“A libertine past transformed.” That’s the story of Allée Étienne Dumont. This place now bears the name of a man far removed from its earlier reputation. We’re standing on the Allée Étienne Dumont. It might seem like any other street but it carries echoes of Geneva’s intriguing past.
Étienne Dumont was no ordinary man. Born in 1759 he trained in theology and became a pastor in 1781. His convictions led him away from Geneva for a while. He served as a pastor in Saint Petersburg. Later he became a publicist.
Dumont’s journey took him to England where he tutored Lord Shelburne’s sons. The revolutionary ideas brewing in Paris drew him there in 1789. For two years he worked closely with Mirabeau. He was a key member of a Genevan group that included Clavière Reybaz and Du Roveray. Dumont became a main collaborator.
Étienne Dumont returned to England in 1791. There he assisted Jeremy Bentham a philosopher and legal scholar. Dumont translated and published Bentham’s works. He dreamed of a model republic when he went back to Geneva in 1814. Elected to the representative council in 1816 he helped write its regulations. Dumont was also instrumental in bringing Pellegrino Rossi to Geneva. His writings include “Souvenirs sur Mirabeau”.
Now think back to the street’s former name: Rue des Belles-Filles. This translates to “Street of Beautiful Girls”. It was once Geneva’s red-light district near the cathedral. The names of the streets hinted at its character. Rue Chausse-Con and Cul-de-sac du Vieux-Bordel were nearby. Over time attitudes changed. The new residents felt shame about the area’s reputation. The street names were changed. Rue des Belles-Filles became Rue Étienne Dumont. This honored a pastor more interested in politics than theology. Only Rue Chausse Con kept a hint of the past. It became Rue Chausse Coq recalling young libertines.
So as we stand here on Allée Étienne Dumont remember this. It is a place where the echoes of Geneva’s past meet the ideals of one of its reformers. A reminder that streets like people can undergo transformation.