What does it mean to have a street named after you? Avenue Josse Smets honors a local hero. This avenue in Auderghem connects Rue des Trois Ponts and Boulevard des Invalides. It stretches a modest 200 meters.
The story of Avenue Josse Smets begins well after World War I. The surrounding neighborhood grew around the Église Saint-Julien. Only after the war did this street finally take shape.
On June 20 1925 Auderghem’s leaders made a decision. They chose to name the street after Josse Smets. He was a soldier who died in World War I. Josse Smets was born in Auderghem on December 1 1891. He worked as a plasterer. He lived on Chaussée de Wavre. Today that address is number 1601 but was then 757. Josse was called to duty as a private in the 11th Line Regiment. Sadly he died on the battlefield in Tisselt. This happened on September 29 1914.
Josse Smets also played a role in the street’s early development. On October 31 1925 he received the first permit. It allowed him to build houses at numbers 3 5 7 9 11 and 13.
Even with the permit residents had to wait. Four years passed before the street was paved. This detail highlights the pace of development at that time.
Avenue Josse Smets is more than just a street. It is a memorial to a local man. He gave his life during World War I. The avenue also represents a period of growth in Auderghem.