"Madame Vincent's Crystal Palace is the best place in Memphis to get the freshest, fattest and most luscious oysters.  Her wines, liquors and cigars are the best in the world, and the lady is surrounded and assisted  by as polite and efficient number of waiters as can be found ." 

And yet, not many know anything about Mary or have ever heard of the Memphis Crystal Palace Saloon?

Mary  was born in 1837 in Borznasca, Italy.  Her birth name was Mary Brizzolari.  She immigrated to the US in 1848 at age 10 and her name appears on the 1850 Pittsburgh Census.  During the next two years she relocated to Memphis where she married in 1852 when she was 15.  Within 10 years, Mary's name will literally be mentioned EVERY DAY in the Memphis Newspapers.  She had married Vincent Bacigalupo at St. Peter's church in Memphis.  He was 18 years her senior in 1852.  He was also born in Borznasca, Italy in 1823.  They apparently knew each other in Italy and may have both been on the same ship to the US in 1848.

Borznasca, Italy

Marriage 1852

What the couple accomplished with hard work and persistence, was remarkable.  They came up from nowhere to being well-respected and prosperous leaders of the community.  Vincent started as a saloonkeeper, buying his first liquor license in 1860.  He was clever and took advantage of business opportunities that came along.  By 1878 he and Mary owned 24 prime properties in Memphis, valued at $200,000.  These included a popular dining establishment and a large home on six acres on the corner of Union at Bellevue.  Of course, this being Memphis, none of the original buildings exist today. 

Mary had married Vincent in 1852 and became the mother of 12 children, eight of whom grew to adulthood.  Indeed, in the photo of Mary on the left, she appears to be pregnant.  She was a good, loving mother and made sure that all her children received an excellent education and all the advantages the family could provide.  And she made time for her life also.  She owned property in her own name, ran several businesses, did charitable work and was well respected for her ability and accomplishments.  Mary and a lady friend actually voted in an election.  We saw the report of this in a Memphis Newspaper, but have been unable to find the item again to copy it for this web page.

Above all Mary excelled as the hostess of Vincent's saloons.  It was there that she earned her title "Madame Vincent".  Even though a saloon might have a name like Crystal Palace,  it would  unofficially be called "Madame Vincent's Crystal Palace".  Her name was always mentioned whenever there was an item about the saloon in the newspapers ... and her name appears  just about EVERY  day in the Memphis newspapers from 1867 to 1878.  Below are just a few of the MANY newspaper items about Madame Vincent and the Crystal Palace.

Crystal Palace

1869 - Party

1871 Description

1874 Banquet

... and Madame Vincent  kept a baby alligator in a decorative fountain at the Crystal Palace.

Vincent  was the quiet one.  He was a member of the "Old Folks", a historical society where membership was limited to those who had been Memphis residents for at least 20 years.  He was in good company with Eugene Magevney, Nathan Forrest, S. C. Toof, George W. Gordon and Napoleon Hill.  He and Mary would probably have done business with all of them.   And as leader of the local Italian immigrants Vincent helped found the Italian Benevolent Society in 1870.  He would have known other prominent Memphis Italians Dominick Canale and Antonio Vaccaro, the first Italian to immigrate to Memphis.  Vincent was also a director of the Irish-American Savings and Loan Association.

Old Folks V-1

Napoleon Hill

Eugene Magevney

S. C. Toof

Geo W. Gordon

Dominick Canale

Antonio Vaccaro

As one who was interested in the beautification of the city, Mary was one of the donors to the costs of erecting the famous fountain in Court Square.  Her name appears as "Madame Vincent" among the list of  donors on the plaque at the base of the fountain.  The complete dedication appears below and contains some of the most famous names in Memphis history.

Had Vincent and Mary continued their remarkable success, it's hard to imagine what they would have achieved.  But in September of 1878, Yellow Fever struck the family.  In spite of the best care available, Vincent died September 19 at the age of 56.  Mary died two days later at the age of 41, and their young daughter Mary Alice died two days later at the age of 6.   They were all buried at Calvary Cemetery.  Two other children who also had the fever, survived.

Vincent's death

Mary's death

Mary's death

Mary's funeral

Family Bible

1916 Directory

Vincent 1904

Tony 1919

Tony 1919

J..Montedonico

Annie's Death Certif.

The Saga of Jennie Bacigalupo

Virginia "Jennie" Bacigalupo was the eldest daughter of Mary and Vincent Bacigalupo ...

In 1870,  she married her uncle James Brizzolara, her mother's brother.  They had 2 children.  She left him in 1877 ...

In 1877 Jennie married Angelo Marre, but her marriage to James had not been dissolved.  Bigamy charges were brought against Jennie and a trial ensued. Her defense was that the Catholic Church did not recognize her marriage to James due to the uncle/niece relationship. Court records were sealed and the final judgement  was unknown. 

Angelo Marre

Angelo Marre killed a man in Tennessee in 1865.  He became a saloon keeper, arrested for possessing stolen goods and sentenced to 3 years in prison.  He lost his citizenship, but regained it after a 4 year battle.

In 1889 Angelo Marre died.  He left his personal possessions, money, a large collection of diamonds, and various other items to his wife, absolute and with no restrictions. His will stipulated that Jennie could remain in their home until her death.*

Marre's Monument

Obit

... and the Crystal Palace

Peter C. Canale, the brother of Dominick Canale, purchased one of Madame Vincent's saloons in 1872.  He did well for several years but  died of Yellow Fever in 1878.  Col R. B. Warner purchased the Crystal Palace on Main Street in 1879.  Although he and his partner, Billy Barnes, were very popular Memphis bartenders, he was never able to match the complete success of Madame Vincent and after 2 1/2 years moved on.  The secret of the success was "The Madame", herself.  She was the star.