The floods of October 2024 in the Ardèche region of France took a heavy toll on the Musée Canson et Montgolfier, one of France's historic paper mills. Housed for thirty-four years in the Vidalon buildings, the museum traces the history of the paper industry since the 17th century. Volunteers take turns every day to try and save what can be saved, including century-old machines and unique archives, which have been submerged under water.
Since October 18, a twenty-strong team of volunteers and museum staff has been working daily to empty, dry and clean the premises. Everyone is involved in sorting and saving the submerged objects. This in-depth work is complemented by members of other local associations, notably the Montgolfières d'Annonay and the Compagnons du Patrimoine.
The clean-up is far from complete, and some of the machines, still covered in mud, require technical attention. Drowned engines need to be dismantled and dried thoroughly before they can be made to work again.
The floods not only affected the physical appearance of the museum, but also threatened an essential part of its contents.
"The historical archives on the first floor have been saved, but many stationery documents have been damaged," says Marie-Hélène Reynaud, the museum's curator.
These documents, precious magazines and paper archives for the museum, are now at the center of a drying process. A team of volunteers armed with hairdryers and dehumidifiers are trying to limit the damage and prevent the appearance of mould. The work is long and delicate, requiring constant attention to avoid irreparable loss.
The museum's cellars, submerged by up to 1.80 metres of water, were particularly hard hit. Historic machines, some dating back to 1900, have been damaged. Robert, a former museum employee, is trying to restore these mechanical parts, essential for educational demonstrations. Together with other volunteers, he is cleaning up the mud and dismantling the parts in order to locate the water-damaged parts - essential work for preserving this technical know-how.
To date, the Musée Canson et Montgolfier has no precise date for reopening. Material losses have yet to be fully estimated, and an insurance expert is due to appraise the machines in early November 2024 to measure the cost of the necessary repairs. The stakes are high for the team, who must adapt to the logistical, material and time constraints of such a restoration project.
