The Voy and Fay Wong family was one of the first Chinese families in Riverside, California. Voy was able to start his family by bringing his wife Fay from China in 1948. This was only allowed after the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was repealed in 1943 during World War II as China became an ally of the United States against Japan. The Voy and Fay Wong family first lived in an apartment on University Avenue (Eighth St.) across the street from Voy's Chungking Cafe at 3817 Market St. Soon after Ellen (the oldest daughter was born, Voy and Fay looked for a house to move into. They found one on the 4100 block of Eighth St. The realtor did canvass the neighbors to see if it was ok for a Chinese family to move in.
The Chinese had established a community in Riverside after the construction of the transcontinental railroad, providing labor to the citrus industry. However, due to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, Chinese immigration was severely restricted. Only U.S. citizens were allowed to travel in and out of the U.S. Merchants could come to the U.S. and so could their first born or eldest son. No wives or other children were allowed. This first and only legislation against an entire race created a community of Chinese bachelors shrinking the Chinese population of Riverside from 800-900 at its high point to one by the 1970's, George Wong.