{"id":848,"date":"2017-07-02T15:54:13","date_gmt":"2017-07-02T15:54:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.familyhistory.bluenotegarden.com\/?p=848"},"modified":"2019-07-18T17:37:51","modified_gmt":"2019-07-18T17:37:51","slug":"pepin-auto-body","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/pepin-auto-body\/","title":{"rendered":"Pepin Auto Body"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-rpidk-603ec2e74206ad9839d23ef1cec197aa\">\n.avia-section.av-rpidk-603ec2e74206ad9839d23ef1cec197aa{\nbackground-repeat:no-repeat;\nbackground-image:url(https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pepin-Paul_AutoCo_1940_2head-1500x630.jpg);\nbackground-position:0% 0%;\nbackground-attachment:scroll;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div id='av_section_1'  class='avia-section av-rpidk-603ec2e74206ad9839d23ef1cec197aa main_color avia-section-no-padding avia-no-border-styling  avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_one_full  avia-builder-el-first  avia-full-stretch avia-bg-style-scroll av-minimum-height av-minimum-height-30 av-height-percent  container_wrap sidebar_right'  data-section-bg-repeat='stretch' data-av_minimum_height_pc='30' data-av_min_height_opt='percent'><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><main  role=\"main\" itemprop=\"mainContentOfPage\"  class='template-page content  av-content-small alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-848'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'><\/div><\/div><\/main><!-- close content main element --><\/div><\/div><div id='after_section_1'  class='main_color av_default_container_wrap container_wrap sidebar_right'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-small alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-848'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-nccyw-c14aceda87dbea04c293594cef909504\">\n.flex_column.av-nccyw-c14aceda87dbea04c293594cef909504{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-nccyw-c14aceda87dbea04c293594cef909504 av_one_full  avia-builder-el-1  el_after_av_section  avia-builder-el-no-sibling  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-9lfu8-73c07f63d96a150496e7bf906b829885\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-9lfu8-73c07f63d96a150496e7bf906b829885{\npadding-bottom:10px;\nfont-size:36px;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-9lfu8-73c07f63d96a150496e7bf906b829885 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n#top #wrap_all .av-special-heading.av-9lfu8-73c07f63d96a150496e7bf906b829885 .av-special-heading-tag{\nfont-size:36px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-9lfu8-73c07f63d96a150496e7bf906b829885 .av-subheading{\nfont-size:14px;\n}\n\n@media only screen and (min-width: 480px) and (max-width: 767px){ \n#top #wrap_all .av-special-heading.av-9lfu8-73c07f63d96a150496e7bf906b829885 .av-special-heading-tag{\nfont-size:0.8em;\n}\n}\n\n@media only screen and (max-width: 479px){ \n#top #wrap_all .av-special-heading.av-9lfu8-73c07f63d96a150496e7bf906b829885 .av-special-heading-tag{\nfont-size:0.8em;\n}\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-9lfu8-73c07f63d96a150496e7bf906b829885 av-special-heading-h3 blockquote classic-quote  avia-builder-el-2  el_before_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-first  av-inherit-size'><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Pepin Auto Body<\/h3><div class='av-subheading av-subheading_below'><p>12 February 2017<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-75b00-8b7e55d97118320d4fdbb5817cf70670 '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock image-border'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>All of us have seen the photos of our father\u2019s garage and shop in Montreal. What we have not realized is that it was pretty successful\u2014much more successful than any of the businesses he later worked for in Miami. In 1944 and 1945, his tax return indicates he paid his workers over $4,000 each year. The staff included a full time bookkeeper and a liveried chauffeur.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pepin-Paul_AutoCo_1940_1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-851 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pepin-Paul_AutoCo_1940_1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"951\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pepin-Paul_AutoCo_1940_1.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pepin-Paul_AutoCo_1940_1-300x178.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pepin-Paul_AutoCo_1940_1-768x456.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pepin-Paul_AutoCo_1940_1-577x343.jpg 577w, https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pepin-Paul_AutoCo_1940_1-1500x892.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pepin-Paul_AutoCo_1940_1-705x419.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pepin-Paul_AutoCo_1940_1-450x267.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Canada entered World War II much earlier than the USA\u2014in September of 1939, immediately following Britain\u2019s declaration of war on Germany\u2014and so wartime production in support of Britain and France meant that the command economy began to vigorously recover from the depression decade almost immediately.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pepin-Paul_AutoCo_1940_Invoice.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-853\" src=\"https:\/\/www.familyhistory.bluenotegarden.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pepin-Paul_AutoCo_1940_Invoice-224x343.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"248\" height=\"380\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pepin-Paul_AutoCo_1940_Invoice-224x343.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pepin-Paul_AutoCo_1940_Invoice-196x300.jpg 196w, https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pepin-Paul_AutoCo_1940_Invoice-768x1176.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pepin-Paul_AutoCo_1940_Invoice-980x1500.jpg 980w, https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pepin-Paul_AutoCo_1940_Invoice-460x705.jpg 460w, https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pepin-Paul_AutoCo_1940_Invoice-450x689.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pepin-Paul_AutoCo_1940_Invoice.jpg 1045w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 248px) 100vw, 248px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>In some documents Pepin Auto Body is stated as operating continuously from 1928. That may reflect its derivation from Albert and Edouard\u2019s \u201cforgeron\u201d businesses and, in part, the continuous operation of Pepin Enseignes both in Ferme Neuve and St. Laurent. Our father gives the dates of his company at 35 St. Louis, Ville St Laurent, as the year 1940 through 5 August 1946. He offered sign painting and welding at this site and Monkland Rent-a-Car was in the same building in the 1940s. (Marcel Dery and Roland Laquerre were both friends involved with the latter business; they and their wives often visited us in Florida.)<\/p>\n<p>When he applied for travel visas to the USA, garages in Miami directed letters of prospective employment to the America Consulate General in Montreal in support of his employment. His company appears to have been well known with one garage owner saying: \u201cWe are fully acquainted with the ability and reliability of Mr. Pepin as a body and fender repairman and as a welder, also his character and honesty are above reproach.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pepin-Paul_HockeyTeam_1939.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-854 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pepin-Paul_HockeyTeam_1939.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1259\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pepin-Paul_HockeyTeam_1939.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pepin-Paul_HockeyTeam_1939-300x236.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pepin-Paul_HockeyTeam_1939-768x604.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pepin-Paul_HockeyTeam_1939-436x343.jpg 436w, https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pepin-Paul_HockeyTeam_1939-1500x1180.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pepin-Paul_HockeyTeam_1939-705x555.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pepin-Paul_HockeyTeam_1939-450x354.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>There is a lot of information he had to supply in his preliminary petition for citizenship, made in 1950:<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The first time he entered the USA was through St Albans, VT, by train on 5 August 1946 with a 6 months visa with the purpose of \u201cresting and visiting friend\u201d designated as Henri LaChance, RR 1, Fort Pierce, Florida. (We visited the LaChances many times as children.) His application was approved by Harold T. Pepin, working for the American Foreign Service in Montreal. Interestingly, his nationality on the form is designated as Canadian and his race as French [sic].<\/p>\n<p>Other trips he made were 13 September 1947 &#8211; 11 November 1947 through Rooseveltown, NY and 23 October &#8211; 17 November 1948 through Champlain\/Rouses Point, NY. (The 1947 trip is likely on business and the 1948 trip is, of course, our parents\u2019 month-long honeymoon.)<\/p>\n<p>His residences in Miami were at 843 SW 9th St (September 1947-April 1948); 2623 NW 23rd Ave (April 1948-June 1948); 2727 NW 27th St (June &#8211; August 1948); and 835 NE 88th St (August 1948-September 1949). By the date of his citizenship application, on 4 December 1950, our parents were at 1960 NW 58th Street where they moved in September 1949, just after their first child was born, Theresa.<\/p>\n<p>He had to admit to a couple of traffic violations in Montreal and one in Miami. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police supplied his fingerprints and assured the USA of no criminal record registered against him.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pepin-Paul_Visa_1945_1-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-855 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pepin-Paul_Visa_1945_1-1-524x343.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"524\" height=\"343\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pepin-Paul_Visa_1945_1-1-524x343.jpg 524w, https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pepin-Paul_Visa_1945_1-1-300x197.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pepin-Paul_Visa_1945_1-1-768x503.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pepin-Paul_Visa_1945_1-1-1500x983.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pepin-Paul_Visa_1945_1-1-705x462.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pepin-Paul_Visa_1945_1-1-450x295.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pepin-Paul_Visa_1945_1-1.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 524px) 100vw, 524px\" \/><\/a>In Miami, he belonged to the Knights of Columbus, the WPB (West Palm Beach) Glee Club, and the Gesu Church Drama Guild.<\/p>\n<p>He was 35 when he first came to the US and 37 when he married.\u00a0 He applied for citizenship when he was 39 in 1950. Witnesses were Joseph Pinder (retired) at 143 SW 9th Street and Joseph Zerblus (glazier) at 143 SW 9th Street. (I remember the name of Joe Zerblus as one of their best friends. He was best man at our parents\u2019 wedding and is the very tall, thin man in numerous photos.)<\/p>\n<p>He had a Certificate of Medical Unfitness for Enrollment in the Canadian Army dated January of 1943 and a National Selective Service Labour Exit Permit dated 8 July 1946 (likely one of many issued to him for re-entry purposes). The first-named is extremely worn so he likely had to carry it in a wallet with him at all times.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":868,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-848","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pepin"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/848","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=848"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/848\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1723,"href":"https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/848\/revisions\/1723"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/868"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=848"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=848"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bluenotegarden.com\/familyhistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=848"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}