“What secrets does Rue de la Butte Blanche hold?” I ask you to consider. This street shares its name with another place but it has its own unique story. This is not about the Rue de la Butte Blanche in Paris. It is about the one in Argenteuil.
The name Rue de la Butte Blanche means white hill. It got this name in 1793. Before it was called White Cross Road in 1672. This was because of the transport of plaster. The plaster came from the Montmartre quarries into Paris.
This area has seen political gatherings. Some 60 left members of the National Assembly met here. They met at the Baroness Coppens’ home. It was after Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte’s seizure of power in 1851. The address was 70, rue Blanche.
Victor Hugo was among the opponents of the coup. François Arago and Alphonse Baudin also attended. Jean-Baptiste Millière and Edgar Quinet were there. The Baroness Stéphanie-Marie Arnoult de Joyeuse hosted them.
Edgar Degas lived at No 77 from 1873 to 1876. He was setting up an artist cooperative. He moved when his family bank went bankrupt. The bank was in Naples.
The Independent Review had its second offices at No. 79. This was in November 1886. Félix Fénéon organized Symbolist meetings there. Georges Chevrier and Georges Seurat attended. Édouard Desjardins was also present.
Rue de la Butte Blanche has a rich history. It has been a site of political resistance. It has also been a home to artists and intellectuals. The street’s story goes back to the 17th century. It evolved through the French Revolution. It was a place for change.