THE POUSSAÏ COAST

BEFORE QUARRY EXPLOITATION BEGAN, THE COASTLINE WAS PRESENT LIKE A HLAND ALTERNATING SMALL ROCKS, GRAVEL AND SAND. From the 1870s, the very beginning of operations, with discharges from quarry residues that are piling up, the coast very quickly takes on a of cliffs.

THE COAST, THE POUSSAÏ

IN 1897 A CONFLICT OPPOSED THE PRUD’HOMIE OF RAPHAËLOIS FISHERMEN (THERE ARE SOME 250 AT THE TIME) WHO COME TO WEDGE THEIR NETS IN THE WATERS OF DRAMONTOIS, TO THE SAINT-RAPHAËL PORPHYRY QUARRY COMPANY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SIGNIFICANT MODIFICATION OF THE COASTLINE CAUSING A DECREASE IN QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF FISHING.

On November 25, 1897 to put an end to this affair the Inspection Maritime offers a transaction that includes:

• A financial penalty against quarry operators.

• The creation of a small quay in the cove of Poussaï for the benefit of fishermen. It will be built in 1907. Over the years it will become the port of Poussaï current.

THE WAR 1939-1945 THE LANDING

THE LANDING OF AUGUST 15, 1944

QUARRY EXPLOITATION HAD A MAJOR INCIDENCE IN THE PROCESS OF THIS MILITARY ACTION.

From mid-September 1943 to August 15 1944, the German occupation, by through the Todt organization, had requisitioned the quarries and their workforce. The goal was to produce materials various grain sizes, from crushing, then transporting them on the sites to be reinforced and protected, by building fortifications all sorts.

To do this it was necessary to raise the pebbles from the beach to the crusher with the wagons which, one times loaded manually, were hauled by small locomotives.

This action required a lot of labor on the whole range. It is thanks to this intensive exploitation that the beach never was mined and many losses humans were avoided.

THE LANDING ROLE BY M. MARCHAND

MR. MARCHAND, LUXEMBOURG CITIZEN, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE COMPANY OF THE PORPHYRE QUARRIES OF SAINT-RAPHAËL, OF WHICH THE FAMILY WAS ONE OF THE SHAREHOLDERS, WAS ALSO A RESISTANT AND INFORMER OF ALLIES IN LONDON (THIS WAS ONLY KNOWN LATER AT THE END OF THE CONFLICT).

He took advantage of the rivalry between General Baessler, responsible for coastal defence, and the direction of the Todt organization which he encouraged, with a lot of conviction, to exploit the pebbles of the beach to support to their large material needs.

Thus in the early morning of August 15, 1944 after an unsuccessful attempt to landing on the beach of Fréjus (two boats were sunk because of floating mines) the decision was quickly taken to disembark on Dramont beach (the only one not mine in the region).

The Way to Liberation was drawn.

THE GOLD ISLAND

THE AFFECTIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH ILE D’OR CARRIERS HAD BEEN HIRED BY AUGUSTE LUTAUD, WITH FOR MISSION: EXTRACT STONES ON THE ILE D’OR SITE FOR THE COMPANY OF MASONRY, IN ORDER TO BUILD A TOWER.

Thus, in the village, almost all had a relative who, every morning, went by boat to work on the island, without really knowing the purpose of the project.

This uncertainty fueled questions and therefore all rumors.

During the works, the workers get to know their boss, gracious and generous man. They attended at the party organized for the school children on the occasion of the inauguration, during which he hands over he hands over the keys and the crown to Amélie Borgoni, best student of the institution. During a few days, the island was called Sainte-Amelie. This ceremony was unfolded in the gardens of the chalet.

Some workers are treated by the doctor himself. A relationship friendly, respectful and reciprocal then settled between the Dramontois and Auguste Lutaud.

As he never lived in his tower, the workers often went there to fishing, picnicking, young people went there “to flirt”.

The Dramontois had appropriated it, they are still very proud of it and, often chauvinistic, they maintain with the Île d'Or, which remained the property private, emotional relationship.