THE SAINT ROCH CHAPEL

UNTIL THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CHAPEL, THE NEAREST PLACE OF WORSHIP WAS IN AGAY, COMPULSIVE WOMEN AND CHILDREN (WHO WERE VERY PRACTICAL, UNLIKE MEN) TO WALK TO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

The Dramont Chapel is built from 1928, on the initiative of Mr. Libaud, director of the Quarries Society and thanks to donations from Messrs Provost de Launay and Cornet, its administrators.

It was consecrated on February 19, 1929. by the Bishop surrounded by ecclesiastics of Saint-Raphaël, patrons and also of the population to whom was destined for this place of worship. The building with bell tower and sacristy, in Provençal style, is dedicated to Saint Roch, Saint patron saint of quarrymen and pavers.

It is in fact a company chapel, it is also located almost At work. The legend according to which each worker careers has shaped “with love his small stone”, is not confirmed. The company employing masons for his various works, the workers probably participated in construction and used materials (tiles, framework in particular) salvaged from the demolition of a brickyard located nearby. He is it is likely that we also did appeal to an outside company but it is certain that the elements important pieces of cut stone such as: the altar, the stoups, the baptistery, the communion table and columns entrances were sculpted by the most skillful Dramontois quarrymen.

In 1933 the Quarries Society endowed the chapel of a harmonium.

HOUSING

THE VILLAGE IS MAINLY MADE UP OF SMALL 1-STOREY HOUSES COMPRISING 2 TO 5 DWELLINGS.

It is in fact 3 adjoining blocks of 2 pieces which can be connected by a door. A staircase on each side gives access to the first floor.

These houses are lined up along the streets.

Between each house, there is a single-storey building that houses storage rooms: the essential sheds.

IN THESE ACCOMMODATIONS LIVE 3 GENERATIONS

THE PARENTS, THE CHILDREN, OFTEN MANY AND THE GRANDPARENTS WHO DO NOT HAVE A PENSION AND ARE DEPENDENT ON THEIR CHILDREN.

Behind these alignments of houses, each has a small garden that workers cultivate abundantly, a chicken coop, hutches that are managed in general by grandfathers and children.

Grandmothers help with housekeeping, care of grandchildren, often freeing the mom so she can work a little outside (harvesting, cleaning, cooking, etc.).

Often they sew or knit clothes for the whole family.

In this family organization the natural authority of the parents reigns and respect for elders, education is rigorous but benevolent.

LIFE IN THE VILLAGE, PRECARIOUS COMFORT

THE BASIC ACCOMMODATIONS INCLUDE A LARGE EQUIPPED KITCHEN A SINK WITH “A PAILLASSE EN MALONS” AND A PIPE FOR THE EVACUATION WASTE WATER.

The water supply is not planned, it is necessary to obtain supplies from the nearest fountain. Gradually the water arrived in the houses.

For the toilet, the workers have from a large container of water that they place outside and use it to get rid of dust embedded in their tanned skin.

For a certain period, there has paid public showers, created in 1931, open on Saturdays, that allow you to make a toilet more agreable.

The toilets being non-existent, it is necessary manage the “slops” or use the Public toilets (3 blocks for the village).

The city has a public laundry where housewives meet for wash the laundry. The laundry is done at the house in the washing machine that we place on a wood fire.

HEALTH

DOCTOR VADON WAS PAID BY THE QUARRY SOCIETY TO CARE FOR THE VILLAGE RESIDENTS AND WORKERS AT THE CABINET LOCATED IN THE CITY.

Then a dispensary was created in the village in 1930 and a doctor proceeded regular free visits on Wednesdays for workers who are sick or slightly bumpy.

Subsequently, Doctor Regis, nicknamed the doctor of the poor, ensures home consultations, often free or paid in kind with produce from the garden or the chicken coop.

Similarly, a nursery was created in 1950 and the notebooks of infant and child health.

THE FAMILY

FOR MOST OF THEM, CARRIERS HAVE LARGE FAMILIES (4, 5, 6 OR MORE CHILDREN).

Life is tough but the population is united and supports precariousness.

meals for these Italian families are mainly made up of polenta and pasta but one kills one rabbit or a chicken on Sunday.

Hunting, fishing, poaching and picking enhance the ordinary. According to the seasons, women and children are going to pick asparagus, mushrooms or picking snails. Likewise, regularly they are going to look for bundles of wood for cooking or grass for feed the rabbits.

At the beginning, there are no allowances family, unemployment or compensation accident at work.

To help family, children contribute by making small jobs and in particular pearl crowns for Undertakers (they are missing often school to work more).

Given the origin of this population and living conditions life, women are catholic practitioners and men rather disbelievers. On Sunday, mothers and children walk to Agay to attend Mass, until what their own place of worship, the Saint Roch chapel, be built in 1929.

Children are educated according to human values and are respectful of traditions.

LEISURE

VILLAGE ACTIVITIES

THE QUARRY SOCIETY EMPLOYED A VERY LARGE STAFF, LOCATED ON PLACE. THESE WORKERS HAD THE PARTICULARITY OF KNOWING EACH OTHER BECAUSE THEY WERE EITHER RELATIVE OR ORIGINALLY FROM THE SAME REGION OF ITALY.

These people who were uprooted, who no longer had a past and whose future was very uncertain given the difficulties of their work and their living conditions, "survived" from day to day but enjoyed the rest Sunday from which they benefited from 1906.

Some practiced football, others music, still others hunting or fishing but almost all met in the popular balls Sunday and especially during traditional festivals such as the Sainte Baume, Sainte-Barbe, the mimosa corso, the carnival, the pilgrimage in Sainte-Roseline…

PARTIES AND LEISURE

EVERY SUNDAY AFTERNOON, THE ROOM DU CERCLE WAS FULL, WE WERE DANCING OF COURSE AND, IN MEMORY OF FORMER, THE “FRONT TRACTIONS” OF THE RAPHAËLOIS WERE PARKING IN FRONT OF THE ENTRANCE.

The election of Miss Saint-Raphaël took place there before the war of 1939. It was Mademoiselle Vitti who was elected with Miss Mondani as first runner-up.

On Saturday and Sunday evening, he there was a ball in the four bars neighborhood: Giraudo, Ferrero, Guazzetti, Bartolini. These evenings always ended in fights monsters with the “Raphaëlois” because the Italian workers were proud and did not want the Dramontoises allow themselves to be approached by "strangers".

On December 4, Saint Barbara (patroness quarrymen and pyrotechnicians) was a day off: workers quarries paraded through the village, then went to the Circle where a good meal awaited them, organized by the employing company.

A few years later, that day a bus trip was organised: Castellane, Castillon Dam in 1953, etc

For Christmas, around a large fir tree, the children of the workers tasted and received nuts and an orange. Later they were entitled to a gift.

The Corso du Mimosa was an opportunity to regroup to make the float who would represent the Dramont during of the demonstration that was taking place in Saint-Raphael.

The inhabitants met in the garage located under the Salle du Cercle, next to the Economat and worked eagerly to be ready for D-Day. Everything was done in secret because it was not necessary to reveal the theme chosen: there was a comet, a butterfly and several times the Island Golden !

You had to get up early to pick the mimosa because the Agathonians, who also prepared their tank, loved well leave to the Dramontois only leaves ! It was always subject to arguments…

For Carnival, everyone disguised himself. Even with little means, people showed imagination and had beautiful suits.

A year, just before the war, the two Mondani sisters, Marie and Emilia, had outfits that represented "France" with a laurel wreath and scarf tricolor, and “Italy” with a crown and the colors of the country.

These two young girls presented a banner reading "Union of the two Latin sisters”.

They won the first prize (a liquor service) to applause of the jury.

Strangely, Italy declared war to France a few months later…