Vince Picard’s Twentieth Century
In Vince Picard’s America, divisions between urban and rural life and regional differences between the Northeast and the South, the rural mid-west and the West were beginning to generate deep mutual suspicions among those dwelled in very different environments, often reinforced by economic, ethnic, religious and racial differences. Hostility between Protestants and Catholics was particularly deep during the 1920s.[ii] The Ku Klux Klan remained anti-black but also became anti-Catholic, anti-Jewish and anti-Asian. The Catholic Knights of Columbus challenged KKK events and became targets of abuse as an organization.[iii]
Vince came of age in the decade 1920-1930. Three things defined this period: his decision to go into show business, a decision covered in another section of this site; his religion and ethnic orientation which defined his family and his identity as a midwesterner, and prohibition and the social characteristics that came with it.
Prohibition left many, otherwise law-abiding Americans, personally confused as they broke the law on a daily basis by buying and consuming alcohol. Throughout the country, “The issue of alcohol divided Baptists, Methodists, and other firm prohibitionists from most Catholics, some Lutherans, and others [including many Jews], who because of their ethnic background, were not opposed to drink.” The 1928 election bitterly divided ethnic and religious groups and in particular “wets’” who supported Catholic Alfred E. Smith from prohibitionists, or “drys’” who supported Herbert Hoover. Many Protestants feared the Knights of Columbus as Catholics looked with suspicion on the Free Masons.[i]
In the 1920s, major theaters both showed motion pictures (movies) and presented live vaudeville acts, singers, dancers, comedians, acrobats, jugglers, or magicians, usually in opulent surroundings. On the fringe, some of these theatres, known as burlesque houses, combined live acts with “strip tease” acts. With the arrival of talking pictures in 1927, most first class theaters found that they could drop their live acts.[iv]
The depression which began in 1929 was a shock to the Midwest. In Michigan, in early 1933 Governor William Comstock suddenly declared a statewide “bank holiday” soon to be declared nationally by the new President, Franklin D. Roosevelt. The economic downturn hit Eastern Michigan, with its ties to the automobile industry, very hard.
The diverse ethnic groups of both medium and large cities, such as Chicago and Detroit usually settled in areas close to their prime employment opportunities. There they would establish distinctive ethnic shops, bakeries, butchers, taverns, mortuaries, and social clubs as well as parishes, synagogues or churches. Saginaw, where Vince lived, reflect Many of its larger neighbors; it was a city of neighborhoods and a city which was being transformed by the black internal immigration from the rural south. Those racial changes would also define his world view and those of his neighbors.
[i] See David E. Kyvig, Daily Life in the United States, 1920-1940: How Americans Lived Through the ‘Roaring Twenties’ and the Great Depression(Chicago: Ivan Dee, 2002), p. 152.
[ii] See David E. Kyvig, Daily Life in the United States, 1920-1940: How Americans Lived Through the ‘Roaring Twenties’ and the Great Depression(Chicago: Ivan Dee, 2002), p. 164.
[iii] See David E. Kyvig, Daily Life in the United States, 1920-1940: How Americans Lived Through the ‘Roaring Twenties’ and the Great Depression(Chicago: Ivan Dee, 2002), p. 167-175.
[iv]See David E. Kyvig, Daily Life in the United States, 1920-1940: How Americans Lived Through the ‘Roaring Twenties’ and the Great Depression(Chicago: Ivan Dee, 2002), p. 94-98.
Beginnings
Vince Picard (Alexander Vincent) was born on August 18, 1904 (Saginaw News Friday, February 19, 1988, p. D7) in White Cloud (Newaygo County, Michigan). His parents were Louis Alexander Picard and Marie Duberville. He was the oldest of four children.
His mother, Marie, was staying with relatives because Alex was still on the road with the circus. He would continue to perform for another four years. White Cloud Hospital also a sanitarium. There is no evidence that Marie had TB.
Frank Picard wrote a description of his older brother in 1938. “As the train stopped at the Woodward Avenue Depot ,” he said, [we] looked out the window and seated in the ‘Cannon Ball’ – that’s the train that leaves Saginaw for Detroit at 7:45 in the morning and gets back at 9:00 in the evening – was my Brother Alex. Of course he couldn’t see us [in the other train] and you know it isn’t any real news when one of my relatives rides in a passenger coach.” (Frank A. Picard, Letter to his children, February 28, 1938).
1939
Amelia Earhart visited Saginaw in 1931 and 1935.
For over ten years, Vince drifted. By 1939, he was the owner, or part owner of a short order restaurant in South Saginaw. His speciality, he always said-scrambled hamburgers. Quick and Easy.
Vincent Picard married Katherine M. Doidge of 1116 State Street. Saginaw Michigan in the basement chapel of Holy Family Church on November 20, 1941. They were married in the basement because they were not allowed into the church since she was not a Roman Catholic. Katherine (Kay) was he daughter of E.H. Doidge and Maude Deucher originally from Lakefield, Ontario in Canada. She was born on June 5, 1917. The Doidges were serious Methodists.
Vince and Kay had three children: Louis Alexander Picard (Born May 18, 1943 , Mary Margaret Picard (Born January 4, 1947) and James Vincent Picard (Born December 30, 1953).
Louis (Skeeter) was a war baby, born on May 18, 1943. Vince Picard would celebrate his 39th Birthday in August of that year. Kay would turn 27 on June 5. 1948.
The 1940s were a time for telling stories according to John Arnold, the nephew of one of Vince’s best friends, Art Arnold. I have had a lot of memories of Art, Al, & Pic chewing the fat in Saginaw at 1266 So. Washington and 407 Holland Avenue. That was a neat back yard there. Full of memories of the circus. I stumbled on to the 5 horizontal bars there when I visited in the 1940s. .
Those images bring back some neat memories… Pictures do bring back a lot that has gone before. Used to love to hear Vince and Art go at it together now and then. Or up at Al’s in Manistee, Vince doing the one armed pushups…. It’s been quite some time. I would say about 1947 or 48 in Manistee. (Vince Picard and Art Arnold. A memory from John Arnold. Written c. 2012).
“One memory” from Al Arnold, “Art was driving south from down town and stopped to turn in, and the car behind him honked. So Art shut off the motor, got out and raised the hood… The fella behind came to help and looked under the hood… Art started up the car and the fella shut the hood and Art pulled across into the driveway and left the fella standing with many cars behind him honking.”
I got a drivers license and was about 15 and coming up Maple Street in Manistee and the light changed. I wasn’t too fast getting off & the fella behind honked. So I redid Art’s method. When I started the car I slammed it into 2nd ( I thought) and roared out, but had put it in reverse instead of 2nd. Thank goodness for Bumpers. No scratches or dents. Lucky , but was not so careless after. Enjoy the day. John” (“A Memory”)
Mary Margaret Picard was what they would come to call a baby boomer, born on January 4, 1947. At that time, her father was 42 years old. Her mother was 30. We were all children of older parents. Vince was 49 when he had Jim, his last born. Kay was in her late 1930s.
Jim Picard always described himself as a mistake. He was born on December 30, 1952. His father was 48; his mother was 35. His tagging himself like that perhaps represented his view of himself.
1981
Kay notes Mr. and Mrs. L. F Hoffman, Saginaw Michigan. These were Jeanette’s Folks.
1982
Katherine M. Picard appointed to the St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation Board. Newspaper article from diary given by Mary M. Sarle, October 14, 1982. This plus her volunteer job at the Historical Museum was work that she valued very much. She was still in good health at this point.
1988
Vince Picard died on Thursday February 18, 1988 in Saginaw Michigan. (Saginaw News Friday, February 19, 1988 (D7)
1991
“Have a Good Year.” Kay Picard. (74 years old).
January 25-29, 1991. Michigan. There are issues related to my mother’s balance and processing of information.
1998
Taken from Kay Picard’s 1998 Diary. Always of few words; though often sharp and witty. This was the year that she moved out of her condo and into an assisted living apartment. It does illustrate the shrinking of her social life after my father died.
January 12. Steve Sarles’ Birthday.
January 19. “Cocktails here.” Always important to note.
January 23. Marg’s Birthday. She and Marg lived in adjoining condos for many years.
January 28. Dental hygienist at 11 AM. She liked to have her teeth cleaned.
January 29. Marg doctor. 1:00 PM
January 30. Lunch at Jacobsons. “4 Ladies”
February 1. Jim here for weekend fun.
February 4. Wendy. 12:30 + Perm.
February 5. Mail. TCI Cable. Check. $25.18.
February 6. ERU and IEVE. Flor. Rainy.
February 10. Lou 00fw. Sft. Ricas
February 13. Auto Owners #344.10. Abbe Insurance 299-643
February 14. TAXES DUE!
Marg Toes. 9:15 Monday.
Castle Museum. 9:15. Exhibit of Sag Valley. R Grant Smith- 2- Tin Pan Alley.
February 27. Mail Blue Cross Blue Shield. 163.82
March 2. Martha and Jacks
March 3. Nan-Cocktails.
March 5. Marg- Hygienist Canceled.
March 6. Lou Returns-
March 9. “Monday, March 9th. “ Starts noting the days of the week.
March 19. 2 pm, Marg Teeth.
March 12. Lou Arrives Plane. 1:36.
March 13. Friday- top Dale Herndon. M. Lynch. 791-8400. 48 Fashion Square Boulevard 486054
March 15. Moving Van.
March 17. Louis Picard address. 202-484-7170
March 19. Thursday. Cable Hook Up. McBrite. Two TVs hooked up. Bedroom and living room. Expanded basic coverage. Includes CNN. No special programs.
April 1. Wed. Steve and Mary arrive.
April 2. Closing on Condo. Sarles Helped!
April 18. Passed Out. She would pass out periodically. We felt that she would have a mini-stroke; though her doctors never explicitly treated it.
April 25. Alexi’s 1stbirthday. Aaron graduates from college. Steve and Mary visit. I go to Doctor, Monday.
April 29. Dr. Coustam
May 3. Sun. Mary Ann, Marg Doidge & Mams Sister went to dinner.
May 4. Not feeling well. Talked to Helen. Going to Dr. Jenson.
May 10 Jim, Marg and I had Moth Day Dinner at. M Square. 1 AM! Jim Returns to Paw Paw.
May 13. 2;30 PM. APPOINTMENT WED. DR. DAILY. Hygienist. Phone: 793-7099. Canceled.
May 18. Lou’s Birthday [55th]
May 19. Change Apartment. Change Sheets.
May 20. Wash Sheets.
May 21. Lou leaves 4. So Africa.
May 24. Mary and Aaron Visit! Also Stacy and Alexie.
June 2. Drove to Store alone.
June 4. Dr. Jenson. Appt. 2:30 pm.
June 14. Mackinaw Island
June 29. She is getting days of the week mixed up.
July 14. Doctor’s Appointment. 11:30. CBC Monday. [Diary entries are slowing down considerably]
August 16. Steve and Mary’s 29thAniversary.
August 24. Stacy’s Birthday
September 8. Dr. Jenson. 2:30.
September 22. Mary Ann Mantle Dies. In Snow Funeral Home. Saginaw Michigan.
1999
March 10. Kay maintains a strong interest in water color painting. She started painting in the early 1930s after attending art school. She gave it up after she had children but started painting again in the mid-1970s.