À l’époque, les propriétaires de logement désiraient avoir des Chinois comme locataires: ceux-çi avaient la réputation de payer leur loyer à temps et ne produirent aucune plaintes pour des réparations. Le loyer était pour 20 ans avec comme prix mensuel 10.50$. Les affaires ont bien roulé jusqu’au départ de plusieurs marchands prospère du coin. La population a diminué. Malgré tout, le Chinatown était un refuge pour plusieurs dont les enfants Chinois qui étaient plus souvent qu’autrement victime de discrimination à l’école.
À l’instar d’un incendie qui avait détruit le premier Chinatown, ce fut les inondations de la rivière San Lorenzo qui a mis fin au dernier Chinatown de Santa Cruz.
Source: Lydon, Sandy “Chinese Gold: The Chinese in the Monterey Bay Region”, p. 433-443, 1985.
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Did you know that Santa Cruz had its very own Chinatown? A fire in April 1894 destroyed Santa Cruz Chinatown, located at the time on Front Street. Then, Chinese divided themselves in two camps, the Blackburn’s and the Birkenseer’s Chinatowns.
At the time, landlords highly desired Chinese as renters: they had an excellent reputation to pay their rent and ask very little complaints about repairs. Lease was for 20 years and the monthly price was $10.50. Business was going smooth until some prosperous merchants left town. The Chinese population diminished. Despite that, Chinatown was often a refuge for many especially Chinese kids who were often victim of discrimination at school.
While a fire destroyed the first Chinatown, it is San Lorenzo River floods that ended the existence of the last Santa Cruz Chinatown.
Source: Lydon, Sandy “Chinese Gold: The Chinese in the Monterey Bay Region”, p. 433-443, 1985.
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