The old village hall

Following Terrible WW1 it was in the 1920s and 1930s, dubbed the "Mad Years" that the need to gather, to share, to celebrate was experienced by the survivors as a necessity.

It was in this context that in 1922, Mayor Anatole Hartou and the city council decided to launch a subscription to finance the acquisition of a " WW1 barracks " and to bring it up on the village green in front of the church to make it the village hall.

The acquisition, dismantling, transport, masonry and building together again were estimated at 6000 Frs according to the quote of Leon Duclos.

This is what the subscription reports thanks to Mr. Anatole Hartout 2300 Frs, Charles Bourgeois 1600 Frs, Léon Duclos 600 Frs, Louis Chauvet 500 Frs, Pierre Malmaison 500 Frs, Arsène Henri Tombette 500 Frs.

18 meters long, 6 meters wide, on brick masonry, double walls, parquet, two doors, corrugated iron cover, it became the property of the commune after the refund of the subscribers. It was enlarged in 1925.

A party committee was created to organize the parties and manage the hall.

In 1988, this advert appeared in Le Réveil de Neufchâtel on December 19:

"Who wants the village hall? The municipality of La Rue St Pierre has decided to sell its wooden party room to the highest bidder! Frame, planks and sheet metal are to be dismantled (barracks of WW1). Find out more at the town hall."