Did this quiet square in Rosny-sous-Bois always hold such tranquility? I wonder. Today, we stand before the Monsieur et Madame Richard Gardebled Stele. It’s a monument to generosity. It’s a testament to a couple who shaped this town. The Monsieur et Madame Richard Gardebled Stele isn’t just a stone. It represents the heart of Rosny-sous-Bois.
The square itself, Square Richard-Gardebled, came into being in 1913. Eugène Richard and his wife, Adèle Gardebled, bequeathed the land. Their generosity extended beyond the square. The town hall also stands on their donated land. The Monsieur et Madame Richard Gardebled Stele, erected in 1927, stands in quiet tribute to them. It whispers their names to every passerby.
This serene space holds echoes of a darker time. During the Liberation of Paris in August 1944, a fair took place in the square. Tragically, five young men celebrating were killed by Waffen-SS soldiers. A plaque in the old Rosny-sous-Bois cemetery commemorates their lives. Their memory intertwines with the story of the square, a reminder that peace and tragedy often share the same ground. The Monsieur et Madame Richard Gardebled Stele, while honoring its namesakes, also silently observes this history.
The square has seen changes over the years. A bronze statue of a child, once a focal point, was melted down during World War II. A bandstand, once filled with music, now exists only in memory. Even a statue called “Le Pardon” met the same fate as the child. Yet, “Le Cep,” a concrete statue from around 1930, remains. It serves as a link to the town’s wine-growing past.
The Monsieur et Madame Richard Gardebled Stele stands as a constant amidst change. It is a symbol of enduring generosity, a monument to the Gardebleds’ gift to Rosny-sous-Bois. It is a quiet reminder of the past. Their legacy lives on in the name of the square. It lives on in the town hall, and most prominently, in the stele that bears their name.