Kam Wah Chung National Heritage Site

Loosely translated Kam Wah Chung means "Golden Flower of Prosperity." During the building of the west, Chinese immigrants played a large role in railroad construction, mining and other intense labor occupations. Many of them were involved in jobs that no one else would do. In John Day, Oregon, there's a museum like no other that covers both the Chinese laborer and the merchant. The museum has artifacts from the era that include letters from China asking the owners for loans in order to book passage to the area. Most of the early Kam Wah Chung customers were Chinese who worked in the gold fields of Canyon City, about eight miles from present day John Day.

The building was constructed in the early 1870s with the lower walls being made from locally quarried volcanic tuff. Not much information is available about the original builder(s) and proprietor(s) until 1888 when two Chinese men, Ing (Doc) Hay and Lung On bought the building's lease and existing business. Their partnership lasted for more than fifty years. Both men, who lived and worked in the building, became two of the community's most prominent citizens.

Doc hay was an herbal medical practitioner and a master in pulse diagnosis. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, pulse diagnosis plays an important role. A skilled practitioner can "read" the various levels of the pulse and, not only diagnose the current problem, they can also tell the patient what illnesses they've had in the past plus give information about what illnesses the patient is most prone to. In the beginning Doc Hay only treated the Chinese population of Central and Eastern Oregon. Within a short period of time Anglos, who worked with the Chinese and saw how much more successfully they recovered from the same afflictions they continued to struggle with when treated using Western medical techniques, also became the doctor's patients. Doc Hay continued to practice his art until 1948. Monetary fulfillment obviously wasn't Doc Hay's primary focus in practicing medicine. When the museum was being inventoried, cleaned and cataloged, a large amount of money, I believe it was around $28,000.00, a lot of money in the 1800's and mid-1900's, in the form of checks and other negotiables was found in a trunk in Doc Hay's room. Doc Hay also performed Chinese religious rituals. The shrine has been restored and is part of the display.

Lung On, the businessman of the two and a skilled merchant, kept the books and ran the day to day businesses. The businesses included selling mining supplies to both Anglo and Chinese, a dry goods store, import business and he was also a labor contractor and immigration assistant who helped Chinese come to the west and improve their lives.

Many of the medicinal herbs and dry goods are still in their original wooden and tin containers. Antiques furniture, shelving and utensils used in the men's daily lives and businesses have been restored and on display.

The building was used as a haven for socially persecuted local Chinese. The front door is a unique metal faced arrangement that could be closed quickly in case of a raid. As was the case in many areas of the west, some of the local population persecuted those who weren't the same or believed differently than they did. It was common for cowboys to ride through where the building is located and take shots, not only at the building but at those inside and outside as well. When the shooting began, the the iron clad door was shut. One bullet penetrated the door skin and the hole can be seen where it passed through and into the interior of the building.

The museum is a cooperative partnership between Oregon Parks and Recreation, Friends of Kam Wah Chung, museum volunteers and The City of John Day. The museum has been restored to its original state and open seven days a week from May 1 to October 31. You can tour the original building museum and the new visitor center from 9:00 am to noon and from 1:00 pm to five Monday-Saturday and from 1:00 to 5:00 on Sunday. There is no charge for admission. The visitor center has lots of photos and other related items plus, while we were there, they had a PBS video available for viewing at specified times. More information can be accessed at www.oregonstateparks.org or by calling 1-800-551-6949.

Canyon City is the home of the Grant County Historical Museum. Weeks behind schedule, we didn't go to Canyon City. Their brochure says, "The museum began when Charles W, Brown, service station owner and postmaster, purchased a saddle from a local citizen in need of quick cash. Suddenly, everyone was cleaning out their attics and adding treasures to his collection....which became our collection."

More information on the Grant County Historical Museum can be found at wwww.museum@ortelco.net or by calling 541-575-0362. There is a $4.00 dollar adult, $3.50 senior, $2.00 7-18 admission with children six and under free. Next stop...Prairie City.