The Franco-American Centre would like to extend our gratitude to the work of Éric Drouart, the President of the Club Richelieu in Nashua, New Hampshire. His study and knowledge of Le Parc de Notre Renaissance Française (“Le Parc”) has informed the creation of this article.
Georgi Hippauf – Creating Initiative
The origins of “Le Parc” are owed largely to Georgi Hippauf (née Laurin). Hippauf was an executive assistant to the governor’s office in the 1990s. Her family was well-connected to the local New Hampshire community, and she had established herself well within the political spheres of the state. In the late 1990s, Hippauf established a Franco-American committee focused on erecting a symbol of Franco-American history, culture, and pride.
Hippauf used her connections with local cultural associations (both the Association des Canado Americains and the Club Richelieu) to build the project from the ground up. The project focused on building the statue – La Dame de Notre Renaissance Française. The statue now stands in the center of the park near the Nashua River and former mill buildings.
La Dame
The statue, known by her shorthand of “La Dame,” was dedicated to the Franco-American community in May of 2001. Christopher Gowell sculpted the statue out of bronze.
The woman is a mill worker who walks with her son, a schoolboy. The son is showing a book to his mother, which is written in French. The woman has a spindle in her pocket, which is said to emphasize her work in the mills. The pedestal upon which the statue stands is engraved with the names of the main benefactors of the statue. Two pillars originally accompanied the statue and explained the statue in both English and French.
Beautification Efforts
Originally, the statue sat on a pedestrian walk near a parking lot. The park that now surrounds the statue was dedicated to the Franco-American community. This year, the city of Nashua has launched a beautification project to increase access to the Nashua River – along which the park sits. The city is planning to add a stage and more outdoor seating to increase foot traffic and events in the space. The location of the statue will not change, and the statue is wrapped up to remain protected during construction efforts, which are expected to be completed in August 2025.
The project is being funded via tax increments resulting from the development of apartments in the former mill buildings along the river. A portion of those funds has been earmarked for the park and statue to preserve them for posterity. When the park reopens, the various sponsoring organizations are involved in planning a re-dedication event.
More Resources
Further history of the statue and its importance to the Franco-American community can be found in the book “The Third Century – The Recognition of Franco-Americans” by Georgi Hippauf. Inside the book is the following poem by the author:
"Il semble pour nous que c'est le temps
Qu'on se réunisse ensemble,
Pour célébrer notre heritage,
Pour renouveler la fin d'un age."
-Le Troisième Centième: Une Reconnaissance Franco-Américaine
“It's time for us to reunite,
all of us together,
To celebrate our heritage,
To renew our memories of a bygone era."
-The Third Century: A Recognition of Franco-Americans
Written by Kaleb Houle-Lawrence
University Intern
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