THE VIEW POINT INDICATOR

From theViewpoint Indicator to Horticulture

Thanks to the Sisley’s painting “Le Clocher de Noisy le Roi”, our city has joined Chatou, Croissy, Bougival, Port-Marly and other cities along the Seine river, which inspired so many famous 19^th century painters, and which have created “Le Chemin des Impressionnistes”.

Thus Noisy has decided to install a Viewpoint Indicator at the exact place where the painter set his easel. Wanderers from Noisy can relocate historical places or buildings which may be hidden now, in the middle of fields or forests. They can imagine Noisy of old times, when large greenhouses were located west of our village.

In 1900, cereals were still the major crop, but some farmers or gardeners had started growing flowers in small greenhouses or under cold frames. In the years 1920s, a lot of properties are for sale. So many men died during the war, and their children were not always prone to follow up such activity, and new faces appear : Mr Courtois in 1926, the Moreux brothers in 1928, attracting Mr Idot who came from Croissy and Mr Duthoit from Wambrechies. Ancient pupils of the Villepreux horticulture school, MM Guitton, Bouteille, Floquet create small companies, mostly of family type with a small number of workers, except the Moreux who will turn to an industrial production employing up to 200 people many of them being from Noisy.

Their production, oriented towards wholesale market is mostly composed of potted flowers : azaleas, cyclamens, hydrangeas, chrysanthemums, cinerarias and geraniums. Later, a lot of other flowers will be cultivated but Noy was renowned in all France for its azaleas and Mr Moreux created “La Perle de Noisy” between the two wars.

Most of these greenhouses have disappeared at the end of the 20^th century due to heavy salaries, fuel cost increase after the 1973 crisis and mostly the large raise of property value linked to the urban development of Noisy. Most companies will be sold (Guitton-Hardoin, Floquet, Bouteille et Courtois) or transformed : Mr Idot opened a flower shop “Fleurs des Yvelines” and Mr Duthoit a garden centre. The Moreux company survived thanks to the grand children of the founder, and after renovation 60 people work now to the breeding of azaleas, hydrangeas and rose trees.

Noisy le Roi has increased, clearly been improved, but we can remember this flowering past with a touch of nostalgia.