Chinese History Project
of the Washington Township Museum of Local History
o
A Subcommittee of the Washington Township Museum of Local History
Our Mission:
To tell the stories of the early Chinese immigrants and citizens who helped build our community from the 1860s and on.
To find their stories among the historical records of our railroads, nurseries, wineries, farms, salt and sugar factories, domestic service, and trade and commerce.
To research, preserve, and present the history for exhibits and talks and for school curriculum and field trips for the old towns of the Washington Township, today's cities of Fremont, Union City, and Newark.
To support the Chinese Bunkhouse Preservation Project with related history from the area's archives.
Why we Started This Project
At Shinn Historical Park & Arboretum is the last building from the Shinn China Camp, a century-old bunkhouse where the ranch workers lived and slept and did ranch business. Our first effort to raise money to restore the bunkhouse was not very successful. People wondered why we would want to preserve such an old building. So we went out and searched our local archives, online archives, and old newspapers to find out about the history of the Chinese people in Southern Alameda County.
Who were they? Where did they come from? What did they do? When did they come here? Did they have families? Are there any descendants still living here?
Our Chinese History Project is based at the Museum of Local History. Our Bunkhouse project is based with Mission Peak Heritage Foundation, which is currently at Shinn Park and has a mission to preserve such things as historic buildings in the area.
A graphic timeline of our project
New Project: The Chinese Railroad Workers in Alameda County 1869-1870 - Exhibit Coming in 2025
The pandemic gave many of us time to research, reflect, and re-group. For Dr. Victor Wong, he continued his research on the work done by Chinese workers in Alameda Cañon and nearby.
Four months after the Golden Spike ceremony in Utah in 1869, work on various sections between Sacramento and Alameda/Oakland were completed. The Golden Spike did indeed connect East to West, mostly. But the railroad needed to reach the San Francisco Bay Area. There was more work to be done.
Dr. Wong has been researching the final connection of the railroad to the San Francisco Bay. See his presention in 2023 here. Read A brief tale of three Chinese gangs (1865-1869) and A tale of two junctions: the birthing of Niles, 4 June 1869 to 28 April 1870.
Coming in 2025 is an exhibit "The First Iron Road" that showcases the monumental work done by these Chinese workers in our own backyard, as seen in many exceptional photos taken at the time.
The Presentation of the Congressional Gold Medal to Joshua Fong's Family for his Service in WWII
at the Washington Township Museum of Local History's Member Appreciation Luncheon at the Hyatt on June 2nd, 2024
Jill Fong-Au and her husband Mike Au are two founding members of the Chinese Bunkhouse Preservation Project at Shinn Park. When we first tried to fundraise to preserve this rustic building, we realized that we needed to find out more; Who lived here? Where did they come from? What did they do? Were there other Chinese immigrants in the area? Why is it important to preserve this rare building? In order to answer these questions we formed the Chinese History Project a subcommittee with the Washington Township Museum of Local History. We have enjoyed our connection with the museum.
Jill's grandparents came to California in 1917 and moved to the Centerville area in 1920. Jill's father, Joshua Fong was born in 1925. According to Joshua's 1999 memoir, there were cousins and uncles living in the area and working/living on the Shinn Ranch and the California Nursery Company. He described the two camps where Chinese workers lived.
Local historian Phil Holmes interviewed Dr. Fong and wrote an article about him in 2004. He recorded an oral history as well so we can hear their voices. Phil was interested in the role of the Chinese in the area as well as other immigrant groups who helped develop our community.
Fremont residents Mike Au and Jill Fong-Au introduced the presentation.
Mike held a photo of his father-in-law, Joshua. Jill Fong-Au introduced her mother, Lena Fong, Joshua's widow. Colonel Baldwin Au looked on.
For the member appreciation luncheon, we brought a subset of our "Chinese Roots" exhibit - the Shinn Ranch panels and the Fong family panels. Jill brought some items related to her father's military service in WWII.
Special guest, Colonel Baldwin Au, US Army retired, was invited to present a Congressional Gold Metal to the Fong family. This Congressional Gold Medal is awarded to Chinese American WWII Veterans - men and women who served in the Army, Army Air Force, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine. The US Mint created this medal with the help of Chinese American Generals, Admirals, and the Chinese American Citizens Alliance. These Americans displayed loyalty to their country throughout WWII, even though the Chinese Exclusion Act was still in force until 1943. It is difficult to find all of the service members unless they are still alive or their families can provide their service records. The Fong family has many photos and documents that show that Joshua was a serviceman. He was honorably discharged in August 1946 as Yeoman Third Class USNR.
Colonel Au asked the audience if anyone had ever attended a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony. No one had. He then said that a common question was whether the medal is solid gold. He said that if it was solid gold, then Lena would have needed an armed guard to take it home. However, one medal was created in solid gold and it is to be displayed at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C.
This was a big event for the Fong family and the community. In attendance were Mike & Jill Au, Megan Au, Lena Fong, Charlotte Fong, Polly Fong, Colonel Baldwin Au and his wife, Florence.
The Gold Medal "Chinese American Veterans; World War II Proudly Served as Americans; Distinguished Service"
Colonel Au explained the award and presented it to Lena Fong "on behalf of a grateful nation the Congressional Gold. medal is presented to Yeoman 3rd class, Joshua Fong, United States Navy."
"Army, Army Air Force, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine" "Act of Congress 2018"
Shown on the reverse are the weapons used - the M1 rifle, Sherman tank, the battleship. The Flying Tiger fighter plane was symbolic of the joint effort of China and America in the pacific war.
The Chinese History Project at MOCANYC
in New York City opened on October 17, 2019
in New York City opened on October 17, 2019
Our final project pre-pandemic was a visit to New Your City. The Chinese History Project was thrilled to be part of the Gathering exhibit at the Museum of Chinese in America in New York City.
We sent materials that represented our two related projects, the Chinese History Project at the Museum of Local History and the Chinese Bunkhouse Preservation Project at Shinn Park.
As part of the project, MOCANYC partnered with the Tenement Museum on the online exhibit Our Stories Your Stories. Look for the horse collar that Belle wore on the Fong Family farm. Look for the bunkhouse at Shinn Park that was used by the Chinese workers at the Shinn Ranch.
Grant from the Citizens for Better Community 2019
Charles Liu of the CBC (Citizens for Better Community) in June 2019 presented the team with a grant of $2500 to continue our work preserving and presenting the forgotten histories of early Chinese pioneers in the Washington Township. Alvin Minard and Jill Au accept the check. Mike and Meghan Au look on.
Certificate of Recognition from Kanson Chu
Feb. 24, 2019
Feb. 24, 2019
We received a certificate of recognition from Kanson Chu for organizing the "Chinese Roots" exhibit and the "Chinese Bunkhouse Preservation Project" in our community to showcase the importance of Chinese immigrants in building the Washington Township.
Received February 2019
Events at Shinn Park & Elsewhere
The Chinese History Project has participated at several events at Shinn Park - the Ice Cream Social, the National Night Out, a house and garden tour. We brought our posters and connected with the public.
We also took a train ride through Niles Canyon for the 150th anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad, the final portion from Sacramento to Alameda/Oakland.
The "Chinese Roots" exhibit January 2019
"Chinese Roots: Sketches of life in the Washington Township"
opened in January 2019 for 6 weeks at the Fremont Main Library
opened in January 2019 for 6 weeks at the Fremont Main Library
For hundreds of years, our area has attracted immigrants from all over the world. Records of Chinese immigrants show up in our local archives at least as early as the 1860s. Stories of the early Chinese immigrants are held in many museums, in archives, and in the personal collections of local families.
Our Goals
To bring these stories alive – of immigration, struggle, and success
To tell these little-known stories to visitors and students
To create partnerships with families, museums, parks, schools, universities, and other agencies
To provide an historic context for preservation projects, such as the Chinese Bunkhouse Preservation Project at Shinn Park
An exhibit of images, records, oral histories of the early Chinese immigrants and pioneering families
Photos and records from the archives of the California Nursery Company in Niles, the Shinn Ranch in Niles.
Materials from museums in Newark and Fremont that represent the towns of the Washington Township: Niles, Centerville, Mission San Jose, Warm Springs, Irvington, Newark, Union City, Decoto, and Alvarado.
Memoirs from the early families tell us what it was like to grow up along Alameda Creek in the years from 1920 to 1940.
Talks on archaeology, genealogy, and history
We hope that other families will be inspired to find ways to share this information with the community - with this museum or elsewhere.
Some of the comments in our Guest Book at the Chinese Roots Exhibit
“So very interesting! Such a joy to live in a place birthed by individuals from all over the world. Grateful that these stories have been preserved.”
CLICK TO READ MORE
“Thank you for sharing these stories. As new immigrant (2002) these stories I look up to when I feel down when I study. Please compile it into ONE BIG WEBSITE SO PEOPLE can add more of their stories and it doesn’t disappear with time/generations. Great Jobs.
‘Wonderful exhibit. It’s great to see the Chinese history of Fremont and the Bay Area. My great uncle was Fred Weibel. He took over the vineyards and shares a part of this history from the Leland Stanford family. The relationship of the Chinese and Portuguese settlers goes back a long way in California. Together they created wonderful farms by working side by side to develop what became Fremont. I would love to see more of this original history of native Californians who made our community a beautiful place! God Bless
“I could imagine also my roots [Philippines] who came to California …similar to the Chinese Roots. They have contributed somehow for the progress of America in many ways which we are enjoying nowadays. I salute them!
“This is an absolutely beautiful exhibit. Thank you so much for letting me learn more about the history of my home.”
“Great to see so much history presented here - to honor and inform current residents of Fremont/Union City/Newark about those who came before, and who have been hidden away in family memories and museum archives. Thanks for all the hard work!”
“Enjoyed the exhibit. Great job by the team that put it together including my sister Betty. Loved the photo of my brother Milton in the airplane. The Patterson Ranch was my birthplace in the late 30’s”
“Wonderful exhibit! So much history in our “own backyards.” Thank you to all who had a part in the preservation as well as this exhibit.”
“Loved viewing the photos, reading the stories of Chinese immigrants who contributed immensely to the agricultural history of Alameda County”
“I very much enjoyed the exhibit. I was not aware of the Chinese presence here in Fremont. It will be shared with my family. Appreciate the thoughtful work that was done to tell this story.”
“Amazing exhibit. Thanks for putting it together. Should be a permanent exhibit so students can come and have research projects.”
“History that powerful occurring in my own first-generation hometown feels special to me.”