HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem #3, (Business) CHC Memo, Chinatown Interpretive SignCity of San Luis Obispo, Community Development, 919 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93401-3218, 805.781.7170, slocity.org
CHC meeting of January 22, 2018
TO: Cultural Heritage Committee
FROM: Brian Leveille, Senior Planner
SUBJECT: Chinatown Interpretive Sign
Discussion: The attached draft Historic Chinatown interpretive sign has been
prepared by the Sonoma State Anthropological Studies Center, who is under
contract with the City to complete final tasks associated with the significant amount
of archaeological resources which were recovered from the construction of the Palm
Street parking garage.
The interpretive sign is proposed at the northwest corner of Palm and Morro Streets
adjacent to the main stair access to the garage. Staff anticipates a similar
installation and final appearance as the recently installed interpretive sign for
drought tolerant plantings next to the SLO Little Theatre. The sign will be 3 feet by 2
feet with a metal support base and panel structure with a clear protective panel
material.
The sign provides photos, Sanborn maps, and a brief narrative on the Chinese
Community and historically significant persons such as W ong On (Ah Louis). In
addition to any feedback received f rom the Committee, some minor modifications
are planned from the draft including replacing the City of San Luis Obispo logo with
the Chinatown Historic District logo and adding the City logo next to the Sonoma
State logo at the bottom of the sign. A minor error that needs to be corrected is the
title for Chinatown which is “Tong Yung Fow” (should not include a g).
Based on the CHC discussion, and/or subcommittee direction, staff will work with
the team at the Sonoma State to refine the display and finalize next steps towards
installation.
Attached:
Draft Historic Chinatown Interpretive Display
WELCOME TO SAN LUIS OBISPO’SThis block of Palm Street was once
home to a busy Chinese community.
Founded in the 1860s by immigrants
from southern China, this early
“Chinatown” was known to its residents
as “Tong Yung Fow” (Chinese People’s
City), and to other townspeople as
“Palm Street.”
With the help of Wong On (Ah Louis),
a merchant and labor contractor who
was also Palm Street’s unofficial mayor,
these pioneers established businesses
to serve the county’s Chinese
population. By making opportunities
for themselves they created a thriving
Chinatown made up of merchants,
labor organizers, business owners,
physicians, salespeople, craftspeople,
and farmers. Their businesses
included the all-purpose Ah Louis
Store, restaurants, grocery stores,
and boarding houses.
The Chinese often encountered
racism and discrimination, especially
through anti-Chinese immigration laws
beginning in the 1880s. By the 1930s,
Palm Street’s Chinese population had
dwindled in numbers. While most
of the buildings changed ownership
or were demolished in the 1950s,
a few still stand and are owned by
descendants of those early pioneers.
In the 1980s, before this parking
structure was built, archaeologists
excavated this area to learn more
about the life of Palm Street’s early
Chinese residents. On the second floor
of this parking structure you can see a
display about what was found. There
are many other ways to explore SLO’s
historic Chinatown District—signs,
plaques, artwork, and buildings related
to “Tong Yung Fow” still exist today.
What can you find?
The north side of Palm Street at about 1910. “The Ah Louis Store” (left), was owned and operated by Chinatown pioneer Wong On, known as Ah Louis. The store sold food, medicine, fireworks, and goods
imported from China. The second story was the family home. The two-story building in the middle of the block was a boarding house for Chinese workers. The building at the far right housed the Quong Chong
grocery store, owned by Gin Sai Yuen. Upstairs was a small Chinese temple and school. Photo courtesy of Louis Family Papers, Special Collections and Archives, California Polytechnic State University.
Addison and Mary Chong ran a restaurant in this building at 778
Palm Street beginning in the 1920s. The store operated for nearly
30 years, after which Addison’s youngest brother, Richard Chong,
converted the building into a popular candy store.
Photo courtesy of the San Luis Obispo History Center.
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The Yee Chung & Co. store on the south side of Palm Street. The
store was owned by a group of Chinese men including Gin Tut Wing,
Gin Get Sun, Gin Yim, Gin Hong Gin, Gin Get Shew, and Gin Hung
Poy. After the passage of the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, which
restricted immigration of Chinese laborers, many workers pooled
their money to operate as a merchant partnership. Merchants,
teachers, and scholars were less restricted under the Exclusion Act.
Photo courtesy of the San Luis Obispo History Center.
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3 YOU ARE HERE
HISTORIC CHINATOWN