L'industrie textile venue d'Alsace au début du 19ème siècle
L’industrie textile a contribué au développement économique des familles vosgiennes qui vivaient jusque là, en autarcie, du produit de leur ferme.
Elles produisaient pour leurs besoins propres des tissus sur des métiers à tisser de fabrication artisanale.
Cette activité les a conduites à développer des petits ateliers de tissages à bras, Jean Louis Géhin fut le premier à exploiter un tel atelier en 1840 à Ventron, alors que la première filature des Vosges était créée en 1825 à Saulxures-sur-Moselotte.
C’est à cette période 1840-1860 que des industriels dynamiques créent de nombreuses usines familiales de filature et de tissage dans le massif vosgien.
Pour le seul village de Ventron, quatre sites voient le jour représentant 288 emplois en 1860.
The textile industry came from Alsace in the early 19th century. It contributed to the economic development of the Vosges families who had lived self-sufficiently on their farm products up to that time. To support themselves, they produced fabrics on home-made looms. The activity led them to develop small hand looms workshops. Jean-Louis Géhin pioneered such a workshop in t840 in Ventron, while the first spinning mill in the Vosges was created in 1825 in Saulxures-sur-Moselotte. It is in the 1840s-1850s that dynamic manufacturers created numerous spinning and weaving family factories in the Vosges massif. In 1860, for the village of Ventron alone, four sites were built, creating 288 jobs.
The textile industry came from Alsace in the early 19th century. It contributed to the economic development of the Vosges families who had lived self-sufficiently on their farm products up to that time. To support themselves, they produced fabrics on home-made looms. The activity led them to develop small hand looms workshops. Jean-Louis Géhin pioneered such a workshop in t840 in Ventron, while the first spinning mill in the Vosges was created in 1825 in Saulxures-sur-Moselotte. It is in the 1840s-1850s that dynamic manufacturers created numerous spinning and weaving family factories in the Vosges massif. In 1860, for the village of Ventron alone, four sites were built, creating 288 jobs.
Une légende industrielle
Ces implantations privilégient les hautes vallées vosgiennes en raison de la force motrice naturelle qui court dans la montagne : l’eau. En effet les bras des hommes qui animaient les premiers métiers à tisser artisanaux ont été remplacés par l’eau et la roue à aubes qui sera bientôt, à son tour, remplacée par la machine à vapeur. L’activité textile des Hautes-Vosges se développe jusqu’à la fin du 19ème siècle, et se maintient à un niveau élevé jusqu’à 1939. L’apparition des technologies d’après guerre met en place progressivement des moyens de productivité colossaux, en même temps, les pays du tiers monde prenant place sur le marché, l’écoulement de cette productivité grandissante est vite compromise. L’avenir s’assombrit non seulement pour les entreprises à capitaux familiaux mais aussi pour les groupes de dimension nationale et internationale.
These industrial locations had a preference for the high Vosges valleys because of the natural driving force that runs down the mountains : water. In fact, the arms of the people that provided energy to the first home made looms were replaced by water and the paddle-wheel which, in turn, was soon replaced by the steam engine. The textile activity in the Hautes-Vosges developed until late 19th century and remained at high level until 1939. The emergence of post-war technologies put gradually in place colossal means of productivity. As third-world countries took place on the market at the same time, the sale of the growing production soon got compromised. Prospects darkened, not only for businesses with family capital but also for national and international groups.
Coup de coeur
L’idée du musée du textile est née du succès rencontré par une exposition textile en 1985, à Remiremont : le préfet des Vosges et l’association d’histoire locale de Remiremont au regard de toutes les richesses présentées par le textile de la région, font germer l’idée d’un musée, idée portée et partagée par toute une population fière de son passé soucieuse de sa mémoire. Le site de Ventron, « Tissage du Grand Ventron » est très vite retenu parmi d’autres : « Dès que nous avons ouvert la porte de cette petite usine et que nous l’avons découverte intacte, telle qu’elle était lors de sa fermeture en 1952, nous avons su que ce serait celle là ! »
The idea of a textile museum arose from the success of a textile exhibition in 1985 in Remiremont : In view of all the wealth represented by the textile in the region, the Vosges Préfet and the association of Remiremont local history launched the idea of a museum, idea supported and shared by the entire population, proud of their past and conscious of their memory. The site of Ventron, » Tissage du Grand Ventron » is soon focused on among others.
« As soon as we opened the door of this small factory and realized that it was intact, in the same condition as when it closed down in 1952, we knew then that that was it ! »
The idea of a textile museum arose from the success of a textile exhibition in 1985 in Remiremont : In view of all the wealth represented by the textile in the region, the Vosges Préfet and the association of Remiremont local history launched the idea of a museum, idea supported and shared by the entire population, proud of their past and conscious of their memory. The site of Ventron, » Tissage du Grand Ventron » is soon focused on among others.
« As soon as we opened the door of this small factory and realized that it was intact, in the same condition as when it closed down in 1952, we knew then that that was it ! »