Where is Locke (actually, my friend Debbie Dufur knew exactly where it was)? you ask, and what's the big deal? Well, no big deal at all. Unless you are from China working in the states back in the early 1900's trying to eek out a living and being denied the ability to even find a place to live close to where you are working.
"Locke was founded in 1915 after a fire broke out in the Chinese section of nearby Walnut Grove. The Chinese who lived in that area decided that it was time to establish a town of their own. A committee of Chinese merchants, led by Lee Bing, Chan Hing Sai, Tom Wai, Chan Dai Kee, Ng So Hat, Chan Wai Lum, Chow Hou Bun, and Suen Dat Suin was formed. They approached land owner George Locke and inquired if they could build on his land. An agreement was reached. The town was laid out by Chinese architects and industrious building ensued. The founding of Lockeport, later 'Locke', was a reality. By 1920 Locke stood essentially as you see it now.
Levee construction originally brought the Chinese to this area, but by the time Locke was built most of the work was in farm labor. Locke had many businesses that catered to the farm workers and residents of this region. In the 1940's restaurants, bakeries, herb shops, fish markets, gambling halls, boarding houses, brothels, grocery stores, a school, clothing stores, and the Star Theatre lined the bustling streets of Locke. At its peak 600 residents, and as many as 1500 people occupied the town of Locke.
On August 2, 1970, Locke was added to the registry of national historical places, by the Sacramento County Historical Society, because of its unique status as the only town in the United States built exclusively by the Chinese for the Chinese.
Locke is no tourist trap, nor is it a ghost town. Its unusual, out-of-the-way charm is genuine. Perhaps it is this authenticity, without any hypocritical overtones, which brings so many out of town visitors to its doors."
(from www.locketown.com)
No building codes, no formal architects, the buildings are definitely unique and the charm is definitely genuine. Take a peak at the photos I caught of that very unusual community where only about 10 Chinese remain today. We got to meet one of the descendents who was volunteering at the museum on the Friday we visited.
Click here for the link to Facebook photos that really should work this time!
(I fixed this link. If you tried before without success, try it again. Let me know if it does not work!)
1 comment:
I love San Francisco but haven't been since High School. Bummer that Brent isn't interested in vacationing there but at least you found a handful of people to enjoy it with you. Fun to squeeze in a bit of history while you were there too.
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