Picture a time when a railway carved through the landscape. This railway shaped the destiny of a town we now know. That town began as a mere section of Maisons. Today we explore Avenue d’Alfortville. It stands as a testament to the area’s vibrant history.
Avenue d’Alfortville is more than just a road. It is a landmark. It is a symbol of Alfortville’s evolution. The construction of the Paris-Lyon-Marseille railway was a turning point. It physically divided the area. The railway separated the residents of Maisons-Alfort from those in the Alfortville hamlet. This division made a shared future seem impossible.
Around 1850 the only crossing point was the Maisons station. The Alfortville area faced many challenges. It consisted mainly of infertile lands. These lands were often flooded by the Seine and Marne rivers. These rivers converged at the northern tip of the territory. Despite these challenges the residents persevered.
Between 1861 and 1863 a dam was built at Port à l’Anglais. It was built on the land of Vitry-sur-Seine and Maisons. The residents cleared land. They filled in the ground. They found the energy and money to lay the foundations. These foundations were for their own community.
The growing population wanted more. They wanted their own school. In 1871 they decided to establish one on Rue de l’Union. But it soon became too small. They petitioned for a proper school. Initially the Municipal Council of Maisons refused. They denied them the school they wanted.
The families persisted. Their third request succeeded. Funds were allocated in 1872 and 1873. This was for the construction of a new school. The railway on one side and the Seine and Marne rivers on the other gave this area distinct advantages. These advantages attracted industrial entrepreneurs.
Two years before its official creation the future town had nearly 4000 residents. Most of these residents were modest workers. They desired decent housing. They wanted the benefits of a new town. This desire fueled their push for independence.
On April 25 1883 they sent a request to the Mayor of Maisons. They asked for their sector to become its own commune. They wanted communal independence. The petitioners declared that Alfortville always had a strong sense of individuality. Ivry, Charenton, Créteil and even Maisons recognized Alfortville. They saw it not as just a district. They saw it as a distinct locality with its own character.
The long-awaited decree was signed by President Jules Grévy and Minister Waldeck Rousseau. This law of 1885 granted them independence. The official birthday of Alfortville is April 1st. After two years of investigations and votes at all levels the law was signed. This law established Alfortville as a distinct commune.
New roads were designed using modern urban planning principles. These brought considerable comfort to the residents. Public buildings helped to give the town its own identity. Constructed in 1887 the town hall stood as a landmark. Its small bell tower provided the time to the entire town. Five years later the first church of Alfortville Notre-Dame was built. Its bells rang out across the town.
Alfortville learned lessons from its past. It retained a strong sense of fraternity. This fraternity was inspired by the ideals of the Third Republic. Many freethinkers and Freemasons contributed to social progress. They promoted the secularization of their communal space.
Unlike Maisons-Alfort which had old farming families Alfortville was a working-class town from the start. Alfortville forged its identity in adversity. It had to overcome local powers reluctant to grant autonomy. It had to fight against floods that destroyed their work three times in five years. It had to find markets for economic development.
These common struggles were rewarded. Alfortville became a pioneer in social housing. As you stand here on Avenue d’Alfortville remember the spirit of its founders. They shaped a community. They shaped a town. Their legacy lives on in every street. Their legacy lives on in every building. Their legacy lives on in the hearts of its residents.