A little catch up from last year....

One of the last things we did last year before returning to the states was clean out what we call the Granary.  It is one of the chambers in the attic that has three concrete bins attached to the wall and floor.  We think the original owners used it for grain….we can’t think of what else it would be.  There was a lot of wooden “stuff”, three legged chairs, doors, an old handmade wooden table, a huge Armoire that was in about a dozen pieces, etc, etc plus 100 years of dust and dirt.  All of the wooden trash was hauled down for Jerry and Jake to take to the dump.  I stacked the doors that were worth keeping, the armoire and the table out of the way and swept up as much of the muck and yuk as I could.  I then turned my attention to the junk that was in the three bins.  As I reached into the first bin I was delighted to find the drawer to the armoire.  I pulled the drawer out and several items fell out.  Nothing of significant value (darn it), but some things that gave a good insight into the person the “woman of the house” was.  MME Armand was a devout churchgoer.  There were tithing records going back to the   early 1920’s and continuing until the 1950’s. 
  

Marriage program

There were three marriage “programs” for Marie Armand to Gerard Vene.  The date on the program was 10 December 1927.  We have been told Marie was probably a niece since the Armands had no children of their own.



Souvenier de ma Premiere communion

I also found Souvenier de ma Premiere Communion for various villagers; one of whom was the mother of the current Mayor of Alignan.  The dates range from the early 1930’s to the late 1950’s . 

Ligue Feminine d'action Catholique Francaise

Remembrances of various church saint's days  

There were also receipts for dues paid to the Ligue Feminine d’Action Catholique Francaise.  Mme missed paying her dues only three times from 1935 until 1949 (1935. 1938 and 1946)…she may not have missed a payment but I didn’t find receipts for those years.  Jerry thought because those were war years she may not have had money.   We will never know.  There were also remembrances of trips that were made to various churches on various Saints’ days.  These date from the early 1930’s until the 1950’s. 




I found a small bibliotheque Catholique  Vie de Saint Isidore , print date 22 August 1863 and another small, old book “Le nouveau Luth De Marie” ou Recueil De Cantiques pour Le Mois De Marie".  There was no publishing date but the inside the first page was this inscription “Propriete de l’Editeur,  L Devillaris”.  

Catechisme

I found a Catechisme dated 1923. Mme  Armand also had a handwritten response to a letter she had written to the diocese in Monpellier dated 16 August 1941. 



My unknown Gentleman

The last thing I found was a photo of a man made probably around the late 1800’s or early 1900’s.  No name of course but it was a fun find.  I keep hoping someone in the village will recognize him.  Villagers seem to be born here and stay till they die.  Some village families have been here forever. 

The last items of interest I found were shirt collar buttons.  The  gentlemen used these shirt buttons when collars would come off their shirts.  Apparently men would wear their dress shirts several times but to keep the collars clean and starched the collars would come off.  I probably didn’t explain that very well but ….. there you go….
The last find was the financial page of the newspaper dated 2 September 1921.  I think this was probably what was lining the drawer.