Spring 2024 Event Recap
Stories of Chinese Residents of Mtn . View - Then & Now
A large group of people attended the May 5 quarterly event held at the Senior Center . After a quick review of the early Chinese immigration to California and the resistance they encountered , MVHA President Pamela Baird presented information about the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act . Those attending could then better understand the stories that would be presented later in the program .
Pamela shared the story of Yuen Lung , who emigrated to Mountain View in 1879 from southeast Cantonese speaking China . Santa Clara County had many Chinese agricultural workers . By some accounts one-third of the agricultural workers in 1880 were Chinese . Yuen acted as a labor broker , store owner , strawberry grower and fruit seller . Later in life Yuen encountered financial difficulties but continued as a business owner . He was a well respected and generous member of the community .
The life of another Chinese immigrant , Thomas Foon Chew , was also profiled . Chew played a significant role in the canning industry , owning facilities in Alviso and Mayfield . His company grew to be the third largest cannery in the US . Chew ’ s untimely death in 1931 at the of age of 42 led to the closing of the company five years later . Historic panels about the company are located in Alviso , a short 15 minute drive away from Mtn . View .
Judy Gee spoke about her father and the history of her family . Her father was a “ paper son ” who bought papers to enter the US . He had to memorize a huge number of facts to be able to convince immigration authorities that he was able to enter the US in 1924 . Her father left China to have a better life for himself and his children .
Left : Photo of the three presenters- from left to right : Judy Gee , Li Zhang and Pamela Baird
Judy explained her family ’ s involvement in the popular Mtn . View restaurant Qui Hing Low where Judy , her sister and other relatives also worked . Through her parents ’ hard work and frugal living , they were able to purchase three homes in Mountain View . Judy is grateful for the many sacrifices her parents endured so that she and her sister could thrive in the US .
The last speaker , Li Zhang , spoke about the current Chinese residents of Mountain View . Many came to the US for a good education and the opportunity to have a different life than that in China . Freedom of expression , religion , education and community were cited by Li as the hallmarks of life in the Bay Area . The recent addition of a Mandarin-language offering for Leadership Mountain View has widened the Mandarinspeaking community ’ s opportunities to participate in civic and public life in Mountain View .
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