Was Jules Halphen thinking of this avenue when he served as Captain of the Artillery? Avenue Halphen stands as a testament to a man of military honor. He was also a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor.
Jules Halphen was born in Paris on August 25, 1856. He lived until April 30, 1928. His parents, Eugène Halphen and Bertha Oppenheimer, resided at 111 avenue du Trocadéro in Paris.
In 1884, Jules Halphen held the rank of lieutenant. He served in the 27th artillery regiment in Douai. That same year, he married Herminie Marie Rodrigues Pereire. The wedding occurred on December 4th in Paris’s 8th arrondissement.
The Halphen family has a rich history. They originated from Metz and settled in Paris in the late 18th century. Salomon Halphen was a financier and merchant. He founded the Halphen jewelry house. Anselme Halphen, also a jeweler, became a member of the Discount Council of the Bank of France. He later became a regent of the bank. Joseph Halphen dealt in finance and diamonds.
Edmond Halphen served as mayor of the 2nd arrondissement of Paris. Achille Halphen was a historian and philanthropist. Constant Halphen also contributed to the family’s legacy. Edmond Halphen, an engineer, was involved with the Compagnie générale transatlantique.
The Halphen family intermarried with other prominent families. Caroline Halphen married Léon of the Javal family. Eugénie Halphen married Emil Ladenburg. Georges Halphen was a banker and diamond merchant. He married Henriette Stern. Their daughter, Louise Halphen, married Émile Deutsch de la Meurthe. Émile Halphen, another banker, married Louise Fould.
Germaine Alice Halphen, a philanthropist, married Baron Édouard de Rothschild. Marguerite Halphen married Raphaël-Georges Lévy. Fernand Halphen, a composer and military man, won the Grand Prix de Rome. He married Alice de Koenigswarter. Their children were Henriette and Georges Halphen.
Gustave Halphen was a merchant and diplomat. He presided over the Israelite Consistory of Paris. Eugène Halphen, an historian, married Bertha Oppenheimer. Their son was Jules Halphen. Jules married Marie Pereire. Their daughter, Noémie Halphen, married Baron Maurice de Rothschild. She created the winter sports resort of Megève.
Fernand Halphen’s life was full of artistic achievements. He studied with Gabriel Fauré and Jules Massenet. His notable works include the opera Le Cor Fleuri. He composed symphonies and chamber music. He served as a lieutenant during World War I. He contracted diphtheria and died in 1917. His wife, Alice, created the Halphen Foundation. It helped Conservatory students publish their works.
The Halphen Foundation also built social housing on the Ile St. Louis. These apartments aimed to house large families. During the round-ups of Jews in 1942, tenants were deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Later, developers renovated the building into luxury apartments. They removed the plaque bearing the words “Fondation Fernand Halphen 1926”.
Avenue Halphen links to a family legacy. It is a legacy of military service and artistic endeavor. It is also a history of philanthropy. As you walk along Avenue Halphen remember Jules Halphen. Remember a family that contributed to French society.