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La Grande: Site of the Chinese laundries
In 1893 a serious economic depression plagued much of the United
States. Although the problems were caused primarily by railroad
overbuilding, out-of-work farmers and others in and near La Grande blamed
their woes on the Chinese in their community. On September 24th,
1893, a crowd of estimated at about 200 armed men marched to the
Chinese quarters of the city, and, after looting the laundries
and other stores there, they ordered the Chinese to leave the
city. Approximately 50 Chinese packed up their remaining
belongings and prepared to leave town.
Another group of men went to local farms where Chinese laborers
were employed as hop pickers and rounded up another 15 to 20
men. They were brought back to town and taken to the local
railroad station with the others. Some left on the next train,
but the majority hiked out of town and set up a camp on the
Grand Ronde river about four miles away.
That night fires broke out in several Chinese laundries and
homes, and many buildings were destroyed. The next day another
group of men went to the Chinese camp on the river and forced the
people there to
leave the area.
Law enforcement officers finally regained control of the city,
and fifty-three of the agitators from the mob were arrested.
They were given a short trial, and all were found not guilty by
a jury of their peers.
Within a few years, many Chinese returned to La Grande and a
smaller community existed there for several decades.
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About this
site: An 1893 Sanborn Fire Map of the
city, found at the Eastern Oregon University Library, shows
several Chinese laundries and dwellings along Adams Avenue. By
overlaying that map with one of the current city, I was able to
determine the exact location where these buildings once stood.
GPS:
45° 19' 44.55" N, 118° 05' 41.70" W |
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