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One of the best sources of historical information about Asian communities in the U.S. can be found in their newspapers. The Chinese Digest, or “CD,” as their all-volunteer staff called it, was published at 868 Washington St. in San Francisco by the China Cultural Society of America. A quick check on Google Maps locates their office at the corner of Old Chinatown Lane (Cameron Alley), the site of the Old Chinatown Trade Center, which was advertised on the  back page of one of the issues. The Digest’s editor was William Hoy, and the founders/publishers were Thomas W. Chinn and Chingwah Lee. This post links to a free download of issues from 1935 to 1939.

H. K. Wong’s columns, “Chinatownia” and “The Chinatownian Roams Around,” featured events and news from Chinatowns in the San Francisco Bay Area, Watsonville, Salinas, and many other Chinese communities in the United States and Alaska. The Digest also documented Chinatowns that were threatened in one way or another. Its articles ran the whole gamut of editorials, political reportage, local news, arts, culture, and humor. One issue features an editorial on how geopolitical events impacted Chinese communities in the Philippines.

Chinatown Digest provides a wonderful look into Chinatowns in the U.S. as the nation moved inevitably toward WWII. These issues are made available by the San Francisco Public Library on archive.org.

— Jean Vengua

Jean Vengua is editor of www.commonwealthcafe.info/ and Co-chair of ACE.

The Salinas Obon Festival is this Sunday, July 31! At the Buddhist Temple of Salinas, 14 California St. Parking will be available at the Salinas Adult School on 20 Sherwood Drive. See the schedule below. . .

There will be shuttle bus service between the Salinas Adult School and the Buddhist Temple of Salinas, running from 11:30 AM to 7 PM.

(Shuttle Bus service provided by Tanimura and Antle.)

“The Republic Cafe,” a short and haunting documentary film about Salinas Chinatown’s Republic Cafe, by Silvia Turchin. The older man standing in the doorway (about half way through the film) is Wallace Ahtye who, as a child, lived upstairs with his family. Yes, ACE still holds its monthly Board & member meetings there, downstairs.

Recently, Jess Tabasa, ACE Board member and past president of FANHS (Filipino American National Historical Society of Monterey Bay Area & Tri-County) set up an exhibit in the Watsonville Public Library. The focus was on ACE and Salinas Chinatown (with its three ethnic groups: Chinese, Japanese and Filipino), the Watsonville Filipino Community. Thanks, Jess for continuing to preserve the historical legacy of the Asian Pacific Islander communities in this area! See the slide show below…

 

Separate from Tabasa’s exhibit, the Watsonville Library has also has a permanent exhibit dedicated to Filipino farmworkers in the area:

And there’s also a beautiful painting, “Generations,” by Heidi Gottfried Alonzo, that focuses on four ethnic communities that have long resided in the tri-county area (Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, and Mexican). The painting was donated to the library by George Ow:

 

This year, ACE took part in both the National Steinbeck Center’s Steinbeck Festival, and in the Steinbeck Brew Fest, which was sponsored by both the Salinas Rotary Club, and the National Steinbeck Center. Co-chair Jean Vengua gave a talk at the Steinbeck Festival on “U.S. Filipino Periodicals & the Juan Steinbeck Poetry Society” and took part in a fascinating panel discussion afterwards. ACE had a pop-up exhibit on “Farm to Table: Markets, Meals, & Saloons” as part of the Brewfest. Thanks again to Susan Shillingworth of the NSC, the Rotary Club, and Jessica McKillip of the Oldtown Salinas Association for your invitation to participate!

Below: Henry Gong with a Salinas Californian article about his father; old photographs of Chinatown residents; Henry and friends talking about Salinas Chinatown’s nightlife, and one of his favorite subjects: marathon running!

 

ASIAN CULTURAL EXPERIENCE (ACE), SALINAS CA

Farm to Table: Markets, Menus, & Family Meals

Photo: Al Baguio Collection

ACE Pop-up Museum and Tri-tip BBQ Ticket Sale

Benefits Asian Festival and Republic Café Restoration

October 3, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In front of Star Market: 1275 S. Main St., Salinas

Share your history & stories of Asian food in Salinas Valley

& Salinas Chinatown’s Chinese, Japanese, & Filipino communities.

Pre-sale tickets available at the pop-up

for Nov. 7 pick-up at the Buddhist Temple of Salinas,

14 California St., Salinas

$30 for our delicious Whole Trip-Tip, salad & rolls: serves 4-6 people!

For more information, contact:

Cathy Chavez-Miller at 831-809-8310

Sign above the Republic Cafe in Salinas Chinatown. Photo by Jean Vengua.

Members of the Asian Cultural Experience (ACE) of Salinas CA were gratified, recently, to receive a $5000 strategic planning grant from the Community Foundation for Monterey County. Centered in Salinas Chinatown, ACE is a unique organization representing the three Asian American communities that established Chinatown in the late 19th century.

While the neighborhood has seen its share of issues over the years, it is blessed with committed social groups and individuals who care about Chinatown’s residents and homeless population and value its storied culture. More recently, Chinatown has seen more movement afoot to revitalize the area as projects by the Monterey County Housing Development and MidPen Housing Corporations move forward in and near the neighborhood. The Salinas Downtown Community Board (SDCB) also continues to push forward projects to create solutions for the homeless community.

Given current and projected changes, the CFMC grant will greatly assist ACE in re-visioning and developing short term action and long term strategic plans to further its mission to preserve the history and culture of Salinas Chinatown and support its revitalization.

Nicole M. Young, of Optimal Solutions Consulting, will work closely with ACE to facilitate and develop the plan. Young has over 25 years of experience working in non-profit and public sectors, and ACE is very pleased to have her on its team.

ACE has received grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Cal Humanities, and The Community Foundation for Monterey County (Neighborhood Grant). It has partnered with the City of Salinas, National Steinbeck Center, CSUMB, Salinas Downtown Community Board, Salinas Libraries, and other local organizations to preserve Chinatown culture and history. After nine years, ACE is a respected historical preservation group, and has been a nonprofit organization for over two years. Its members look forward to new and renewed partnerships in the community.

Chinese School in Salinas Chinatown. Image from the Ahtye family collection.

A few photos from the recent Obon Festival that took place at the Buddhist Temple in Salinas Chinatown:

Obon Festival dancers. Photo by Cathy Chavez-Miller

ACE Treasurer Larry Hirahara (in purple) dancing. Photo by Henry Gong

ACE Board member Larry Hirahara and friends. Photo by Cathy Chavez-Miller

ACE Board members Cathy Chavez-Miller, Larry Hirahara, and Henry Gong. Photo by Henry Gong.