Living

Living married Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

12. Vincenzo Jacob (James)4 Di Duca (Benedetto3, Marco2, Angelo1) was born 11 9 1907 in Dundee, Scotland, and died 09 26 1995 in Paradise, Butte County, California. He married Mary Constanza Randolfi 08 15 1924 in Port Huron, St. Clair County, Michigan, daughter of Carmine Randolfi and Domenica Rossi. She was born 12 3 1907 in Atina, Frosinone, Italy, and died 12 28 2001 in Paradise, Butte County, California.

Notes for Vincenzo Jacob (James) Di Duca:
Attended St, Marco's Church at Atina, Italy. Attended a Catholic school called "La Cepella" meaning at a small town, taught by Nuns. Later James referred to the school as St. Mary's Catholic School at Frosinone.

James related a story that his great-great-great grandfather, while crossing the Alps with a horse in tow, was arrested for stealing the horse. He responded that he was only dragging a rope and it was not his fault the horse was at the end of the rope.

Another story, that while they were living in Italy, everyone wore wool clothing. Mondays were the market days in Atina, and everyone went to the market. His family lived between the Malino and Malfi Rivers on property called "El Duca." Their greatest fun was playing with hoop snakes, rolling them down the hills.

James told of being able to see Monte Cassino from their two-story home that had been in the Di Duca family for over 400 years, last owned by his uncle, Achillo Di Duca. The Benedictine Monastery is situated at Monte Cassino on a hill of the same name overlooking the town of Cassino, Italy, northwest of Naples. It was founded in 529 by Saint Benedict of Nursia on the site of an Apollonian temple and the monastery became the home of the Benedictine Order that was for many centuries the leading monastery in western Europe. It was destroyed by Lombards in 590, by Saracens in 884, an earthquake in 1349, and was rebuilt each time. The present buildings are in the style of the 16th and 17th centuries. During the 11th and 12th centuries it was a center of learning, particularly in the field of medicine. In 1886 when monasticism was abolished in Italy, Monte Cassino was made a national monument. After the collapse in 1943 of the Fascist regime during World War II, German troops occupied the town of Cassino, Monte Cassino, which was in use by the Germans as a fortress, and was severely damaged during the course of subsequent Allied siege of the town. It was later reconstructed. The Di Duca home was also damaged during World War II.

During the harvest season, tomatoes would be boiled into a paste, then put on a piece of cloth and placed on the roof to dry. When the tomato paste was thoroughly dried it was rolled up and stoned on stone ledges inside house. All manner of foods were hung inside to dry, including spices and salted meats

Notes on back of an envelope given to me, "Tony Genvise, Leona and Nelda. (Children of Tony?). Mrs. Frank Di Pace, Anthony Genevisi. Jery & Delores adopted a little girl named Fortuna."

1920 Port Huron City Directory. Vincent Diduca (Di Duca), works for Grand Trunk Railroad Shops. Home on Yager Street. (Living at home.

Obituary: James Di Duca of Paradise, a partner of Di Duca Bros., Inc., construction firm died Tuesday, September 26, 1995 at Feather River Hospital. He was age 92. Services are planned for 10 a.m., Friday, September 29 at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Paradise.

Mr. Di Duca was born November 9, 1902, in Scotland to Benedict and Carmellia (Carmella) Di Duca. At age 13, he came to the United States after living in Italy and England. (Scotland). In 1924 he married Mary Randolph in Michigan. After working 33 years as a bridge and building inspector at Grand Trunk Railroad, Mr. Di Duca retired then continued to work with Di Duca Bros. for 20 years. He moved to Paradise with his family about 10 years ago. Mr. Di Duca was a member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church as well as the Operating Engineers. He was a former member of the Knights of Columbus.

Mr. Di Duca is survived by his wife, Mary of Paradise; two sons, Mark and Joe Di Duca of Paradise; three daughters, Dorothy Eagen of Los Gatos, Joyce Kihnley of Cupertino and Stella Meyer of San Jose; brother Albert Di Duca of Michigan; three sisters, Rose Valenti, Mary Kreiger and Christina Hall, all of Michigan; 15 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren. Burial will be at Paradise Cemetery. Pallbearers are Benedict, Jim and Joseph Di Duca; Michael Kihnley and Bill and Chris Eagen.

According to his application for citizenship James Di Duca listed his birth date as November 7, 1902.

Burial: Paradise Cemetery, Paradise, Butte County, California


+23i.Mark Benedetto5 Di Duca, born 07 31 1925 in Port Huron, St. Clair County, Michigan.
+24ii.Dorothy Sondae Di Duca, born 07 28 1927 in Port Huron, St. Clair County, Michigan.
+25iii.Joseph Charles Di Duca, born 04 26 1929 in Port Huron, St. Clair County, Michigan.
+26iv.Joyce Di Duca, born 09 1 1930 in Port Huron, St. Clair County, Michigan.
27v.Estella Di Duca, born 10 31 1933 in Port Huron, St. Clair County, Michigan. She married Jerome Meyer; born in New York.

Vincenao married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Charles Metlar Valentine, II was baptized at St. Michael's Catholic Chruch, Newark, Essex County, New Jersey.

Birth Certificate #33699, Newark, Essex County, New Jersey. Born to Charles B. Valentine, architect and Ellen "Werty". Death Certificate #C.110, St. Clair County, Michigan, died age 72, 448 Wadhams Road, Smiths Creek, St. Clair County,Michigan; Architect by profession, son of Charles M. Valentine and Ellen G. Whearty; interred May 19, 1973, Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield, Michigan.

Obituaries published in the "Port Huron Times Herald", "The Detroit Free Press", "The Detroit News", "Architect's Monthly Bulletin", V. 27, p 40-43, November 1973, "American Institute of Architects" and the "Michigan Contractor and Builder" publication.

May 30, 1973. "Michigan Contractor & Builder." Obituary. "Charles M. Valentine, former Grosse Pointe architect, 71, died May 15 at his home after a long illness. Among his designs were the Cardinal Mooney Latin School, Sacred Heart Seminary, Duns Scotus College, The Burroughs Corp., Brother Rice School, St. Anne's Church and St. Sylvester Church. He was a member of the Michigan Society of Architects, the American Institute of Architects and a Fellow of the American Registered Architects. Surviving him are his wife, Dorothy; four daughters, Mrs. Dorothy Kuhn, Mrs. Beatrice Duca, Mrs. Charlotte Hoyem, Mrs. Judy Prine; and two sons, Charles M. III and Thomas R. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cancer Fund." He was also known throughout the St. Clair County area for his architectural accomplishments; both of churches and schools.

1922, Draftsman at Brown, Preston, Derick & Co., Detroit, Michigan.
1922, Resided 3649 Baldwin Avenue, Detroit, Michigan with his parents.
1924, Draftsman at Bachelder & Wassman. His father was a partner and the treasurer.
1925, Draftsman, living at home.
1926, June 26, married Dorothy Lillian Davis at Detroit, Michigan.
1927, Draftsman, Bachelder & Wassman, residence, 2924 Montgomery Avenue, Detroit, Michigan.
1928, Estimator at Batchelder & Wassman, residence, Beaconsfield, Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan.
Source: Polk's City Directory, Detroit, Michigan.

1929, Owner of the Ferndale Stone Company, residence, Ferndale, Michigan.
1930, Depression forced move to a farm on Springborn Road, Peters Corners, Michigan.
1935, Returned to Detroit, Michigan, resided at 2nd Blvd., Detroit, Michigan. Went into business
with Phil Bresner.
1936, Moved to Port Huron, Michigan. Lived on corner of 13th or 17th & Union St.
1937, Moved to farm at 448 Mitchell Road, Smiths Creek, Michigan, now 448 Wadhams Rd., St. Clair
1939, October, moved to Ocean View, Virginia. Employed with Giffles & Valet, Architects, Norfolk Naval Base, Norfolk, Virginia
1940, Moved to Cambridge Crescent, Norfolk, Virginia.
1941, Moved to Virginia Beach, Virginia.
1941, Pearl Harbor bombed.
1942, Returned to farm at 448 Mitchell Road, Smiths Creek, Michigan. FINAL MOVE

Charles began his architectural career at age 14 under the tutelage of his father, Charles Metlar Valentine, I, who studied under his own father, Jacob Henry Valentine. Charles attended Northwestern High School and the University of Detroit, Detroit, Michigan.

1929. Charles Metlar Valentine, II, and his wife, Dorothy Lillian Davis established their own business as The Ferndale Stone Company, Ferndale, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit, Michigan, in competition with his father, Charles Metlar Valentine, I, owner of the Michigan Stone Company, Detroit, Michigan.

The Great Depression hit. Charles and Dorothy lost everything they had with the exception of a farm they had invested in as a "hobby". Charles had dreamed of being a farmer, not an architect, probably because during World War I, while they were living at Bedford, Indiana, those who weren't old enough for military service assisted the farmer's whose sons had to go to war.

The Valentine family farm was located on Sanborn Road, Peter's Corners, Michigan, a short distance from Marine City, Michigan. The family lived and survived under the most difficult circumstances from 1930 until 1935, during which year Charles, Dorothy and five children returned to Detroit, Michigan, and resided at 2nd Boulevard. Charles went into business as an architectural stone designer along with Phil Bresner. Timing was wrong and recovery from the Depression was taking longer than anticipated. The business did not prosper as it should have. Once again, doors were closed, the business was shut down.

1936. Charles moved his family to Port Huron, Michigan, where again he went into business as a home designer and builder of homes in the affordable range. The country still recovering from the depression, monies were not forthcoming. Hopes of establishing a new business were once more dashed. Consequently, Charles went to work for Andy Morrison's Architectural firm in Detroit, Michigan, commuting by bus to another farm they had purchased 10 miles north of Port Huron at a place called Smith's Creek, Michigan.

From Andy Morrison's Architectural firm, Charles accepted employment at Giffles and Valet, another large architectural organization striving to survive, as head draftsman and designer. The winds of war were at an all time high and his branch of Giffles and Valet were transferred to their office at Norfolk, Virginia to begin work at the Norfolk Naval Base. Charles preceded his family to Norfolk, Virginia in hopes of finding a home to live in. His wife and six children left Michigan in the fall of 1938, driving an old Ford, with a plan to meet Charles at Columbus, Ohio, who then drive the family the rest of the way to Virginia. Their first Virginia residence at Ocean View, Virginia where they spent a year prior to moving to Norfolk, Virgina, then moved to Virginia Beach, Virginia in 1941, where they resided until Pearl Harbor was bombed December 7, 1941.

Sham battles were being fought in the sand dunes behind the home, large dugouts were readied on the beaches enabling the Navy, Marines and Army to scan the ocean for submarines and other suspicious crafts, tires and gas were rationed, along with many food items, and the war was being felt very severely in that area. The following April 1942 it was decided the safest place to be was back on the farm at Smith's Creek, Michigan, where they lived until a few years after Charles died when his wife sold the farm and moved to St. Clair, Michigan.

Charles worked for variously with different architectural firms, meanwhile establishing his own architectural business known as Valentine & Associates at Marysville, Michigan. The firm grew and became a very successful venture, his work being praised throughout the state of Michigan.

Charles married Dorothy Lillian Davis on 16 Jun 1926 in Detroit, Wayne Co., MI. Dorothy was born on 3 Jul 1903 in Buffalo, Erie Co., NY; died on 4 Jan 1994 in St. Clair, St. Clair Co., MI; was buried on 7 Jan 1994 in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]