“A battle of names, can you imagine?” Our story unfolds on Boulevard Hippolyte Marquès, a place with a rather peculiar past. Boulevard Hippolyte Marquès sits on the edge of Paris, bordering the commune of Ivry-sur-Seine. It begins at Avenue de la Porte d’Ivry and concludes at Avenue de la Porte de Choisy. Originally, this area was part of a military zone, a no-man’s-land beyond the old city walls of Paris. In 1929, a portion of this zone, including our boulevard, was annexed to Paris. The city, in its official records, christened it Boulevard de la Zone, a name reflecting its rather nondescript origins.
Boulevard Hippolyte Marquès’s story takes an interesting turn in 1945. The municipal council of Ivry-sur-Seine decided to honor Hippolyte Marquès, a local communist activist and former deputy mayor. They renamed their section of Boulevard de la Zone to Boulevard Hippolyte Marquès. There was just one problem. They seemed to have forgotten that this boulevard now belonged to Paris.
This sparked a “name war” between Paris and Ivry-sur-Seine. Paris officials insisted on Boulevard de la Zone, replacing street signs to reflect the official name. Ivry-sur-Seine residents, loyal to their chosen name, promptly vandalized them. This back-and-forth continued, a comical battle of bureaucracy against local sentiment. Imagine workers constantly changing street signs, only to have them changed back almost immediately! The boulevard became a physical embodiment of this tug-of-war, a silent battlefield in a war of words.
The dispute eventually cooled down. For many years, a strange peace reigned. Both names were unofficially used. In 2011, Paris finally relented, officially recognizing the name Boulevard Hippolyte Marquès. This victory was more than just a name change. It represented the power of local memory and the importance of community figures like Hippolyte Marquès. So, as you stand here, on Boulevard Hippolyte Marquès, remember the curious tale of its double identity. Remember the “name war” it inspired and the man it ultimately honors.