Petit Pontmolin.
The hamlet of Petit Pontmolin is not very old,
its foundation only dates from 1270. At this 
time, Jean dit Odry built a small hut there.
He had several children under age as they
were called in 1285 the odrichons. In the
language of this time, odrichons meant "the
odri juniors". This family, who still exists,
increased imperceptibly. The children built
others houses and the hamlet became as
we today know it.They also built a farm. This
one was always their property as far as 1628.
During this year, Pierre Houdrichon left this
farm to live at the hamlet of Theil. Two of his
sons, Denis and Jean Houdrichon, plowmen,
rented fields there to the Hôtel Dieu. Their
descendant Denis Houdrichon was plowman
at the Theil like them. He was also farmer for
the same hospice by the farming lease of
February 23, 1732. The part of the descendants
of Jean dit Odry who lived at the Petit Pontmolin
were called Odrichons, and this name derivates
in Houdrichons. Those who originally went to the
Theil  were called Odris, and this name derivates
in Houdry. These two parts have the same origin
as Jean dit Odry is the common founder of the
both. The Houdrichon children removed a part
of the path between the Paré and the Petit
Pontmolin. This one was near their farm and was
used to go to another hamlet, the Jariel, in crossing 
the river at the ford. After 3 other centuries, the
remaining part was also destroyed as the channel
"of the dummy river" was built in 1620. Then the
Houdrichon ford was converted in a watering place
for the inhabitants of the hamlet.

© Copyright 1996-2005 Philippe & Gilles HOUDRY