Jules Verne’s work within the community
During the 34 years that he spent in Amiens, Jules Verne played an active role in the local community. From 1872, he was a member of the Académie d’Amiens (Academy of Amiens).
In 1895, Jules Verne was appointed as a director of the Amiens Caisse d'Épargne (Savings Bank), where he was a guarantor for cash deposits. At the time, the Caisse d'Épargne was located at 19 Rue de la République, known then as Rue des Rabuissons. From 1898 to 1904, he was a member of the Board of Directors, and on 2nd May 1898 submitted the annual account of the Caisse d'Épargne’s 1897 operations. Due to his advanced age and poor sight, he relinquished these positions in 1904.
In 1889, he joined the Société Industrielle d’Amiens (Amiens Industrial Society), founded in 1861 by weavers to encourage the region’s industry. One of their advocates was the engineer Edouard Gand, also one of Jules Verne’s closest friends in Amiens. Our novelist was an enthusiastic visitor to the group’s extensive library, located at 29 Rue de Noyon.
The author also joined the Société d’Horticulture (Horticultural Society), where he gave two speeches to the general assemblies of 1891 and 1894.
