Although numerous Chinese immigrants settled in the Boston area during the latter part of the 20th century, many others moved to different parts of the state, including Springfield. The Springfield Republican,October 1, 1893, reported that there were about 25 Chinese living in the city, employed in 12 laundries. The article reflected very positively on the Chinese, stating “[the] Chinese as seen in the East are as a class law-abiding and inoffensive. Very seldom is one arrested or complained of for crime, and then it is as likely as not that he is more sinned against than sinning.”
Eight years later, in 1901, the first Chinese restaurant in Springfield opened: the Canton, owned by Woy Ying. Not much was said in the newspapers about this establishment, or about the several other Chinese restaurants in Springfield that opened around the same time.
Two years later, a second Chinese restaurant opened, although its name wasn’t provided. Interestingly, the menu only contained Chinese dishes, and didn’t have any American dishes. It appears that this restaurant survived for approximately nine years before the building was demolished for new construction.
The Springfield Republican, December 29, 1912, ran an article discussing how over 100 Chinese living in Springfield would celebrate New Year’s Day. Rather than celebrate the typical Chinese New Year, the Chinese in the city chose to celebrate the Western New Year’s Day holiday. The article also mentioned that the Chinese were in the process of forming a club, a public association for the Chinese community. The driving force for this club was Charles Young, who owned the Shanghai Restaurant at 28 Fort Street.
The Chinese Republic Association’s clubrooms opened at 264 Main Street, and Charles Young was elected president as a result of all his hard work. Young was born in San Francisco, but when he was just 6 months old, his parents moved back to China. When he was 14 years old, however, Young decided to return to America, first to New York, where he remained until 1908, and finally arriving in Springfield. At age 22, he opened his own Chinese restaurant on Fort Street.
Young stated that his goal for this new association was twofold: first, to discourage common vices, like opium and gambling; and second, to enlighten the Chinese about American ideas and institutions. The article also noted that there were about 200 Chinese living in Hampden County and Northern Connecticut, and all of them would eventually be a part of the new association.
In 1913, there was a mention of another Chinese restaurant, located at 108 State Street. It was first owned by Fred Chin. In August, 1913, Chin was assaulted by a customer, Edward Lawyer, who refused to pay for his meal, and only a couple months later, Chin sold his interest in the firm of Wey Yen Low Co. Chinese Restaurant. The new manager was a man by the name of Chin Wey.
The Springfield Daily News, November 22, 1913, noted the grand opening of The Asia, a Chinese-American Café and Restaurant, owned by Tom Ming and Tom Monkip. The newspaper provided a brief review several days later, stating The Asia had delicious food, excellent service and moderate prices.
The Springfield Daily News, July 16, 1914, published an ad for The New Shanghai, which opened that day at 156-158 Bridge Street. This restaurant was an offshoot of the Shanghai Restaurant at 28 Fort Street, owned by Charles Young. This new location offered an American and Chinese menu à la carte, as well as a special noonday lunch that cost only 35 cents.
Springfield Republican, June 14, 1915 discussed many details regarding the Chinese community in Springfield. The article noted that the next day, honorary commissioners from China were coming to Springfield to explore the community. The writer stated that “we have a considerable colony of their countrymen among us and that we know surprisingly little of what they are like.” They were seen mainly as cooks and laundrymen, despite having been in Springfield for over 30 years. They never congregated in one specific neighborhood, although some of their initial businesses, laundries, were mainly located in the central business district.
Presently, there are over 200 Chinese in Springfield and about eight Chinese restaurants, and Charles Young and Ying Moy were the best known restaurant owners. Springfield is also home to Chinese grocery stores, which act not only as social club to those who already live there, but as a first point of contact—the first place a new person will visit when arriving, unemployed, in the city—as well. Sometimes, the arrivals could even receive free room and board there until they found a job.
It was also noted that almost every one of the Chinese businesses was a success, making it easy for them to get credit at the local bank. They were tireless workers, whose only form of recreation was the club life, where they met to chat about matters of mutual interest.
Unfortunately, two years later, there was a backlash against Chinese restaurants. The Springfield Republican, May 30, 1917, reported that there would be a public hearing in the “stand of the cook’s and waiters’ union against the granting of licenses to proprietors of Chinese restaurants.” The union wanted to prevent any further Chinese restaurants from opening in the city. The union alleged that “it was virtually impossible for American restaurants to compete successfully with Chinese restaurants because of the low-paid help which the Chinese employ.” They also claimed that every new Chinese restaurant drove another American restaurant out of business.
Ultimately, and rightfully so, these efforts to prevent the Chinese from opening new restaurants failed. In the coming years, more and more Chinese restaurants opened, and Springfield’s Chinese community thrived.
SAMPAN, published by the nonprofit Asian American Civic Association, is the only bilingual Chinese-English newspaper in New England, acting as a bridge between Asian American community organizations and individuals in the Greater Boston area. It is published biweekly and distributed free-of-charge throughout metro Boston; it is also delivered to as far away as Hawaii.
