In ancient times, the town stood on the heights of the cliff near the Chateau du Mesnil Fox whose name he bore. Le Mesnil Fox gradually lost its population falling to only a few families. For 10 years, this area seems to rebuild. Michaux who opens one of the first distilleries oil shale plant would be called today an oil distillery. The height of industrial development lies in the s with the former presence of the Singer Company, a manufacturer of sewing machines. In the early 20th century, the town also saw the passage of many artists: Emile Zola, head of Bennecourt with his close friend Cezanne, Claude Monet head first to Vetheuil and Giverny , and many others who found themselves regularly in Sembat and his wife Georgette Agutte.
His house is still visible not far from the bridge. The municipality has to redeem and restore the beautiful park. In need of space, she said the center early childhood there. It represents an undeniable attraction with its history, the quality of its heritage, the richness of its collection of art works and the animations it proposes.
It is a home of art and living history. Birthplace of Marcel Sembat, lawyer, journalist, politician and Minister of Works from August to December , where he lived with his wife Georgette Agutte, painter and sculptress of talent.
When Georgette Agutte commits suicide a few hours after the death of Marcel Sembat in , she decides to bequeath a large part of this collection to a provincial museum, it will be Grenoble. The letters, in possession of the city, are exposed in the house. For a long time, this date will be commemorated by the socialist companions of Sembat. Beautiful house of the nineteenth century, it keeps the imprint of its illustrious occupants.
It thus takes care of the safeguard of the library of Marcel Sembat rich of more than books, the opening to the public of the house to the occasion of numerous events and exhibitions as well as its layout. The project is to make this house a space of memory, by opening it always more to the public, a house dedicated to Art and History. It is also to give the testimony of a time, to recreate the atmosphere of the place to revive this endearing couple, to rediscover the painter Georgette Agutte and of course the exceptional man that was Marcel Sembat, multi-talented, with multiple passions, keep alive his thought, as a testimony of tolerance, intelligence and idealism that we need today.
