Consider Pierre De Cruyer Stele. Who was Pierre De Cruyer? He was born in Ternat in 1821. He later became a well-known figure in Schaerbeek.
The Pierre De Cruyer Stele commemorates a man of the people. He was known as “Pogge”. This was a dialectical form of “Poechenelle”.
Pierre De Cruyer joined the army in 1842. He served in the 11th infantry regiment. In 1853, he married Anne-Catherine Crabs in Schaerbeek. They had five children. Sadly, four died as infants. The family lived on the Haachtsesteenweg. Pierre worked as a clerk and farmer.
Because he was small and stooped from working in the fields, he earned the nickname “Pogge”. He was a popular and respected figure in his neighborhood. People often saw him walking with his donkey. He wore farmer’s clothes: clogs, a blue shirt, a red scarf, black trousers and a black silk cap.
Later, Pierre De Cruyer worked at the gas factory in Schaerbeek. An incident there boosted his reputation. One day, the cashier mistakenly gave him a roll of gold coins as salary. Pierre immediately returned the money. He received his usual wage in cents. This act of honesty made him an example for his friends and neighbors.
After his wife died in 1883, Pierre became a regular at local bars. He became known as a fair judge of disputes. He would declare “Alles is just” meaning all is fair. He said this while extending his right arm. In 1875, admirers formed a society called “The Pogge Friends” in his honor.
Eventually, Pierre De Cruyer retired to a nursing home. He passed away in 1890.
After his death, “The Pogge Friends” ensured his immortality. They spread stories about him. Some were false. One rumor claimed Pogge left three houses to fund the square that bears his name. Another claimed the statue in the square depicted him. In fact, it represents the poet Emmanuel Hiel.
Pogge became a symbol of friendship between Schaerbeek and Houffalize. During the 1944 offensive, Brussels helped Houffalize. To strengthen their bond, Schaerbeek gifted Houffalize a replica of Pogge. Louis Van Cutsem sculpted it. Since 1952, it has stood in the “rue de Schaerbeek” in the Ardennes city.
The Pierre De Cruyer Stele reminds us of a simple man. He was respected for his honesty and fairness. He became a local legend. His story lives on in Schaerbeek and beyond.