From 1855, the chimneys of the steamers of the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique were the symbols of the Porte Océane, the other name of Le Havre. Founded first of all to transport mail between Le Havre and New York, the CGT became legendary from the 1910s with passenger connections on ships such as Paris, Île de France, Normandie, Liberté and, from 1962, Le France. Attracted by the promises of a speed record of a crossing in six days, artists, industrialists, aristocrats from all over the world, all wanted to travel in the luxury and opulence specific to this type of vessel.
But first, you had to get on board. In the heart of the Autonomous Port of Le Havre, an Art Deco station destroyed ten years ago welcomed passengers at height. After the formalities, they returned to their cabins using gangways suspended at the height of the rail, which had disappeared at the same time as the liners. It is precisely one of these bridges that the association Maritime Museum and Port of Le Havre has finished restoring after having saved it from scrapping, in the hope of later turning it into an exhibition hall.
She was ready to go to the scrapyard
The sixty members of the association chaired by Jean-Pierre Ollivier are specialists. In their hangar, at the tip of Florida, it’s already quite a journey: the volunteers collect and restore anchors, models, canvases and also ships such as the 1935 lightship or the ST488 tugboat. Above the Albert-Brenet room, also enthroned the prefabricated letters from FRANCE. It is here that the 1933 gangway built in aluminum by Guppy, a Norman aircraft manufacturer, is still stored. “When we picked it up, it was stored outside and ready to be scrapped. During the European Heritage Days in 2020, the public showed an interest in this port tool. So, we decided to restore it, ”says Didier Raux the vice-president.
To restore the 28 meters long and 8 tonnes of metal to its original state, a dozen volunteers searched for the paintings and accessories. With them, industries and apprentices from the AFPI-UIMM (Union of industries and metallurgy trades) are active to restore it to its former glory. A bet 80% successful: “There were only a few windows left to put in place and the wooden frames to finish. It will have cost us nearly 26,000 euros. We still had 6,000 euros to find to complete a budget provided by the association and our partners, ”adds the president.
We’re gonna hang up pictures of famous passengers
Completely completed, the footbridge will therefore become a large exhibition hall at the Maritime Museum. “We are late because of the health crisis, but the inauguration of the first exhibition will take place during these European Heritage Days” explains Jean-Pierre Ollivier. Inside and outside, the gangway will serve as a showcase for the photographs of journalist Gérard Lecointe who, for decades, immortalized thousands of passengers. He therefore crossed paths with Rita Hayworth, Luis Mariano, Clark Gable, Kim Novak or even Michelle Morgan, Salvator Dali and Ray Sugar Robinson. These black and white photos will make it possible to redo a transatlantic crossing, less seasickness. “It will then be placed near the start of the Jacques Vabre race in November,” said Didier Raux. In short, a second life to make us feel a golden age that has disappeared from transatlantic liners.
–
