In 1877, a first abandoned child was entrusted to a convinced Christian, Lydie Hocart. In 1880, 12 children were in her care. In 1893, the Maison Blanche, purchased in 1888, was already too small to accommodate all the children. The Maison Neuve was built to accommodate the abandoned boys. In 1978: arrival of “Youth with a Mission”. The house was in ruins. From the first floor, we can see the sky. The rain comes in through the broken windows. The radiators are torn out, the chimneys broken. Every room is flooded. Sacks of grain are in the attic, which is full of birds’ nests. Tramps have, for a while, taken up residence there. The courtyard and all the surrounding land are filled with huge bushes. In 1979-1981 : Robert Cau is convinced that the house must be restored. Jean-Claude Serex, a Swiss citizen and architectural designer, came to draw up plans for the restoration and enlargement. He will stay to concretely accomplish his projects with Robert Cau and Olivier Dugand, helped by various teams of young people and students from the discipleship schools.

“Le nid” (“the nest” in english), the first nursery opened in 1902, first in the white house. A few years later it moved to the upper house before being transferred to the Maison Blonay in 1925. It was ultra modern with central heating, taps with hot and cold water, … Dozens of years before the inhabitants of the village had access to this comfort.

The prefect of the Marne said following his visit in 1922 “What is remarkable about the children’s home is that since 1914, not a single death has occurred. This period of time, particularly tormented, and very critical in all respects, makes the result even more marvelous and this constitutes the most beautiful praise that one can make of the Work…”

• 1904: The heirs of Princess Troubetskoï offer the land and the construction of this convalescent home which will be opened on June 23rd 1905
• In 1906, Lydie Hocart expresses her gratitude for the work done at the Troubetskoï house: “Last year we opened the Troubetskoï villa, a monument of filial piety built in memory of a beloved mother. This latest construction is of great service to us, allowing us to provide those whose health requires fresh air and sunshine with extended stays in the country.
• 1919: The villa becomes a nursery : “the Nest”.
• 1978: Arrival of Youth With A Mission. The walls of the house were moldy, the heating system did not work anymore.
• 2020 : The house is now divided into four apartments to accommodate YWAM team members.

In 1908, construction of the temple carried out by the brother of Lydie Hocart, the pastor J.Hocart, with a financial assistance of the fund of the buildings of the Methodist Churches.

The Temple is intended for the whole population and can accommodate 150 people. The Sunday services of the Maison Des Enfants are celebrated there, especially in summer.

Called the Isolation Pavilion.

1908-1909: purchase of land and construction.

Sick children were welcomed and cared for there, avoiding contagion to other orphans.

1878 : arrival of “Youth with a Mission” : the floor was rotten, a musty smell reigned everywhere. The pavilion was restored by Robert Cau: his family, and later many others, lived there successively. It is there, around the wood stove, that Jean Pillonel, Robert Cau, Marlyse Billaud, Serge Lebriquer, Jean-Claude Serex and others meet one evening per week to pray for Paris. The families of Jean and Robert as well as Marlyse will be the first to settle in Paris at the end of 1982, followed by the Serex, Lebriquer, Parslow…

In 2021, the family living in the house moved out. The occasion for a big renovation project, to break down walls, to clean up the basement, to redo the isolation and the distribution of the rooms. An entrance hatch was built on the north façade to reinforce the wind isolation.