The
"Gallic hotel" was built between 1926 and 1927 on the plans
by architect Marcel Oudin (1882-1936).
This hotel was built on the top of a property called "Bois Fleury" belonging to the Meetz-Moulton family. This family, of American origin, also owned two other houses, below the "Gallic", located along what is today the “Rue Vernet”, in a large park that went from the “Place Joffre” up to “Place de la République”. The "Gallic hotel" would fit into a planted environment, and become a part of it. The city of Dinard bought the two “Moulton” villas in 1925, in order to establish in one of them, the head of the first Tourist Office. The two villas and their park disappeared in the 1960’s to make way for a parking lot, thus depriving the "Gallic" of the plantations that were part of its surrounding.
This hotel was built on the top of a property called "Bois Fleury" belonging to the Meetz-Moulton family. This family, of American origin, also owned two other houses, below the "Gallic", located along what is today the “Rue Vernet”, in a large park that went from the “Place Joffre” up to “Place de la République”. The "Gallic hotel" would fit into a planted environment, and become a part of it. The city of Dinard bought the two “Moulton” villas in 1925, in order to establish in one of them, the head of the first Tourist Office. The two villas and their park disappeared in the 1960’s to make way for a parking lot, thus depriving the "Gallic" of the plantations that were part of its surrounding.
Bird view seaward side before building of the Gallic Hotel circa 1925 (private collection) |
Bird view city side before building of the gallic Hotel circa 1925 (private collection) |
Bird view circa 1950 The Gallic Hotel in its planted environment (private collection) |
At the corner of Place de la République - Rue des Bains circa 1941 Upstage, one of the two "Moulton" villas (private collection) |
On
December 1st,
1925, John Hennessy, who owned the splendid villa “La Garde” in
Dinard, gave the villa “Bois Fleury” acquired in 1919, to found
a corporation named “La compagnie l’écluse” with a capital of
400,000 francs, of which he was the main shareholder. The company had
its headquarters first at N° 1 rue Levavasseur and then at N° 13
Boulevard Féart. Its purpose was to create modern bathing facilities
in order to give new developments to Dinard. The resort was indeed at
a turning point in its history. It had to meet the tastes of a new
wealthy clientele, when women had cut their hair and shortened their
skirts and in a mean to escape the image of millions of deaths during
WWI, were getting dizzy with modernity, speed, sports and jazz music.
This generation, called the "lost generation" by Gertrud
Stein, had then replaced the ladies that attended some quiet five o
'clock teas at the “High Life” Casino at the turn of the century.
This
ambitious project immediately received support from the City mayor in
spite of strong opposition from the City Council and very hot debates
on the subject.
The
"Gallic Hotel" will be the only achievement of the company
the "La compagnie l’écluse” which will retain ownership of
the building until its subdivision into apartments in 1949.
The
emerging popularity of the "French Riviera" as a summer
destination, as described in Fitzgerald’s Tender is the night”,
the creation in 1925 by Jay and Florence Gould of the resort of “Juan
les Pins”, and the crisis of 1929, would be fatal to new
developments in Dinard.
Florence Gould on board "SS Normandie" circa 1935 |
Frank Jay Gould II circa 1913 |
Other building project in the area such as “La Vicomté” in Dinard and “Longchamps” in Saint Lunaire also failed for the same reason.
The
prestigious "Companie des Hotels Réunis” which ran at the
time some of the finest French palaces, operated the hotel until its
shut down in September 1939.
Its
first director, Mr. Galli, of Italian origin, was greeted by the
local press at the inauguration as a great professional in its field.
Indeed, he had already been director of major hotels including both
Granville Hotel and Jersey Hotel.
A new night club will appear, just in front of the Gallic Hotel, located on the 11th of Boulevard Féart, named "le Casanova", on the plans of the architect Marcel Oudin. The wealthy guests of the hotel will be able to dance there till dawn, with the accompaniement of jazz and tango orchestras from Paris, New-York or Buenos Aires.
Entrance of the "Casanova", 11 boulevard Féart, projet of facade by Marcel Oudin circa 1927 (Municipale archives of the city of Dinard) |
In the early years of its operation, the "Gallic Hotel" was an undeniable commercial and mundane success as pointed out by an article in the "Journal of the Emerald Coast " in August 1931 and by the picture published in the magazine "Dinard mon pays” taken during a tea given at the Gallic Hotel on July 3, 1931, on the occasion of the first arrival in Saint Malo ferry terminal of the fast train "Côte d’emeraude - Pyrenees".
Picture taken in front of the rotonda, during a tea given on July the 3rd 1931 |
Front page of the hotel's Police book - 1931 (private collection |
Extracts of the hotel's Police book - years 1931 to 1934. In the left-hand column, you find the numbers of the rooms. In the column "date de naissance" is written the guests age
(private collection)
Extract from the "Guide Michelin" 1939. The Gallic hotel is one of the third best hotel of the resort (private collection) |
However,
toward the beginning of WWII, the operation will prove increasingly
difficult to the point that in 1938, the shutdown and subdivision
into apartments was already planned.
The
"Gallic Hotel" suffered of the consequences of the 1929
crisis in the U.S., which affected Europe in 1931, losing much of its
clientele, mostly Anglo-Saxon. He was on also built too late at a
time when Dinard was less famous as mundane and more as a family
resort. This trend went on after WWII with disappearance of many
other palaces of the resort in the years 1950-60, with only one
exception, the "Grand Hotel".
General view taken in 1927, the hotel is just achieved (private collection) |