All of us have seen the photos of our father’s garage and shop in Montreal. What we have not realized is that it was pretty successful—much 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.

Canada entered World War II much earlier than the USA—in September of 1939, immediately following Britain’s declaration of war on Germany—and so wartime production in support of Britain and France meant that the command economy began to vigorously recover from the depression decade almost immediately. 

In some documents Pepin Auto Body is stated as operating continuously from 1928. That may reflect its derivation from Albert and Edouard’s “forgeron” 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.)

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: “We 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.”

There is a lot of information he had to supply in his preliminary petition for citizenship, made in 1950:

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 “resting and visiting friend” 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].

Other trips he made were 13 September 1947 – 11 November 1947 through Rooseveltown, NY and 23 October – 17 November 1948 through Champlain/Rouses Point, NY. (The 1947 trip is likely on business and the 1948 trip is, of course, our parents’ month-long honeymoon.)

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 – 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.

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.

In Miami, he belonged to the Knights of Columbus, the WPB (West Palm Beach) Glee Club, and the Gesu Church Drama Guild.

He was 35 when he first came to the US and 37 when he married.  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’ wedding and is the very tall, thin man in numerous photos.)

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.