Richard Auffrey

Features May 6, 2022 0

The First Chinese Restaurants in Springfield

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, […]

Features April 27, 2022 0

Yung Wing & the Earliest Chinese Students in Massachusetts

Springfield was one of the first cities in Massachusetts where Chinese arrived in the 1840s, primarily fueled by the desire for education. The start of this tale though extends back about 30 years earlier. Reverend Samuel Robbins Brown was born in 1810 in Hartford, Connecticut and in 1818, his family moved to Monson, Massachusetts, a relatively short distance from Springfield. Samuel attended the Monson academy, which prepared students for college, and he was part of the Yalecollege class of 1832. Samuel became a missionary […]

Features April 12, 2022 0

Origins Of The St. Paul Sandwich: A Missouri Invention?

“The St. Paul Sandwich — comprising an egg foo young patty, slice of tomato, pickle and iceberg lettuce sandwiched between two slices of mayonnaise-laden white bread..”—Riverfront Times, November 15, 2006 If you’ve visited Chinese-American restaurants in St. Louis, Missouri, or some other Missouri cities, you might’ve eaten a St. Paul Sandwich. The origins of this sandwich are murky, but the most commonly shared legend is that it was invented by Steven Yuen at Park Chop Suey in St. Louis, possibly in the 1970s. It’s […]

History March 28, 2022 0

Origins of Crab Rangoon

At most Chinese-American restaurants, you can find Crab Rangoons and they are a hugely popular item. Also known as Crab Puffs, Crab Pillows, and Cheese Wontons, these are essentially fried wontons stuffed with cream cheese and imitation crab (or sometimes real crab). They are crunchy and creamy, and they are prepared nearly the same at every restaurant. When and where did Crab Rangoons originate? Most sources indicate that Crab Rangoons were likely invented by Victor Bergeron, the founder of Trader […]

History March 14, 2022 0

Centuries Ago, Many in Boston Saw Chinese Only Through The Lens of Exploitation

During the 19th century, and even into the early 20th century, it was common for circuses, carnivals and other shows to exploit people with rare disabilities or deformities — and sometimes for just being ethnically different. Two people who became international celebrities in these shows and who toured Boston in the early 1800s were known as “Chang and Eng.” On August 16, 1829, the Sachem, captained by Abel Coffin, sailed into Boston Harbor, bearing with it Chang and Eng, who eventually became known worldwide as the “Siamese […]

Boston February 28, 2022 0

The China Pavilion Remembered

Empty lots often attract the interest of passersby, as does the one on Hudson street in Boston’s Chinatown. Except for a 2019 project carried out by the Chinese Historical Society of New England and sponsored by the Boston City Archeological Program, its history may have been lost. It had been the site of the famed Ruby Foo’s Den, bordered by the 16 Hudson Street home of the Ginza restaurant. On that exterior wall, still rests a sign advertising the China Pavilion (pictured […]

History February 15, 2022 0

Charles Shue, First Chinese-American Justice of the Peace, Lived Fascinating, Inspirational Life

Charles K. Shue, who lived in Boston’s Chinatown, was a wealthy merchant, restaurant owner, and the first Chinese-American justice of the peace in the United States. He would also be the first Chinese-American man in the U.S. to win a nomination to public office. He was also known as Chin Shue, Chin Quong, and Chin Que Shue. No matter the name, his tale is a fascinating and inspirational one. Shue was born in Seattle, Washington around 1874, and came to Boston almost twenty years […]

History January 7, 2022 0

Who Invented the Eggroll?

Are egg rolls a traditional Chinese dish, or were they invented in the United States? If they were invented here, who created them?

Advertisement from Los Angeles Evening Citizen, December 10, 1949

History December 17, 2021 0

The Origins of the Chinese Buffet

At least as early as 1837, you could find all-you-can-eat dinners, which were, initially, primarily for American cuisine. During the latter part of the 19th century, the “smörgåsbord” made its appearance.

History December 3, 2021 0

The Origins of the PuPu Platter

In an advertisement in the Boston Globe, October 14, 1982, Bob Lee’s restaurant, Islander, posted the claim, “We invented The Pupu Platter.” Did they invent it? If not, what is the truth behind the origins of the Pu-Pu Platter? There is no question that the term “Pu-Pu” derives from the Hawaiian word, “pū-pū”, which refers to “appetizers.” Originally, pū-pū only referred to shellfish, but was eventually expanded to include a variety of other foods as well. During the 1950s, a number of Hawaiian newspapers mentioned pu-pu. The Honolulu […]

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