Charles Metlar Valentine, II: multer.com

1901 - 1973 (71 years)

Generation: 1

Charles Metlar Valentine, II was born on 27 Sep 1901 in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey; died on 15 May 1973 in Smiths Creek, St. Clair County, MIchigan; was buried on 17 May 1973 in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield, Michigan.

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]

Children:

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4. Charlotte Mae Valentine was born on 30 Nov 1929 in Ferndale, MI; died on 5 May 2003 in Hancock, MI; was buried in cremated - Bootjack Garden.
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