The Locke Boarding House Museum is staging a special Opening Reception on Saturday, November 10, 2018 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. Docents will be on hand to welcome visitors and to answer questions. Bring your friends and family. Groups and organizations are welcome. Handicap accessible.

The Locke Boarding House Museum and Visitors Center is presenting two new exhibits which recognize the achievements of the Chinese workers who helped in the construction of a monumental project which changed the face of America – the Transcontinental Railroad.

Completed in 1869, the Transcontinental Railroad linked the east and west coast of the U.S. and shortened cross-country travel from three months to 7 days. Construction of the railway, particularly the western half which ran from Sacramento to Promontory Point, Utah, was back-breaking and dangerous work. The majority of the massive labor force used in the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad were Chinese immigrants. Underpaid, discriminated against and alienated, these workers accomplished a feat never before seen in America. The project was a marvel of engineering and a testament to sheer will and determination.

The new exhibits are sponsored and presented the Locke Foundation, a California nonprofit organization whose mission is to educate the public about the historic and cultural heritage of the town of Locke.

The first exhibit, entitled The Chinese Helped Build The Railroad – The Railroad Helped Build America, is on loan from Chinese Railroad Workers in North America Project at Stanford University. The display consists of 60 interpretive panels honoring the contributions of Chinese railroad workers who completed the Transcontinental Railway.

The second exhibit, entitled Chinese and the Iron Road, consists of 8 large standing panels depicting the demands and tribulations endured by Chinese workers during construction of the railroad. These panels are on loan from the Chinese Historical Society of America.

Also displayed in the Locke Boarding House Museum exhibit are artifacts on loan from the California State Railroad Museum.

The entire second floor of the Museum is dedicated to the presentation of these fascinating and historic exhibits. Be sure to allow some extra time when visiting Locke. This new show is extensive. Your time will be well spent. Admission and parking are free.

Locke Boarding House Museum
(Immediate left when entering Locke)
13913 Main Street
Walnut Grove (Locke) 95690
Museum Hours:
Tues & Fri – Noon to 4:00 pm.
Sat & Sun – 11:00 to 3:00 pm
916-776-1661

By Karun Yee

How you dress gives everyone the first impression of you. That’s how people the world over could tell your status in life, unless of course, you were in disguise and were trying to fool someone. Our Chinese fashion show was inspired by this idea. One focus the Chinese American Council of Sacramento Foundation is Historical Preservation. We partnered with the Fiddletown Preservation Society to put a new roof on the Chew Kee herb store. By producing an unusual and fun event, we wanted to increase awareness for this important community project. Karun and Doug Yee collected antique Chinese embroidered robes (plus Joyce Eng) and thought this would be a good opportunity to educate our friends about their historical significance.

On July 14, 2018 CACS ad FPS gathered 150 people to witness this beautiful collection and have a delicious lunch at Happy Garden Restaurant as a fund raiser to save this important Chinese building. The most important claim this building has, is the fact it is the only standing Chinese built rammed earth store with original contents intact from the 1850’s (Gold Rush Days). People from the around the world, and school children have made a special effort to see this special place. CACS and the Sacramento Pioneer Association recently made field trips to Fiddletown to meet author Elaine Zorbas. Private funds have also been given by generous donors; big and small.

The show was rehearsed by our models; Anne Leong, Julie Nyugen, Nancy Yee, Julia Yee, Kaeli Kaneshiro, Debra Balagtas, Brenda Fong, Katie Kaneshiro under the guidance of wardrobe mistress Betty Louie and Sue Maggio. The great team of Merlayna Yee Chin and Beth Squire checked guests in; commencing our program at 11:55am. A brief history of Fiddletown was presented . A scrumptious lunch was served. We began the show with Cathy Wei’s Chinese history of fashion slide show. Every dynasty had a different style from the Han to the Qing; a period of over 2000 years. From plain to elaborate embellishments marked the time period with unusual fabrics, hairstyles and footwear (bound feet).

Karun presented some of her collection in the form of slides because of the fragile age and nature of the clothing. The parade of models came forth showing each article of clothing emphasizing the delicate forbidden and satin stitch artistry of each piece. Karun explained what the embroidered symbols meant like the dragon, phoenix, butterflies, bats, various flowers and Buddhist signs.

We also had help from the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop in Laureen Anderson, Bernice Woo, the Fiddletown Preservation Society in Beth Squire, Janet Migliore, Alice Kaiser, Duncan Herring, Rhea Irvine and The Shen Yun Group. Previous promotion of the event was a radio spot with Jim Chong and Karun. A TV Channel 31 spot with Courtney Dempsey, Brenda Fong and Karun on Monday July 9 was a fun experience for both of us. Newspaper articles in Currents thanks to Patty Fong , Locke newsletter ( Stuart Walthall,) and API news ( Dennis Lee) were printed. The CACS Foundation board was proud to promote this endeavor; John Cho, Franc Martinez , Doug Hsai, Cathy Wei, Honey Lum, Brenda Fong, Greg Jung, Merlayna Yee-Chin, and Karun Yee.

Click to view more event photos

The Chinese American Council and Foundation supported this event along with the Locke Foundation by sharing a table the evening of the “Shining Star 2018 Gala”. This event was attended by almost 500 guests from the API Community.

The Gala was held at the Sheraton Grand in Sacramento on Saturday, April 7, 2018. The Guest Speaker of the evening with her inspiring words was Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye. Honorees for the 14th Annual Gala with Corporate Stellar Stars – Dora Wong from Coco-Cola, Victoria Horton from California Beer & Beverage Distributor, and the Community Gold Star Awards were given to Pamela Wu, Media & Communication Director of UC Davis Health and Linda Lui, President of the Sacramento Chinese Indochina Friendship Association.

The Chinee American Council of Sacramento presented a $1,000 Internship Award to Lucas Liu. Lucas emigrated from China to this country when he was seven years old. He values community services and encourages others to get involved. He is currently a second-year student at UC Davis. Every year he works as a student ambassador for the Department of Elections in San Francisco to help coordinate poll workers to reach out to the voters. His dream is to work for the United Nations someday to help resolve conflicts around the world. Congratulations Lucas! CACS is proud to present this award annually to APAPA Internship Program.

The Chinese American Council of Sacramento Foundation is going full speed ahead with a new focus on Historical Preservation. The Fiddletown Preservation Society Is actively seeking funds to put a new roof on the Chew Kee Store; the only rammed earth Chinese built building with original contents still intact from the 1850’s.

As you can remember, we took a field trip to the site recently and heard the noted Historian, Elaine Zorbas talk about the Chinese in Fiddletown. Many of us bought her recent book, “Banished and Embraced, The Chinese in Fiddletown and the Mother Lode” to find out more about Jimmy Chow, the last remaining Chinese resident buried in Fiddletown (1985).

The Chew Kee Store was first used as a medical herbal office for Dr. Yee who was trained in China. This building was a community center for health, supplies and communication. Dr. Yee retired and returned to China (1907) . His son, Yee Lok Sam (known as T. Wah HIng) brought his family to live in Sacramento and practice herbal medicine. Operation of the medical office in Fiddletown was sold to Chew Kee who turned it into a general merchandise and grocery store as well as providing medicine. The original herb drawers, baskets, prescription packets and other personal paraphernalia remained. Chew Kee and his wife, Sigh Choy adopted a young boy, (Fong Chow Yow) when his parents decided to return to China. Jimmy Chow (Fong Chow Yow) worked as the town handyman until he passed in 1985.

Rain, wind , cold, extreme heat and decay have steadily weakened the structure. The last preservation measures were taken in 1988. Now, 30 years later its shake roof Is showing signs of age, including broken shingles, holes and leaks. Te roof is critical to the continued life of the building and survival of the thousands of objects within. Without roof replacement, this precious remnant of Chinese American history will ultimately deteriorate and the visible legacy of California’s Chinese pioneers will be lost.

The Fiddletown preservation Society (FPS) trains docents and oversees the operation of the museum (open Saturdays , April-October). Our “Raise the Roof” Campaign aims to garner $50,000 for roof replacement and preservation of fragile artifact within the store.

Please consider a generous donation for saving the Chew Kee Store and museum. All donations are tax deductible and can be sent to the Fiddletown Preservation Society, a 501c3 nonprofit,, EIN #51-0180800 at P.O. Box 53, Fiddletown, Ca. 95629.

The CACS Foundation will hold a fund raising event on Saturday, July 14, 2018 at Happy Garden Restaurant from 11:30-2:00. A fabulous Chinese Fashion Show and delightful Chinese lunch will be served fro $45@. Contact Karun Yee for reservation details at 916-591-8181 or [email protected].