Don & Cynthia
·2 min read
Did you know that Fiddletown was once home to the largest Chinese immigrant population outside of San Francisco? Just 10 miles from Gold Creek Cabin, the Chew Kee Store and Museum is the centerpiece of a small group of buildings which remain from a vibrant Chinatown dating to Gold Rush days.
The building was constructed in the mid-1850s using the traditional Chinese rammed-earth technique (similar to adobe). The thick mud-based walls insulated against temperature extremes, while the platform floor provided air circulation within. The building started as a Chinese herbal medicine store, serving the local Chinese community, and served as both a business and a residence over time, resulting in continuous occupation for over 100 years. The last resident passed away in 1965 and is the only resident of Chinese descent buried in the Fiddletown cemetery.
Everything in the store is authentic and original to the period, from the furniture to the kitchen utensils to the calendar from 1905 on the wall in the front room. It is a fascinating snapshot of the Chinese immigrant experience in California.
The Chew Kee Store and Museum is open on Saturdays from noon-4p in April-October, and by appointment. For further information, contact the Fiddletown Preservation Society.
Refer to the Fiddletown self-guided walking tour map in the cabin’s Local Attractions binder for information about the other historical points of interest in this gold rush town. Happy wandering!
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