.

In 1849, an official analysis was made by it by Henry Ossian, which revealed same the chemical elements there as those contained in the sources close to Contrexéville and Vittel with significant alternatives in favor of Martigny; she is consigned and approved with the bulletin of the Académie of Medicine, volume XXIII; the exploitation from the medical point of view was authorized by it by ministerial decree of the March 20th 1859. A decree intervened shortly after the declaration of public utility.

Towards 1852, very serious people seeing in this source appreciated so well, though without advertisement, the starting point of an important exploitation, negotiated, but in vain, a treaty with the commune, and it was only into 1860 that Mrs. Maubertier, originating in these trimmings and widow in a Parisian architect, managed to buy the concession of this source. With the funds of a silent partner millionaire pertaining to the high French aristocracy and the assistance of intriguing German who was said, doctor of medicine, it made excavate a kind of tank, a pond. It is there that they even found and collected on the rock, with 4 meters of depth, beside that old, the two rich person current medicinal springs on whom was built a house of very elegant Greek style, but too exiguous and very close from there a great construction with basement for swimming pools and showers, ground floor for cabinets of baths, rooms and living rooms and various stages for residences. This building was connected to the house of the sources by a covered promenade which badly fixed on its bases was collapsed by a hurricane which put it in parts, October 26th, 1870; one could not at least restore it under his owners of the time. 1870 Hardly this various work touched with their completion, that cowards denouncers, jealous workmen, wrote to the silent partner that one wasted his money, by making only wrong movements and that one believed duty to prevent it so that it was put on his guards. What was to arrive arrived; instead of trying hard to check the made work, it suspended the sending of its accounts - checks, from there suspension of payment, continuations, seized and finally bankruptcy. One sought a purchaser, this lady and its Crapelet business man found it, it was an unmarried good old man of Hortes, to which was yielded furniture for 25.000 francs and the buildings for 50.000 francs, approximately the sixth of what that had cost, but it was about all that it had. It was necessary to find another backer to continue work and to put forward the establishment; it was in Dijon in the person of a former notary who, appears it, did not put only his own capital at it. Here are resumed work, the park which did not contain whereas approximately 3 hectares, was drawn, undulating and planted, one dug the lake, cash to fill it of water on the soapy source of Grismollet, located at the end of pre even, after immense expenses one could not manage to make it go up ground, although formerly it was enough to supply a small mill or fuller, which existed to about fifty meters from there. One repaired the castle, makes a room of billiards, a country cottage for the doctor, in short the establishment started to be attended, a certain number of drinkers arrived, but the expenses exceeded the receipts and the currency was lacking, so that the helping lawsuits one had to close. Madam lavishes her care to him which is rewarded with the death by the abandonment with its profit for all the property; she thus finds herself in possession like above, but not of money to even pay the expenses of succession, continuations, lawsuit and all that is followed from there; one tested well, but one could not receive rather comfortably the too grateful faithful drinkers who did not want, nevertheless, to change thermal spa; one still closed again. The 1879 on October 5th, 1879, the small posters bring to us a great news by the creation of the Public limit company of Mineral Water of Martigny, but the attempt failed and the owner was badgered more and more with continuations and lawsuit. 1882 Despite everything the rouery of the business men employed to delay the sale by authority of justice, it C to take place; and the establishment was definitively sold on March 2nd, 1882 to MISTERS J. Kieffer, owner of the gas works of Langres, Poligny, Avallon, and A. Chapier, trader with Neufchateau, who took for this purpose company name Kieffer and Chapier. At once put in possession the new owners included/understood the task which they was essential, it was not enough that the sources were recognized excellent, it was necessary to get for all those which need to make use of it, approval, the luxury of the establishments more in reputation.

Are the site of this station neither boxed like far too much of other similar, nor too much exposed to the high winds, are located upstream village, consequently receiving the river rain pure and free from all the matters which elsewhere vitiate the surrounding atmosphere, lent itself marvelously to all that the disease, tired or demanding can wish, it is what was made and which would believe it? it is by the country even as this establishment embellishes and makes thrive that it is produced the most tedious obstacles. He, my God, it is not almost always thus, a philosopher said: there is no incipient work so beneficial was which does not have as enemies the ignoramuses and the malevolent ones. We do not seek to give the detail of the immense work carried out by two Sirs, either underground, or in sight, we will say only that the park was increases considerably, or since the place of the station to the kitchen gardens of the street known as the End of in top. At that time it had already a capacity of 8 hectares gracefully drawn, undulating and planted of all the species of trees and shrubs which our climate can support, it is a true botanical garden; in the medium a full of fish pond, a miniature lake in the medium of which small the island of the Swans emerges and another the largest where raises skilfully on a rock rubble, a rustic kiosk, one reaches it by two bridges as also built to him out of cement. This water part is fed by the Savonneuse source about which already we spoke, but who firmly collected today brings there 22.000 liters of water per hour which come out from it to increase the murmur of laughing the cascades of the brook.

The house of the sources become too narrow is removed stones by stones, which were used again to build the Casino-Theater, and replaced by a building much vaster out of frame of iron and closed completely glazings, in the center a very high dome and the end are high the shops of merchants of curiosities and objects useful, with promenade covered on the front. 1883 In space that we have just crossed, a new distinct analysis of the two sources from now on, was entrusted in 1883 to eminent professor Jacquemin, principal of pharmacy of Nancy, from where it results that the source n°1, said Jeanne d' Arc or lithia, contains from the point of view of mineralization, by liters 2.657 including 0.3 of lithia bicarbonate, and the n°2 source or Fountain with the iron 2.646 including 0.19 lithia bicarbonate; their flow is of 106.000 liters per day, and their temperature is invariably of 12 degrees.

The 1893 company Kieffer and Chapier lasted ten year; hardly this arrived expiry, we had the pain to lose Mr. Kieffer, removed by a long illness caused by a professional work too much crushing; his wife not being able to deal with business requiring so many concerns, a liquidation became necessary and by friendly arrangement, Mr. Chapier became single owner and manager of our establishment, November 8th, 1893. It seemed that all was done, but again he buys grounds bordering the park, a house to place the pharmacist and the guard of the park, he improves the wash-house, builds a vast building for the congestion, buys and destroys a hovel which masked the park on main street, continues the gallery covered in front of the large living room and finally throws the bases of a palate which has name the International Hotel. 1896 such a vast company became at the too heavy end for only one man and the establishment is put in joint stock company. Me V. Marchal, notary with Neufchâteau, draw up the statutes, on May 16th, 1896 of them, under the title of: Public limit company of mineral Water and hydropathic establishments of Martigny the baths (the Vosges), with the capital of 2.200.000 francs, divided into 22.000 actions of 100 francs. The 1897 on August 4th, 1897 marks the starting point of the company of which the duration had been fixed at fifty years, is mainly made up by contributions in kind including/understanding:

SOURCES: The Jeanne source of arc, which is distinguished from the French similar sources by a great proportion from lithia and the presence from silicates, from which results a recognized superiority. The Fountain source with the iron which has the same properties that the first, but has a softer action and is appropriate to the people who cannot support the energetic treatments. The Savonneuse source which is comparable with water of Shangenbad, in Germany; its medical properties are recommended in the various affections of the skin.

The REAL ESTATE: A park of 14 hectares partly closed of walls having its entry on the place of the Station of the railroad, including/understanding rivers with cascades, lake, kiosks, view-points, bridges rustic, beautiful plantations of varied gasoline trees, 5 kilometers of well maintained roads, etc A vast hotel, known as the Large Hotel, of very great luxury, construction and installations recent, located in the middle of the park, consistent in a principal body of buildings with two wings in return built on cellars arched and including/understanding: Basement where kitchen, linen room and consistent hydrotherapeutic establishment are of 22 cabinets of baths and in two shower-rooms. Ground floor made up of a hall, a living room, five small rooms to be eaten, a big room to be eaten monumental, very beautiful, very furnished in solid oak, style Louis XIII, stained glasses the Middle Ages; one notices there especially a splendid chimney carved having like pier a table in relief, representing the torment of Jeanne d' Arc, in glance two tapestries representing of the episodes of the life of Vosgean heroin; of a coffee room, a room of billiards, an office, seventeen rooms to be slept, three lavatories, a large gallery glazed formant terrace on all the frontage of the hotel. First stage made up of twenty-three rooms to be slept, three toilets and two lavatories. Second stage made up of twenty-five rooms to be slept, roofs where twelve mansard-roofed rooms are and two attics. A second hotel called Hotel of Alsace, composed of a ground floor raised on arched cellar, including/understanding a kitchen and five rooms to be slept, of a vast handing-over, of a first stage, composed of eleven rooms to sleep and two toilets, of a second stage, including/understanding twelve rooms to be slept and two toilets, with attics on the whole. This hotel is intended for the modest purses.

A third hotel called Hotel of the Castle, including/understanding ground floor, raised on cellar arched, living room, four rooms to be slept, desk; first stage, eight rooms to be slept; second stage, eight rooms to be slept, attics on the whole. This better arranged hotel than the hotel of Alsace has a good furniture.

A construction of two stages, called the Country cottage of the Station, being used as dwelling to the doctor of the establishment and made up of a ground floor raised on cellar, a first stage and a second stage and attics containing in all fourteen parts. A small building beside the precedent being used as housing to the gardener and including/understanding two parts at the ground floor, first stage and attics.

A small building beside the Hotel of Alsace, use of handing-over, stable and attics with fodder. A building apart from the park raised on cellar with the angle of the avenue of the station and the street of Groseillère, serving of store, laboratory, and dwelling of the pharmacist, as well as residences with various employees, approximately sixteen parts with court, garden and attics.

Casino-Théàtre: this stone building of size was recently built, it includes/understands a big room of spectacle, scene and cabins of artists, decorations, hangings, glosses, armchairs, apparatuses for lighting with gas; installation is well included/understood and the accesses are facilitated by it by broad openings which would make it possible to the spectators quickly to be put safe from any danger in the event of fire.

A gallery 31 meters length promenade with iron frame and zinc cover, where stores with fronts for tradesmen are.

A small building with use of store of the material of the plays of Avoids and deposit of or

A building behind the stores with use of urinals and lavatories.

A building where are the above-mentioned stores and bazaars.

House of the Sources: this house with the very elegant monumental aspect, of an immense hall where two large basins are, whose emergent the sources, includes/understands a construction out of stones of size and iron, glazed, panelled, covered out of slate and zinc, with decorative dome, ceramics pavement, decorations, etc, as well as a large living room of reading with rustic furniture. A large hall close to the house of the Sources made up of an iron frame and a zinc roof. Between this last building and the brook are installed plays, tennis, of croquet and a shooting of amateurs with accessories, weapons, etc The congestion, vast construction built lately, partly with horse on the brook, with exit on the one hand on the park and of other on the street, in which various sandstone conduits lead the water of the sources in order to be able during the balneal season, to bottle without obstructing the circulation of the drinkers and composed at the ground floor of a vast room paved out of ceramics where the instruments of rinsing, stopping are, capsuling, labelling, and deposit of the cases and bottles empty; with the first, attics and three parts, dwelling of the accountant.

The gas works including/understanding building with retorts, apparatus of purification of gas, gasometer, drain, led and generally all the machines and accessories.

A house in the north of the Large Hotel, behind the stores and the bazaars, including/understanding the housing of the doucheurs, made up of four parts and a wash-house and contiguous hangar there,] to have, closed garden of Walls.

A vegetable garden located opposite the Hotel the Castle on Main street, closed walls, containing approximately 5 ares 42 centiares.

The Country cottage of the Bridge of the Ladies with cellars, grids, three stages and garden, housing of the Director.

A building being used as room to the employees of 1 ' hotel, including/understanding kitchen, two rooms to be slept, handing-over and small garden. Large driers with free air and driers covered with all the related services there. A building with handing-over, stable and containing the greenhouses and orangeries.

And all movable pieces of furniture, objects, crockery, glassmaking, silverware, linen room and material of any nature, being used for the exploitation of the known as establishment and the hotels while depending, and generally all the movable objects placed in the buildings indicated higher without any exception.

Lastly, the International Hotel, on the culminating point of the park between the sources and the Hotel of the Castle, this immense building is composed of a 75 meters length principal body, flanked of two wings being each one 39 meters length, formant court on the two frontages. Its three stages are lit by 345 external bays, it is decorated of six houses of angles and of a high central dome of 25 meters above the ground, of the lantern of this dome one discovers all the surroundings, the sight is splendid there, quantity of balconies to the windows, the capitals carved like quantity of decorative reasons, give to his unit the aspect of a true palate rich, gracious, merry and imposing. The furnishing of its two hundred rooms and their releases does not yield of anything like luxates with work, outside. The whole of the hotels of the park can give hospitality to more than 400 drinkers at the same time.

June 20th, 1899 the Company and all the country had the pain to lose Mr. Alexandre Chapier, chairman of the board; it was removed to us brutally and suddenly by a stroke, in Martigny, where it had come the day before at the evening from Neufchâteau, to even see its many customers and friends. It was only 56 years old; worker untiring and undertaking, doubting nothing, merry, pleasant and serious all at the same time, it directed our establishment to the satisfaction of all; it was and that remains a general mourning. Its station here was entrusted to his/her son-in-law, Mr. Louis Claudel, owner of the paper mills of City-on-Saulx (Meuse), which was devoted to continue the so much liked work of sound regretted beautiful father.

The sources of Martigny, limpid, crystalline, light and of an exquisite savor are rich in alkaline silicates, lithia, bicarbonate of iron and manganese, like out of calcic sulfate. They represent the natural and inimitable antagonism of all the arthritic affections, caused by the deceleration of 18 nutrition. Their solvent action, disaggregating and removing obstructions from is known medical community, but it is not with us with speaking about all the benefits that they returned and will return.

References

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