L'institution Ségaux aux Lilas

In a previous post I wrote about a school trip to Paris is 1966. I was curious about the establishment where we stayed and set out to see what I could find about it. I presumed it was a boarding school. It occupied several storeys with communal facilities including dining room, washroom and dormitory. There was a yard at the back and a single storey outbuilding with table tennis equipment. There was a general store on the corner opposite. Retracing my steps as best I could recall on Google Street View, I headed south west from Mairie des Lilas Metro along Rue de Paris, then north along Rue Jean Moulin. On the corner at the junction with Rue du Tapis Vert I found the café ‘MELTING POTES’ which seemed a good fit for the old general store. Opposite the café on the west side of Rue Jean Moulin, relatively modern buildings occupying the site.

I could not recall the name of the school, but M. Ségaux was in charge. Google searches led me to L'institution Ségaux, a private school at 23 Rue Jean Martin. I have given some links below for those who would like to know more, but briefly the institution had been in the family for several generations back to the 19^th century. It moved to Rue Jean Martin (then known as Rue De L’Avenir) in 1868 and finally closed in 2004. A notable chapter in the school's history is the concealment of a number of Jewish children during WWII. Jacques, who took over in 1958, was Director at the time of my visit.

The institution features in a number of old postcards. This must be a 19^th century view as the address is given as Rue de L’Avenir and there are detail differences from later images.

Compare it with a view from 2018

Another view from about the same period

The corner shop opposite the institution, about the same period. An extra storey was added later. 

The Institution from Rue du Tapis Vert, 1903

And in 2018, looking towards the current No, 23 

1904

About 1905

The school recreation ground in 1906

Undated, similar to other early 1900’s images but no crescent name board above the gates

 Source gives date as (1945-1960). Various detail differences from earlier views including the lintel above the gates with the inscription ‘INSTITUTION SEGAUX’. 

Links to four images of L'institution Ségaux from 2006. I haven’t reproduced them here since they are accompanied by copyright notices, but the appearance is much the same as the 1945-1960 image. The accompanying captions includes the text ‘Les édifices les plus importants, l’église et l’institut Ségaux, devraient disparaître. La première sera rebâtie, et la réutilisation des terrain du second sont l’objet d’études à l’heure actuelle’. The church, Église Notre-Dame-du-Rosaire des Lilas, will be rebuilt but the institution’s days are numbered. 

https://patrimoine.seinesaintdenis.fr/La-rue-Jean-Moulin-ancien-chemin-de-la-Fontaine-carree-qui-apparait-deja-sur-12830

https://patrimoine.seinesaintdenis.fr/La-rue-Jean-Moulin-ancien-chemin-de-la-Fontaine-carree-qui-apparait-deja-sur-12831

https://patrimoine.seinesaintdenis.fr/La-rue-Jean-Moulin-ancien-chemin-de-la-Fontaine-carree-qui-apparait-deja-sur-12832

https://patrimoine.seinesaintdenis.fr/La-rue-Jean-Moulin-ancien-chemin-de-la-Fontaine-carree-qui-apparait-deja-sur-12833

Other links.

History of the school
http://www.ajpn.org/sauvetage-Institution-Segaux-707.html

https://sites.google.com/site/leslilasavant/infoslilas/infoslilas201804

Links to former pupils and group photos 1956-1991

http://copainsdavant.linternaute.com/e/ecole-institution-segaux-126941

Former pupils' Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/groups/53937763000/