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Hotel York in St Germain , rue Jacob? 03 Sept, Treaty of Paris...

Sept 03 is the anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Paris (1783) that ended the American Revolutionary War -- it was signed at an English-owned mansion on rue Jacob in the St. Germain district as part of a larger set of negotiations (the Peace of Paris) between the major European powers, which people in the USA mostly ignore in order to make it seem like the beginnings of the USA were more exceptional than a lot of bargaining over fishing rights and who gets which islands and the sugar and slave business connected with them.

Fan favorites Ben Franklin and John Adams were signing for the American pawns in the chess match between France, Spain, England, and the Dutch Republic, and they got a really good deal out of the English because the English knew they'd be easier to do business with going forward. Among the interesting swaps going on besides fishing rights, Spain got Menorca and the Bahamas were given back to Britain. The French foreign minister famously said that "The English buy peace rather than make it".

What I'd like to know from you folks is what is there at 56 rue Jacob today where the Hôtel d'York was during the signing of the treaty? Is there some commemorative items on display? Are there other origins-of-the-USA spots in Paris that can be visited (eventually)?

Posted by
10203 posts

I presume that what Joe posted is a link to StreetView showing the plaque on the facade of the building.

I can’t think what the building is now, but yes, one does see the commemorative plaque when walking by!

Edit to add: yep Joe’s link shows the building, now part of Sciences-Po — but the plaque is missing ! You can see where it was . . . I guess it was taken down for the repairs (there is a huge building permit affixed to the front of the building too) . . .

Posted by
2766 posts

Kim, there on recent google street view photos the plaque is missing, but you can see the outline of where it was, beneath the security camera, to the left of the doorway if you are facing the building --
but is that the same building, I wonder? Hard to imagine it is...

Posted by
2766 posts

Nick - yes, there is a fine line between constructive criticism and whitewashing, isn't there?
Regarding the 6th anniversary, please remind me if I miss it--
another reliable way to raise the hackles of my WASPy American friends is to point out the difference between venturing forth to new heights and getting booted out for being too Calvinist even for the Brits. :-) /s

Posted by
33842 posts

there must be something missing in this thread. Talking about miseryguts - I see none here.

Posted by
1227 posts

I visited this spot in June 2019 and the plaque was missing. I was very disappointed.

Posted by
2766 posts

Yes - if you look at the time machine feature in google maps street view it seems like the commemorative plaque on the building has been missing for a few years already - but if you expand your view out a little bit you'll notice that there's a number of other English-influenced spots in the surrounding blocks, which I'm guessing points to some history of trade or interaction that would itself be worth learning - just the name of the Hôtel d'York here at no. 56 and the Hôtel d'Angleterre at no. 44 points to English past connections in the neighborhood.

Posted by
10203 posts

Yes, you can easily see where the plaque should be, which is why I said in my post that you could see where it used to be.

Nigel, the very first response to avirosemail's post is now deleted — that's why a few of the subsequent responses no longer make any sense!

Posted by
972 posts

Avirosemail, funny coincidence -- I am just watching the HBO mini-series on John Adams and last night's episode was all about John Adams and Ben Franklin in Paris working on U.S. independence. Then, of course, I got googling and found this blog about American history in Paris that you might be interested in: https://leahtravels.com/places/american-history-in-paris

Posted by
2766 posts

Excellent link, CaliMom, thanks!
It reminds me to look up my photos of the Jefferson-related markers in Nice when I get a chance.

Posted by
1443 posts

The current Google image is from May 2019. I noticed a construction permit on the first floor posted. Maybe the plaque was removed in preparation for whatever construction is being accomplished.