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Show 6 Friday, November Sun Advocate, Price, Utah 14, 1986 Local French invited to return to homeland ByARVA SMITH Staff writer People of French descent living in Carbon County have been given a special invitation to return next year to France and the valleys of Champsaur and Valgaudemar in the Hautes-Alpes. and celebration for those whose forebears came from that region is being planned there for next SepA reunion tember. Motto for the celebration, written in both French and Pelerinage En English, is France. Champsaur, re Sep-temb- 4 6, 1987. Rediscover Your Roots. Visiting Price to issue the in person were three small towns in that region of France. invitation mayors of In the group were Jean-Pier- re Eyraud, mayor of Benevent; Barban, mayor of St. Jacques and Jean-PaReynier, mayor of Jean-Jacqu- es ul Saint-Jean-Sai- nt Nicolas and counsellor general of Orcieres. With them was Catherine an Jaussaud, agricultural engineer, who is also the coordinator of the celebration. After arriving in San Francisco by Air France, they met with people of French descent in San Francisco, Bakersfield and Los Angeles before driving to Price. Some of the cities have French clubs. One short side trip was made to see the Grand Canyon. The officials stayed overnight with the Art Jeanselme, Jr. family where they met with some of the people here who trace their roots to that region of France. Eyraud, whose grandmother was a Jeanselme, said that he has kept in touch with his cousins over the years. Eyraud, who speaks English, as do some of the others, said, We dont want this part of our valleys history to be forgotten, so it is absolutely necessary for us to keep in contact with our American cousins, that is why we propose a trip back for a few days to rediscover where your family lived for so many years. Our celebration will be very open and friends will be he added. welcome, short written history which Eyraud had with him said, From 1840 to 1914 several thousands of people from the Champsaur left their poor and valley for America. The first emigrants went to Mexico and Argentina, then the Uniteds States attracted the majority: Louisana, California, A over-populat- ed mm vmssmmss' Health-Te- x Mini new stripes 6 (stripes 6 solids) :Tx 1 30 cycling and sightseeing. photograph shows the Pierre and Rachael Jeanselme family and some of the young men who stayed with the Jean- selmes after coming from France. Jeanselmes pictured are Marcel (Moss) leaning against tree; Arthur, sitting on the A 1913 There are mountains, pastures, woodlands, streams, waterfalls and the small, picturesque villages. Les Ecrins, the biggest French national park is nearby. The stone houses of the small villages seem to huddle together to preserve the precious little agricultural land. Even the smallest hamlet has a chapel, a place of worship and the center of village life in the past. A few of the villages have been abandoned, some quite recently, but remain as evidence of the strength of character and staying power of the villagers who lived under such difficult conditions. In the 19th century when the high density of population in the Lynn playing the flute; Marie Jeanselme Villard standing between her father and mother; Albert on his mother s lap; Rebecca, playing the violin and Pete playing a clarinet. Marjorie Jeanselme Bryner was not born at that time. Savings & Loan now stands. Some of the immigrants came as families but many came as young, single people, who married after their arrival here. One who came alone as a young girl from that region was Marie Ribail. She married Othon Motte, who had come earlier from the same region with his brothers. Among those living here who have ties with the region are tough mountain land forced part of the population to leave, some chose Carbon County. Among them, in addition to the Jeanselmes, were the Moyniers, Dusserres, Mottes, Blancs, Girauds, Auberts, Leautauds, Faures and others. Pierre Jeanselme, came around the turn of the century to Bakersfield, while his wife and child remained in France. Katherine Giraud Hansen whose father, Pierre Giraud, came from the Champsaur area although her mother Catherine Larralde came from the Basque country. Her mother, upon her arrival, stayed with her cousins, the Etchberrys, also Basques, who lived where the Wellington coal washing plant is located. Also from the Alps area was Joe Bertrand, who never married. He made his home He kept with the Girauds. more closely in touch with people in France than my father did, Mrs. Hansen said. Louise Leautaud Iriart said her parents came from the Champsaur region. She married Bernard Iriart, who was from the Basque country. Victoria Blanc Gamier said that she came from Gap in the Alps region and another local resident whose parents came from there is Alberta Faure Larsen. Paul Moynier, whose family came from the Alps, said that he has been back for a visit, as have several of the others. Moynier said he met many of his relatives still residing in 10am-5p- prizes and drawings all day. Gilts include unicorn pincushion, sewing basket, olfa cutting mats. No purchase necessary. COUPON COUPON Name Drawing Nov. 15 I OFF I Phone. COUPON 10 I COUPON 15 20 OFF I Purchases over '10 I Sales not included, j Valid Nov. 15. OFF Purchases over 15 j Purchases over 20 j Sales not included, j Sales not included, j Valid Nov. 15. Valid Nov. 15. I VV' 3 j JfL. UUiilliy rr Iv IN JANUARY France. SSlrte I have more relatives there he said, and the country is beautiful. More detailed information about the program for the upcoming celebration and reunion will be available in the future. Those interested in the information now available and more details as they become available may contact Art and Merilee Jeanselme, 626 Cedar Drive, than here, The delegation of French officials who came to invite relatives of people who came from the Champsaur region of France to a reunion and celebration next September are, Jean-Pau- l Reynier, mayor of Nicolas and council general of the Hautes Alpes and Orcieres; Eyraud, mayor of Benevent and cousin of the Jeanselme family; Catherine Jaussaud, who s is coordinating the celebration and Barban, Saint-Jean-Sai- nt Jean-Pierr- e Jean-Jacque- mayor of St. Jacques. SPACE PERCUSSION 637-438- 2. 5 pC. DrUlfl Full energy related industries in the Carbon-Emer- y Area Includes: g Stand Cymbal Stand Snare Stand Hi-H- your company isn't, your customers will become their customers. at Professionally ' ' 4 f. :, ' V .j; :;,x '! 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Agriculture has been and still is the traditional way of life in the two high valleys, a sun filled region, midway between northern and southern climates, Eyraud said. The Champsaur Valley, with a mixture of woodland and pasture, produces most of the milk in the dAzur region. Because of the summers are dry and there is plenty of snow in the winter, the region has become increasingly important for skiing, fishing, hiking, ! VS6 JJ I 'Wtudic 67 E. Main 637-806- 0 |