WHERE IS WINTERSBURG? A directional sign at the event provided the mileage from the Newland House to locations significant to the Japanese pioneer community, as well as for Huntington Beach's Sister City in Anjo, Japan. The sign was crafted by Historic Wintersburg Task Force member Barbara Haynes.
TASHIMA MARKET DETAILS: A pair of handwoven tatami sandals and bamboo rake in the Tashima market were among the details providing a glimpse back to 1914.
These items can be found today in the Historic District of Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, at Anzen Hardware on First Street, which is worth a field trip in itself. Early 1900s residents of Wintersburg and Smeltzer's Japanese community traveled back and forth to Little Tokyo regularly, on the Pacific Electric Railway "Red Car." Yukiko Furuta's 1982 oral history includes a reference to shopping in Little Tokyo and enjoying the sweets at a confectionery that undoubtedly was Fugetsu-do Sweet Shop, which opened in 1903.
The JACL recognized Task Force chair Mary Urashima with their Community Hero award this year at the Skirball Center in Los Angeles, and has actively supported the preservation of Historic Wintersburg.
The Japanese American Citizens League was formed in 1929 in California and Washington, and spread to become the
largest and most well-known Japanese American organization in the United
States. JACL was instrumental in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1988, signed by President Ronald Reagan.
Today, it is the U.S.'s oldest and largest Asian American civil rights organization, with 108 chapters nationwide. JACL continues to work on existing and emerging civil liberties issues.
Thank you to our hosts at Holidays in Huntington Beach, 1914, the Huntington Beach Historical Society.
We are endlessly appreciative of our Historic Wintersburg Task Force members and volunteers. You made this happen!
Thank you to Assemblyman Matthew Harper, Huntington Beach Mayor Jill Hardy, and the other dignitaries, officials, and all our guests who stopped by to celebrate the Holidays in Huntington Beach, 1914. Sharing history is sharing community.
Historic Wintersburg will have much more news to share in 2015 about the effort to preserve one of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. We appreciate the growing support, both locally and nationally, to save Historic Wintersburg for future generations.
The Newland
House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and
dates to 1898 when it was built for William and Mary Newland, pioneer
settlers of Huntington Beach. The Newland House was saved
and preserved through a community effort. It is now one of the oldest
homes remaining in Huntington Beach, a reminder of Orange County’s
pioneer community. The Newland House and gardens will be open,
free to the general public during the event.
Holidays in Huntington Beach also will feature a glimpse of Historic
Wintersburg in Huntington Beach, named in June 2014 one of America’s
11 Most Endangered Historic Places by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Wintersburg Village began forming in the 1880s and was annexed into the
City of Huntington Beach in 1957. Charles Furuta, owner of the Furuta farm at Historic Wintersburg arrived in what would become Huntington Beach approximately five to six years after the Newland House was built.
Event guests will walk into Wintersburg Village’s
Tashima Market on the front lawn of the Newland House and view a
display of historical photographs relating to Huntington Beach’s
Japanese pioneers. There will be opportunity to chat with pioneers, as
part of the exhibit re-enactment. Also, guests can try a taste of mochi, a traditional rice
flour sweet, courtesy of the century-old Fugetsu-do Sweet Shop, a confectionery in Little
Tokyo.
Some items will be available at the "Christmas market" as donation opportunities for the preservation work. Historic Wintersburg in Huntington Beach author, Mary Adams Urashima, will have copies of her books available for sale and signing.
The event features live holiday music and refreshments. As part of the holiday tradition, Santa will make an appearance at the Newland House, making this an event for all ages!
Right: The stately Newland House, circa 1910, with "Bob, the dog" out front. (Photograph courtesy of City of Huntington Beach archives)
Holidays in Huntington Beach is at the Newland House Museum, Friday, December 5, from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., 19820 Beach Boulevard (in the Newland Shopping Center at Beach Boulevard and Adams Avenue).
Admission is free. Guests are encouraged to arrive in 1914 fashion and be of good cheer!
Left: The traditional holiday and special event sweet, mochi. Mochi is a rice cake made usually at the New Year holiday in a ceremony called mochitsuki. Fugetsu-do Sweet Shop is sending its famous "Rainbow Dango" mochi. (Photograph, WikiCommons)
One hundred years from now, what will be remembered of the pioneers of California if no one saves this history? Who will tell their journey stories if no one steps forward to save history?
Historic Wintersburg is still in the midst of our crowdfunding campaign with Indiegogo (ends November 30, 2014). It's easy to donate and every donation---large and small---makes a difference!
Join Historic Wintersburg at the Smithsonian Institution's traveling exhibit, Journey Stories, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Saturday, October 25, at the Heritage Museum of Orange County.
Right: Promotional ticket for the Shinyo Maru's Toyo Kisen-Kaisha ship line. Travelers underwent a vigorous screening in the early 1900s. When Charles Furuta first traveled to America in 1900, his ship, the SS Glenogle, like other steamships of the time, was disinfected
to kill rats, its passengers’ baggage steamed to avoid contagion. Upon arrival in Hawaii--Charles Furuta's original destination--passengers were not allowed to disembark due to the Black Plague. He continued on to the mainland of America. There was
risk and little luxury in ocean travel for those making their journey across the Pacific Ocean to America. Walk the beautiful 12-acre grounds and explore the historic buildings at the Heritage Museum to see displays from the Smithsonian and local historical groups, representing the stories of Orange County's pre history---the first Californians---and of the diverse pioneer journeys. The exhibits and discussions on Saturday, October 25, are focused on the unique cultures that created Orange County. Look for Historic Wintersburg's display in the Rose Garden Lawn, and for a discussion about Historic Wintersburg and Orange County's Japanese pioneers on the steps of the historic Maag House at 1:30 p.m. Just prior to this, at 1 p.m., is a performance of taiko drum by the group, Jodaiko, from the University of California - Irvine.
Historic Wintersburg thanks the Heritage Museum for including the history of Orange County's Japanese pioneers and one of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. Our display will highlight the Journey Storiesof Historic Wintersburg and volunteers will be available to talk about how you can help save this rare, endangered historic place.
Our special thanks to all the sponsors who helped bring the Smithsonian Institution's Journey Stories to Orange County! These wonderful sponsors and organizations are helping keep Orange County heritage alive for future generations.
The Heritage Museum of Orange County is located at 3101 W Harvard Street in Santa Ana, California. Go to http://heritagemuseumoc.org for more information.
The Wintersburg Village---which
began forming in the late 1800s---was a distinct population center from
the Huntington Beach Township on early U.S. Census records. It was
annexed into Huntington Beach in 1957, but was connected with Huntington Beach commerce, civic events and daily life from the beginning.
READY FOR VIEWING: Jose Hernandez and Jose Aranda with the Huntington Beach Library staff, after installation of the exhibit. Historic Wintersburg thanks the Huntington Beach Library for hosting the exhibit, organized by the Huntington Beach Historic Resources Board. (Photo, October 3, 2014)
The photography exhibit images reveal shared history with the pioneer settlement era of Huntington Beach. Stop by the historic Main Street Library (placed on the National Register of Historic Places in fall 2013), located on Triangle Park at 525 Main Street. Photographs include enlargements of a 1913 aviation event, the farming community of Wintersburg Village, a "beet dump" at the Southern Pacific Railroad siding in Wintersburg, and a 1912 community meeting that led to the re-building of the Huntington Beach pier. WHARF BONDS: Minutes from the Huntington Beach board of trustees (city council) for May 13, 1912, record the issuing of bonds in the amount of $70,000 to raise funds to rebuild the pier, blown down by a Pacific storm. Huntington Beach trustees and leaders then made an appeal for help--the 1912 version of "crowdfunding"--to get the community to invest in the bonds.
When the pier was rededicated in 1914, the Japanese community was
prominently featured in the celebrations right after a surfing demonstration by
George Freeth. Placed high on the agenda (indicating significant support), they performed a sword
dance just before the concert band finale and illumination of the pier. Thousands attended the ceremonies.
Glimpses into the shared history of Wintersburg Village and Huntington Beach illustrate how the pioneer community worked together to build Orange County.
Crowdfunding, Version 2014 The community of Huntington Beach once again reaches out in an appeal for support, this time to save the land of those who helped fund raise for the pier a century ago. The pioneer property of Historic Wintersburg holds six historic structures relating to the Furuta Gold Fish Farm and the Wintersburg Japanese Presbyterian Mission, part of California's Japanese Mission Trail. It was named one of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places in June 2014. It is threatened with demolition by May 2015.
