Photography: The Emperor’s Death Mourned in New York Chinatown, November 18, 1908

Officially, Emperor Kwang-Su (Guangxu) died on November 14, 1908. Reports of his unconfirmed death appeared in several American newspapers on November 13, 1908.

New York Evening Post, November 13, 1908

The New York Times, November 17, 1908, said

... The Chinese Merchants’ Association, or “Jong Wah Gong Shor,” met at 16 Mott Street yesterday afternoon and passed resolutions for mourning for the death the Emperor. The mourning, blue and white, will be put up to-morrow on all the stores throughout Chinatown to remain until the association shall order it removed.  Chinese Consul Ho was present with many of the Government students. ...

On November 18, 1908, many buildings were draped to mourn the death of the emperor.

Mott Street numbers 14 (right, Mon Far Low 

Restaurant), 16 (middle) and 18 (left). 

Bain News Service

The New York Evening Post, November 18, 1908, said 

Joss Row in Mott Street

One Temple Mourns Emperor; The Other Doesn’t

At No. 16 the Blue and White Drapery Is Out and the Dragon Flag Is at Half-Mast—But There’s No Love for the Manchus at No. 20—Prayer Ships Are the Same Size.

On the front of the Joss House at No. 16 Mott Street are draperies of white and blue, the mourning colors, for the dead Emperor. The Joss House at No. 20 Mott Street is not so draped, and isn’t going to be, and so, by this fact, incidental to the close of a reign in China, is revealed a secret of the Oriental colony that shimmers and sightseers would not have learned otherwise.

But it is evident now that Chinatown has its church row just like any New England hamlet, with the orthodox and the liberal meeting-houses set on opposite sides of the village green, figuratively making faces at each other.

And like the village churches, each of the Joss Houses claims to be the best and oldest and only true Joss House.

On the one at No. 16 Mott, there was the sign in English, “The Main Temple.” On the rival temple, the legend read: “The oldest Joss House in the United States, established 1874.” But those signs didn’t necessarily convey the idea that there was friction between the priests and the congregations. The real truth was learned when an English-speaking Chinaman was asked why there was no blue and white bunting on No. 20, and why the yellow sun and dragon flag on that building was not down to half-mast. The man appealed to was evidently a worshipper at the Main Temple, for he spoke with contempt of No. 20.

Monopoly of Patriotism.

“That’s no good,” said the Chinaman. “Go to Main Temple, the real Joss House at 16.”

When convinced that his questioner had no offering of tea or chicken for either altar, but merely wanted to know about the difference in belief as to bunting, the Chinaman explained that the Chinatown worshippers at No. 20 were all haters of the Manchus and so would not drape their building to honor the memory of a Manchu Emperor.

“No. 16, all patriots,” he added. “Emperor is Emperor, Manchu or not, so the Main Temple put on mourning and lowers the dragon. No. 20, no good. Just a show for white people in automobiles.”

Beyond telling why No. 20 would not put on mourning for a Manchu, the pillar of the Joss House at No. 16 could not explain why the temples were not in accord. And there is nothing in the joss houses themselves to indicate on what rock of dogma, the split came.

As many incense sticks are burning in one as in the other, and, incidentally, the price per package which sight-seeing heathen are charged at each place is the same. The prayer papers that are burned at the altars are exactly as long and as wide at No. 16 as they are at No. 20, and neither high priest can say truthfully that his burners are more beautifully embroidered or that his altar is more wonderfully carved than that of the other high priest. 

In the blue and white draped temple a Chinaman with a basket full of savory and steaming offerings of rice and nuts and dried duck was bumping his forehead on the floor in front of the altar at No. 20, but at the same time another Chinaman was brewing fragrant tea in front of the Joss at No. 16; and one worshipper seemed just as devout as the other. So an hour among the temples was not sufficient for a layman to get at the truth of the matter. 

It may be a safe inference that the advocates of No. 16 are more devoted than their rivals, because to get to the altar, they have to climb three long flights of dark back stairs, the same stairs that so many timid sight-seeing persons have ascended With nervous, squeamish fear that perhaps they should have been contented with buying Joss House picture postal cards, instead of actually visiting the place. 

At the other temple, the Joss is only two flights up, and the high priest thinks that it is much easier for aged Chinamen to come there and much more convenient for Americans to buy their altar souvenirs from him.

The New York Sun, November 19, 1908, also reported the differences between the Joss Houses at 16 and 20 Mott Street. 

The New York Herald, November 19, 1908, printed a photograph of buildings, at 14 and 16 Mott Street, draped in Chinese mourning colors blue and white.

Leslie’s Illustrated Weekly, December 3, 1908, published a photograph of 7–9 Mott Street which was the location of Soy Kee & Company, Port Arthur Restaurant, and the Chinese Empire Reform Association.

The Bystander, December 30, 1908, printed a Topical Agency photograph of 14 (right) and 16 Mott Street covered in drapery. 

(Next post on Wednesday: Flower Drum Song, January 1962)

Photography: New York City’s Chinatown, 1903

The Library of Congress has a large collection of Chinatown photographs. The following three photographs were printed in The Four-Track News, June 1903, “A Corner of China”. 

Interior view of tearoom in Chinatown, New York City, N.Y.

 [Oriental Restaurant]

New York City. Chinatown [Pell Street]

Soy Kee Co. store front, with Chinese man 

standing in front, Chinatown, New York City 

[His name is Jim White; see sidebar]

The Four-Track News, June 1903

In the article, five photographs were copyrighted. These photographs were listed under the name of George H. Daniels, the publisher of Four-Track News, in the Catalogue of Title Entries of Books and Other Articles, March 19, 1903, Volume 37, Number 11. I do not believe Daniels was a photographer because profiles do not mention it. (See George Henry Daniels sidebar)

Related Post

Soy Kee & Company and Port Arthur Restaurant, New York City

SIDEBAR: ABOUT JIM WHITE

Jim White has not been found in the United States Census or New York State Census. He was mentioned in periodicals from 1893 to 1903. 

New York Evening Telegram , December 13, 1893

page 2: Too Much for the Chinaman.

A Malay Sailor’s Strong Right Arm Proves a Valuable Weapon of Defence.

Recent changes in the management of the Chinese theatre in Doyer [sic] street have proven most distasteful to a large section of Chinatown, and tribal or family fights and wrangling have become of nightly occurrence. 

There was a slight, variation last night when the fight was between a Malay sailor and a Chinaman in front of the theatre. The Malay, who is a powerfuly [sic] built fellow, knocked out the Mongolian in the first round.

Then a score of other Chinamen fought the Malay, who, striking right and left, knocked down several of his antagonists, and finally succeeded in fighting his way out of the crowd. 

Detective Mitchell, of the Elizabeth street station, coming up at this juncture, arrested the Malay, who calls himself Jim White, and one of the Chinamen named Joe Quey. Justice Meade, in the Tombs Court to-day, remanded the prisoner.

New York Evening World, December 13, 1893

page 2: Row on the Chinese Rialto.

Joe Quey Gets a Black Eye in a Theatrical Dispute.

Jim White, a Siamese, who says he is a cook on the yacht Alsatia, owned by F. V. Clark, was held for examination in the Tombs Court to-day on the charge of assault.

There is said to be a factional fight waging in the Chinese quarters over the deposing of the leading man in the Doyer [sic] street theatre, to make room for a new man from San Francisco.

Detective Mitchell, of the Eldridge street squad, saw a fight in progress in front of the theatre last night, and found Joe Quey on the ground nursing a black eye. White was running away when Mitchell caught him. When searched at the station a long, keen dagger was found in a sheath attached to his waist. He denied having assaulted Quey.

New York Herald, December 13, 1893

page 6: Chinese Stage Rivals.

A merry little war is being waged in Chinatown. It originated in the Chinese theatre in Doyers street and has spread into a factional fight in which nearly all the children of the Flowery Kingdom have taken a hand.

For several weeks Chinatown had been looking forward to a new play, which it was announced would be far superior to any Chinese play ever seen here.

Nee Moy was imported from San Francisco to take the part of the leading man, and he trod the boards of the Doyers street house for the first time on Monday night.

The ex-leading man didn’t propose to quietly submit to the usurper. He placed himself in the hands of his friends and allowed them to make all the noise while he remained seemingly passive in the background. Tong Fong became, therefore, the nominal leader in the counter demonstration.

Made a Stupendous Noise.

The theatre was crowded on Monday night. Nee Moy came on in a gorgeous raiment which was almost dazzling. The Mongolians fairly held their breath. At least all of them did except Tong Fong and about twenty of his confederates stationed in various parts of the theatre. They possessed a superfluity of breath that was truly appalling. Even the kettles, whistles and gongs could not drown the dim that was raised by the cohorts of disorder. The players stopped short.

The noise simmered down, and taking a fresh old Nee Moy continued his part of the production. Everything ran smoothly for a time. The gongs gonged, whistles whistled, and some one in the orchestra with a rattle rattled. Nee Moy may have been rattled also, but no one knew it but himself. The play increased in interest and Tong Fong was quiet. At last the climax of the piece was reached.

Pandemonium Broke Loose.

The poor deceived maiden who had all along been led to believe that the gayly bedecked Nee Moy was in love with her awoke to a sense of his perfidy. She stood on tiptoe, raised her arm in an agony of despair and fell to the stage.

An attendant rushed in and placed a pillow under the maiden’s head, as the boards were very hard.

This was the signal for pandemonium to break loose again. Tong Fong slugged the man next to him. Several other Chinamen who sympathized with him did likewise. The maiden came to in a jiffy and made her escape from the scene.

Lee Tuov, one of the managers, tried to quell the disturbance and Tong Fong, immediately selecting him for a target proceeded to “do him up” in true highbinder style.

At this critical point the police interfered and the obstreperous Chinaman was hustled off to the Elizabeth street police station. He was taken before Justice Meade, at the Tombs Police Court yesterday, and was sent to the Island for three months.

Fought Outside

The management thought that all their difficulties were over now that Tong Fong, known as the “baddest Chinaman in Chinatown” was out of the way. But they reckoned without their host. Another row occurred in the theatre last night. It did not reach the magnitude of the other affair, but was serious enough to cause the arrest of two of the audience. There was no uproar in the theatre. The orchestra rendered its entrancing music without rivalry. Nee Moy strutted the boards as proudly as if he had something more than the fate of a maiden in his grasp. A Nanki Poo with a sore throat and a tenor voice did his turn while the beater of the kettles rested his arms. The maiden fainted without the least compunction of conscience on the part of the deceiver or the audience.

The row was confined to two men and they stepped outside to settle their difference. Jim White, of No. 5 Mott street, was a disciple of Tong Fong, and Joe Guey, of No. 16 Doyers street, thought the new leading man was the finest Chinese actor out of the asylum. Jim had the best of the argument, from a physical point of view, and promptly knocked Joe down. He then kicked him in the face and drew a dagger which was knocked out of his hands by a policeman of the Elizabeth street station before he had a chance to use it.

The two “scrappers” were taken to the police station and locked up. The dagger was found to have a razor’s edge and would have made short work of Joe Guey but for the prompt action of the policeman. The end is not yet.

New York Press, December 14, 1893

page 3: Back Up Their Star.

Change of Leading Heroes Resented and Free Fisticuffs Result, in Which Many Partisan Attendants Engage.

Chinatown is all agog over deposing the leading man in the Doyers Street Theater to make place for a new star from San Francisco. The professional jealousy is as strong among the histrionic Mongolians as among their white brethren. The new play has been running but three nights, and the first two performances ended in rows.

Jim White, a Siamese cook on the yacht Alsatia, was yesterday held in the Tombs for examination on a charge of assault against Joe Quey of Doyers street. The trouble occurred at Tuesday night’s performance. Quey was a follower of the new star, and freely expressed the opinion that his acting was the best that has yet been given at the theater. This was like waving a red rag at a bul. White, who was a partisan of the old star, promptly knocked Joe down. Detective Mitchell, who happened to be on hand, arrested White. He had a long dagger in a sheath attached to his waist.

This production of the play, which was heralded on playbills which looked like gigantic laundry checks, as the most magnificent ever given, occurred on Monday night and broke up in a row. When the new star, Nee Moy, of San Francisco, appeared on the boards for the first time pandemonium broke loose.

The friends of the leading man did not propose to submit tamely to the change. They raised a tremendous din that drowned the timid Chinese orchestra’s efforts, and Nee Moy’s lines could not be heard above the hubbub. The trouble went on at intervals until the show was over. The supporters of the deposed king of the stage precipitated a riot. Tong Fong, who led them, slugged the man next to him, and his friends did likewise. Finally one of the managers of the show tried to quiet the enraged audience, and Tong Fong thrashed him. Mr. Fong is now resting on Blackwell’s Island for his part in the disturbance.

New York Sun, December 4, 1896

page 5: Chinese Street Fight.

Rival Factions Fall to Blows Over a Robbery Trial.

... In court George Jung declared that Jim White, the Chinese whistler of 18 Mott street, and Chin Dong of 38 Mott street had assaulted him, and these two were also held in a like amount of bail.

New York Evening Telegram, January 26, 1897

page 8: Chinese Highwaymen.

Jim White Throws Pepper in Shing’s Eyes and Then His Pals Rob Him of $30.
Detectives O’Connor and Tierney, of the Centre Street Police Court squad, to-day arraigned in that court “Jim” White and Ah Wong, two Chinamen, on a charge of highway robbery, proferred [sic] by Ah Sing, a laundryman. 

“Jim” White was arrested a week ago in company with his common-law wife for beating a man who was the legal husband of the woman, and who had called at the house to get evidence for a divorce.

For this “Jim” White and the woman were sent to Blackwell’s Island. The theft with which he is charged occurred on Wednesday, the day on which he was released from prison.

Ah Shing says that he was in the dark hallway of No. 21 Pell street when “Jim” White, Ah Wong and another Chinaman named Ah Qoung [sic] attacked him.

He testified that “Jim” White threw pepper in his eyes and then struck him on the face, knocking him down. Ah Shing says White held him on the floor while the others robbed him of $30 and escaped. The prisoners were committed for trial.

New York Sun, February 18, 1897

page 3: Mott Street’s New Club.

Opened with 50,000 Firecrackers and a Gorgeous Joss.

The On Leong Tong Starts on the Road to Prosperity with Music and a Seventeen-Course Dinner—The First Incorporated Chinese Club East of San Francisco 

There were great times in Mott street last night. Firecrackers by the thousand made an intolerable racket, to be succeeded by the banging of cymbals and tom-toms and the plaintive squeakings of fiddles and the strumming of banjos. The On Leong Tong was having its housewarming, and all the riffraff of Chinatown gathered in front of the club house to help celebrate.

The On Leong Tong, which done into English means the Chinese Merchants’ Association, got a charter from Albany last week, and thus secured the honorable distinction of being the first incorporated Chinese club east of San Francisco. With a membership of over 200, composed of the leading Chinese merchants of New York, with three rooms on the third floor of the big tenement at 14 Mott street, it goes without saying that the President of the club, Tom Lee, who is Mayor of Chinatown and wears on his little finger a “sparkler” that would dazzle the young Spanish woman who dances in a shower of jewels, and Li Jung, the Vice-President commonly known as “Boston,” would start the club with appropriate ceremonies.

These took the shape of a reception and dinner, preceded by firecrackers and music. A permit had been secured from the police, and strung across the street from the roofs of two houses were 50,000 firecrackers, making a rope as big as a telegraph pole. Promptly at half past 6 Jim White, the Sergeant-at-Arms of the club (Jim is a wrestler of renown and well fitted for the duties of bouncers, stuck a lighted punk in the end of the string. For ten minutes there was a rattle-to-bang that could be heard a quarter of a mile away, and Mott street smelled like the Fourth of July. Hardly had the last cracker cracked when from up on the balcony of the club house came more noises, the banging of tom-toms and cymbals, thrice worse than any gong at a railway lunch station, and Mott street was quickly filled with a great crowd of men, women, and children who wanted to see what was going on. 

Then the guests began to strive. Up three flights of steep stairs they went and through the kitchen into the club room, where the members of the club were waiting to receive them. Most of the members were arrayed in gorgeous silks. There were Tom Lee, the President with his sparkler; “Boston,” the Vice-President; Lee Loy, the Secretary, and Joe Gong, the Treasurer; Jim White, the Sergeant-at-Arms and Moy Sing, the Captain. Then in line were Lee Sin, Hing Chung, Moy Gon, Hom Mun Chew, See Yee Mun, Lee Ny, Lee Quay, Mock Sing, Mock Bow, Lee Yow, Chin Pon, Li Yung, Lee Yick Shew, Quong Hop Sing, Le Hung Yan, and Lien Quon.

During the process of receiving the guests the tom-toms and cymbals kept bravely at work in order to conceal any deficiencies in the English of the hosts; then another orchestra began to work—a fiddle, Chinese banjo, and a flute. These made music until dinner was served. 

The club room of the On Leong Tong is not so gorgeous as some club rooms in this city, but there are some pretty fine things in it. There is a bronze joss, beautiful in its ugliness, and a wonderful bronze dragon and some wonderful Chinese pictures. Four large tables were set, one for the guests and three for the hosts. These were covered with sweetmeats, nuts, preserves, candied fruits, and the like.

In the opinion of Boston the dinner was a masterpiece, and all the rarest dainties of China found a place in it, There were seventeen courses. The first consisted of sweetmeats and rice wine. The wine was not lacking in any course. Then came a seaweed salad, a very rare and costly dainty that even inexperienced hands could handle well with the ivory chopsticks. Next came Yen Wah, a soup made of chicken and birds’ nests that wasn’t half so bad as it sounds. The succeeding courses were made up of chicken, mushrooms, and pigeons cooked and served up in a dozen or more ways, and the dinner wound up with tea, uncertain cakes, and a kind of a gruel made of corn starch, flavored with almond. After the dinner came more music and singing, and then one by one the hosts began to disappear and the subtle smell of the “black smoke” drifted into the room. The club had been fairly started on the road to prosperity.

New York Sun, September 3, 1901

page 3: Rival Outings in the Second.

... Among the well-known characters of the district aboard the steamer were “Well Well,” the Polo Grounds baseball man; Louis Swatter, who claims to be the champion rag-time dancer of the world; Tom Lee, the Chinese deputy sheriff; Jim White, the only Siamese American voter in the country: Greek Nicolson, who although of Greek extraction, has voted in the district for twenty-three years; Smoke, the Chinatown negro; Blind Billy, who has voted in the district for fifty years, and who had two men with him to lead him about; Domenico Deluce, who is known as the. Cuban Chinaman; Wideawake Collins, the spaghetti manufacturer and Corky Sullivan. Ham and Eggs were there, too. Ham is a bill collector and Eggs is a cigar manufacturer. ...

The Four-Track News, June 1903

page 307: A Corner of China.

[photograph caption]

Jim White, in Front of Chinatown’s Leading Fancy Goods Store [Soy Kee & Company]

… There is one subject which never disturbs Chinatown, and that is politics. The “town” claims one voter, Jim White, a vigorous up-to-date Chinaman with all the attributes of a full-fledged American, and he seems to answer the purpose of a general voting franchise since every Chinaman points to him with pride as the “oldest and only voter.” ...

SIDEBAR: ABOUT GEORGE HENRY DANIELS

December 1, 1842, Hampshire, Illinois – July 1, 1908, Signal Hill, New York

The Men of New York, Volume 2, George E. Matthews, & Co., 1898

Notable New Yorkers of 1896–1899, Bartlett & Company, 1899

Buffalo Courier (New York), October 16, 1900

The Argus (Albany, New York), March 29, 1903

Peekskill Blade (New York), May 4, 1907

New York Evening Post, July 1, 1908

New-York Daily Tribune, July 2, 1908

Railroad Men, September 1908

The Harlem Line, George Henry Daniels, The Advertising “Prophet” of the New York Central 

(Next post on Wednesday: Oriental Restaurant, New York City)

Graphics and Photography: Soy Kee & Company and Port Arthur Restaurant, New York City

Ten Restaurants That Changed America (2016) published a Port Arthur Restaurant menu cover, from 1917, that had four swastikas at the bottom of the border. At some point the lettering was redone and swastikas were replaced with text. The menu below was printed by “Kungwo Press” which was listed in the Directory of New York State Manufacturers: Rails, Utilities, Banks, 1937. 

Arthur Schwartz’s New York City Food: An Opinionated History and More Than 100 Legendary Recipes (2008) has a Port Arthur Restaurant menu cover with Morse code for the letter “V” which, in World War II, stood for Victory and was introduced by Winston Churchill on July 20, 1941.

 

Port Arthur Restaurant menu, 1943

 

Port Arthur Restaurant peacock menu cover

Date Unknown

Date Unknown

SIGNS OF CHANGE, POSTMARKS, COVER DATES

AND VINTAGE VEHICLES

A series of Soy Kee & Co. and Port Arthur Restaurant postcards were produced soon after they opened (possibly late October 1904). The initial series said “Compliments of Soy Kee & Co.” which was removed in later printings. Their business signs were parallel to the street in a circa 1905 photograph, below, at the Library of Congress.

A similar view of Port Arthur Restaurant was on a postcard published by W. J. A. Lieder of New York City. 

In the postcard above, I believe Chu Gow and his oldest son, Chu Gum Fie who was born in 1902, are standing on the left. (See sidebar) This postcard, with “Compliments of Soy Kee & Co.”, appears on page 13 of Manhattan’s Chinatown (2008). The caption said the postcard was printed in 1899. I will offer proof that the date is incorrect. A vertical version of the postcard is on page 16. Below is a detail of the postcard at the Seymour B. Durst Old York Library. On the left, Chu Gow stands with another person while his son is with the policeman. 

The postcard below was postmarked August 22, 1909.

In 1905 or 1906, a vertical illuminated sign was added at the south end of the building. The sign over the restaurant entrance, near the lamppost, had been removed. Please note that Soy Kee & Company and its neighbor at number five did not have awnings. 

Library of Congress

The postcard below was postmarked January 11, 1907. Soy Kee & Company had its awning extended. 

Harper’s Weekly, August 17, 1907, published a photograph of Port Arthur Restaurant with the vertical sign and an additional horizontal sign extending from the middle of the building. 

At the Library of Congress is a photograph, dated January 21, 1909, of Port Arthur Restaurant with the same two signs.

A photograph in Cosmopolitan, September 1909, showed that the vertical sign had been removed. The next photograph, circa 1909 at the Library of Congress, has another view of the buildings with their awnings extended.

The Library of Congress has a January 1, 1913 dated photograph of Mott Street. In the upper left corner is a portion of the Port Arthur Restaurant vertical sign that replaced the horizontal sign. A similar sign is across the street. 

Another view of the Port Arthur Restaurant vertical sign appeared in a postcard by the Brown Bros. (This past May, the photograph’s glass negative, from the Brown Bros. archive, was auctioned on eBay.)

For the postcard below, the same street view, with different people, was transformed into a cloudy night.

The daytime version, with an inset, appeared in the 1914 publication New York, The Wonder City. 

The postcard was tinted in color. Across the street is the Republic of China flag. The oval inset is a photograph of Lee Yick You and his family who appeared in the July 28, 1904 issue of Leslie’s Weekly that said Lee Yick You

is first vice-president of the all-important Chinese Empire Reform Association. He is president of the board of directors of the Chinese Free Sanatorium; he is a power behind the Chinese daily newspaper, and is also a person of importance in the Chinese Merchants’ Association [On Leong Tong].

In the postcard below, automobiles were added and the sign had Arthur misspelled. 

Date unknown

A June 20, 1919 photograph at the New-York Historical Society showed a different sign design.

 

The bottom of this sign can be seen in the upper left corner of an April 12, 1925 photograph at Getty Images. 

Detail

A photograph at eBay showed Port Arthur Restaurant with a different vertical sign. The seller has a 1928 date on the unsourced photograph. This sign had a flat bottom and a half-circle ornament on top. On the sidewalks are several men wearing boater straw hats that were popular in the 1920s. 

Detail

The same sign was in a Chinatown photograph, dated February 2, 1932, that was found on eBay many years ago. 

From 1905 to 1932 there were five different illuminated signs at Port Arthur Restaurant.

Postmarked August 12, 1922

Postmarked November 6, 1933; Soy Kee & Co.

replaced by Eastern Importing Co.; Port Arthur

Chinese Restaurant letters with light bulbs

The Eagle Post Card View Company has a postal zone

number that was in use from May 1943 to June 1963.

Upper floors and neighboring building removed;

Port Arthur Restaurant with ornate entrance and letters 

with neon tubes; circa 1940s

Port Arthur Restaurant with ornate entrance 

and 1940s vehicles; circa 1940s

Green 1952 Ford Ranch Wagon in front of Port Arthur

Restaurant with ornate entrance, 1950s

Far left: Port Arthur Restaurant sign; center: orange-and-white 

1962 Dodge Dart taxi; postal zone number ended June 1963

Port Arthur Restaurant without ornate entrance and 1950s 

vehicles; address with ZIP Code began July 1963

Port Arthur Restaurant without ornate entrance; 1964 copyright

Port Arthur Restaurant without ornate entrance; 1960s

Port Arthur Restaurant without ornate entrance; 1960s

Several numbered and unnumbered Soy Kee & Co. illustrated color postcards can be viewed online here and here; no number (a later printing had number 10), no number, number 40, number 50, number 60, number 80, and number 90. 

ABOUT SOY KEE & COMPANY

AND PORT ARTHUR RESTAURANT

Soy Kee & Company and Port Arthur Restaurant are closely connected. Here is a chronology, from 1882 to 1944, of businesses that occupied 7 and 9 Mott Street.

Map from New York’s Chinatown: An Historical 

Presentation of Its People and Places (1898)

Map detail: New York City Chinatown, 1900.

New York Public Library Digital Collections

A mattress manufacturer was located at 7 and 9 Mott Street (near Chatham Square) for several years. The name Pomroy, later Pomroy & Gambell, was associated with the firm. 

New York Sun, May 9, 1882

The Trow City Directory Co.’s Copartnership and 

Corporation Directory of New York City, March 1888

New York World, April 21, 1895

In Chinatowns of New York City (2008), Wendy Wan-Yin Tan wrote 

Around 1870, located on the first floor of 7–9 Mott Street, Soy-Kee was the first import/export store in Chinatown. The second floor was the Port Arthur Restaurant, one of the most elegant banquet halls during that period. ... 

In Daniel Ostrow’s 2008 book, Manhattan’s Chinatown, he wrote

The Port Arthur Restaurant was established in 1897 and continuously operated for over 85 years. Its original founder was Chu Gam Fai. ...

... Soy Kee and Company was started by Chu Ho, who came to New York City in the 1880s. His store was originally located at 36 Pell Street. The second floor was occupied by the First Class Chinese Restaurant, which remained at that location until 1909. In 1897, he moved Soy Kee and Company to a former house stable at 7–9 Mott Street and soon shared the building with the brand-new Port Arthur Restaurant. ...

The 1870 and 1897 dates for Port Arthur Restaurant and Soy Kee & Company are incorrect. Information about Chu Gam Fai has not been found. Chu Ho was mentioned in Who’s Who of the Chinese in New York (1918).

The New York Press, August 20, 1894, reported the arrest of Chu Gow, a Soy Kee & Company partner, at 16 Doyers Street.

Soy Kee & Company was not listed in Trow’s New York City Directory, July 1, 1894 and July 1, 1895. 

So far the earliest mention of Soy Kee, a Doyers Street merchant, was in the New-York Daily Tribune and New York Herald (below), January 30, 1896.

Trow’s New York City Directory, July 1, 1896 had this listing: “Soy Kee Co. drygds. 18 Doyers”. The directory had the wrong number, 18, instead of 16.

Trow’s Greater New York Business Directory for 1897 had these listings: “Pomroy & Gambell Co. (The) J. Boyce Smith, propr. 7 & 9 Mott” and “Soy Kee & Co. 16 Doyers”.

Trow’s Greater New York Business Directory for 1898 had this listing: “Soy Kee Co. imprs. 16 Doyers”.

The 1898 Trow’s Business Directory of the Boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx listed Pomroy & Gambell Co. at 7 & 9 Mott Street. 

The Port Arthur Restaurant was not mentioned in Louis Beck’s 1898 book, New York’s Chinatown: An Historical Presentation of Its People and Places. On page 68 was the Soy Kee Company. 

The New York Evening Telegram, October 25, 1898, published an artist’s drawing of the fire at Pomroy & Gambell. 

... The fire was in the bedding manufactory of Pomroy Gambell & Co. Nos. 7 and 9 Mott street. ...

... On the east of Pomroy & Gambell’s is the store of Wong [sic] Tong Fook and on the west the pretentious establishment of the How [sic] Hong Low Company, with a restaurant in the sub-basement. ...

An excerpt from Fire and Water, October 29, 1898, said

A fire in Chinatown caused four alarms to be turned in and the presence of deputy chiefs, battalion chiefs, and apparatus galore. The blaze broke out a little after 9 o’clock a. m., in the bedding manufactory and warehouse of Pomroy & Gambell & Company, a six-story building at Nos. 7–9 Mott street. It was packed full of inflammable stuff and made a fierce and ugly fire. All the employees escaped safely down the fire escapes to the street. The Chinese inhabitants were more or less mildly excited—for them especially the employees of Horn Hong Low & Company, restaurant at No. 11, and Chong Kee’s importing establishment on the ground floor of the same building. 

Just over a year later, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, November 8, 1899, reported the fire on Mott Street.

… The five story brick building, 7 and 9 Mott street, Manhattan, occupied by the Pomeroy [sic] & Gambell Company, manufacturers of beds and bedding, was partially destroyed by fire this morning, the flames starting on the fifth floor. ...

The Real Estate section of The New York Times, February 15, 1900, reported repair work on Mott Street including at 7 and 9.

Below is a Valentine & Sons postcard circa 1900. On the left is a wagon, filled with bulging sacks, parked by the lamppost in front of Pomroy & Gambell at 7 and 9 Mott Street. Apparently mattresses were placed outside for display, delivery or pick-up.

The Trow Copartnership and Corporation Directory of the Boroughs of Manhattan and Bronx, March 1900, named the partners of Soy Kee Company. 

Soy Kee Co. (not inc.) (Wong Sam, Wong Soy, Chu Gow, Gee Kee, Soy Kee, Wong Wing, Chin Yip, Chu Yong, Wong King) 16 Doyers

The 1900 United States Census was enumerated beginning on June 1. The residents of 16 Doyers Street are below.

7–9 Mott Street was passed over in the census.

In an affidavit dated December 18, 1900, Chu Gow summarized his business experience: 1889 to 1893, merchant with King Tye Company, Victoria, British Columbia; 1893 to 1894, merchant with Lins Tye Company, New York City; 1894 to 1900, merchant with Soy Kee & Company, New York City. (The affidavit is from Chu Gow’s Chinese Exclusion Act case file at the National Archives branch in New York City.)

The Trow Copartnership and Corporation Directory of the Boroughs of Manhattan and Bronx, March 1901, had these listings: 

Pomroy & Gambell Co. (R.T.N.) [Registered Trade Name] (J. Boyce Smith) 7 Mott

Soy Kee, Co. (R.T.N.) (Yong Kum Yung, Gee Kee, Chu Gow, Yee Mun, Yung Sum, Lee Dip, Mow Chun, Ah Yup & Gun Chee) 16 Doyers. 

Trow’s General Directory of the Boroughs of Manhattan and Bronx, City of New York, July 1, 1901, had these listings:

Soy Kee Co fcygds [fancy goods] 16 Doyers

Guie Yee Quen & Co. eatingh [eatinghouse] 36 Pell

Wing Wo Hing Co grocers 36 Pell

The New-York Tribune, March 22, 1901, said

Chinamen Say They Are Bankrupt.

Pell-St. Groceries Estimate Their Liabilities at $7,463.

Three Chinamen filed a petition in bankruptcy yesterday, which is the second petition of its kind since, the Bankrupt act went into force. They are Lee Yong Ling, Young Lum Que and Lee Ten Ying, who compose the firm of Wing Wo Hing Company, grocers at No. 36 Pell-st. Their liabilities are $7,463, and assets $2,913, consisting of stock, $1,000; accounts, $1,683, and wagon and fixtures, $230.

The outstanding accounts are for goods sold by them to various persons in this city, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Denver, New-Orleans, Bridgeport and Providence. There are forty-three creditors, five of whom are American firms and thirty-eight Chinese. They have been in business sixteen years.

The New York Times, May 15, 1901, published the bankruptcy notice of Wing Wo Hing Co., 36 Pell Street.

Possibly later in 1901, Soy Kee Company moved to 36 Pell Street. In the postcard below, Soy Kee & Company is on the left.

J. Koehler, circa 1902

The following photograph was printed in The Four-Track News, June 1903. The caption said “Jim White, in Front of Chinatown’s Leading Fancy Goods Store”. 

Library of Congress

Library of Congress, circa 1903; possibly an 

unused photograph for The Four-Track News

The Trow Copartnership and Corporation Directory of the Boroughs of Manhattan and Bronx, March 1902, named the partners of the company. 

Soy Kee, Co. (R.T.N.) (Wong Kam Yung, Gee Kee, Chu Gow, Yee Mun, Yung Sum, Lee Dip, Mow Chun, Ah Yup & Gun Chee) 36 Pell

The World To-Day, October 1902, published a photograph (below) of Mott Street with Pomroy & Gambell partly visible on the left. 

Trow’s General Directory of the Boroughs of Manhattan and Bronx City of New York 1903 listed Soy Kee Company at 36 Pell Street. 

The New York Times, January 30, 1903, published a list of fires around the city that included Soy Kee & Company.

In 1903, Raphael Tuck & Sons produced a postcard line called Oilette. There were several series of Oilette postcards including “Cosmopolitan New York”. There were at least five postcards that depicted Chinatown’s Mott and Pell Streets. A sixth postcard featured three Caucasian women and two Chinese male attendants in an opium den. The artist is unknown. 

Postmarked November 5, 1904

Postmarked March 2, 1906

A July 27, 1904 dated National Art Views postcard of Mott Street showed, on the left side, Wing Tong Fook & Co. at number 5, Pomroy & Gambell at numbers 7 and 9 (note lamppost), and Horn Hong Low & Co. at number 11. (Wing Tong Fook & Co. was in business as early as 1900, and Horn Hong Low & Co. around 1881.)

Same photograph used by the Rotograph Co.;

postmarked January 24, 1905

The New York Sun, July 2, 1904, reported the contributions from Chinatown.

Chinese Contributors.

Learned of Disaster Through Chinese Paper—Modest Over Their Liberality. 

The subscriptions acknowledged by Treasurer Jacob H. Schiff yesterday raises the total of the Slocum Relief Fund to $116,162.63. The day’s list of contributors includes those who made up the $750 which was taken by a committee of Chinamen to Mayor McClellan’s office on Wednesday. There are sixty-three names in the list, several of them being of Chinese organizations. All the money was collected in Chinatown. Ou Chung Lung, the aged purveyor of eccentric meats and groceries dear to the Chinese palate, of 10 Mott street, gave $10. He has been succeeded in business now by John Kee, a younger man, but his sympathies are as active as ever. The On Leong Tong Chinese Merchant Association gave $100. The Chinese Benevolent Association gave the same amount.

At the store of Wing Wo Chong, at 34 Pell street, a clerk said: “Yes, I jus’ get him this.”

He showed a receipt for $50 signed “Jacob H. Schiff, secretary Slocum Relief Committee.” Kwong Tai Chong, who keeps a tea store next door, sent $10, and Soy Kee at the corner of Mott and Pell streets, on the other side, gave $20. The Lun Gee Tong Chinese Grand Lodge of Masons, at 6 Mott street, contributed $50. 

All of the contributors were extremely reticent about their good deeds.

“This all ri,” they would say, gazing at the list of contributors. “Why you want know mo’ for? Ev’ store give someteen’.”

“How did you learn about the disaster?” they were asked.

We know Chinese paper, Refo’m News. Know anyhow. Yes, you fine Tuck High topside stair. My boss no here. Bimeby come back. No here now. You wanta spik Eng’, coma tomollow morn’. Yes, Slocum telluble. Too bad.”

The American Cabinet Maker and Upholsterer, July 9, 1904, said 

The Pomroy & Gambell Co., Bedding & Curled Hair, 7–9 Mott street, gave up business July 1.

Trow’s General Directory of the Boroughs of Manhattan and Bronx, City of New York, July 1, 1904 listed Soy Kee Company at 36 Pell Street. 

In 1904 the Soy Kee & Co. partners searched for a new location. It was Chu Gow who signed the lease according to the Record and Guide, June 18, 1904. 

Leases
Borough of Manhattan
Mott st, Nos 7 and 9 all. J Boyce Smith to Chu Gow; 10 years, from Oct 15, 1904. June 13, 1904. 1:161 ..... 5,500 and 6,000

Soy Kee & Company and Port Arthur Restaurant may have opened in mid-October 1904. From 1882 to July 1904, there was no evidence of them at 7 and 9 Mott Street.

In Becoming Chinese American: A History of Communities and Institutions (2004), Him Mark Lai said 

... Many Hua Xian villagers had to leave San Francisco to find better economic opportunities. Some moved east of the Rockies and to the Pacific Northwest. For example, shortly after the Port Arthur Cafe opened in San Francisco, Hua Xian people also started the Port Arthur Restaurant in New York. 

At this time, the earliest newspaper mention of Port Arthur Restaurant was in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, March 20, 1905, “Chinese Baby in Flatbush; Yin Lee Gives Feasts”.

The Record and Guide, April 8, 1905, reported a Mechanics’ Lien. There was construction at the location. 

April 7.

20—Mott st, Nos 7 and 9. John Regan agt J Boyce Smith, Chu Gow & Soy Kee Co, John A Hamilton ..... 781.00

Chu Gow was pictured on the menu and postcard.

circa 1905

Same image on page 14 of Manhattan’s Chinatown, circa 1905

The 1905 New York state census began on June 1. Evidently the enumerator believed 7–9 Mott Street was entirely commercial so no one was counted.

The Sketch, August 2, 1905, published a photograph of Soy Kee & Company and Port Arthur Restaurant in the background. The Imperial Restaurant is on the left.

Chu Gow took a turn at acting according to the New York Sun, December 4, 1905.

Trow’s General Directory for 1905 and 1906 listed Soy Kee at its old address 36 Pell Street. 

The New York Sun and The New York Times, March 10, 1906, covered the activities of Prince Tsai Tse. 

The Sun:

Prince Tsai Tse, cousin of the Celestial Emperor, his two fellow High Commissioners, his secretary and Sir Chanting Liang Cheng, the Chinese Minister, descended on Chinatown last night chaperoned by Detective Sergeants Funston and Fogarty of the Central Office.

Joseph Singleton, president of the Chinese Reform Association, met the party at the entrance of the Port Arthur restaurant and escorted the exalted one up stairs to the association’s meeting room, where some fifty or sixty members had been prostrating themselves ever since they heard the carriages draw up at the door. ...

The Times:

... There was a policeman on every corner and in nearly every second doorway, lest the On Leongs and the Hip Sings should make trouble. There was much kow-towing as the Prince stepped from his carriage. He acknowledged it slightly and mounted to the restaurant. Here the host, Chu Gow, had a private dining room of teak wood and pearl inlaid furniture decorated with Oriental splendor for the reception of the Prince. ...

Chu Gow was mentioned in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, March 14, 1906. 

Borough President Bird S. Coler was the guest of honor at the dinner of the Thirteen Club, held last night in the Port Arthur Chinese restaurant, 7–9 Mott street, Manhattan. He was the only one of the 345 diners, except Chief Ruler John P. Scrymser, who wore evening dress. The rest came there in any old thing. The dinner was intended to show the defiance of superstition held by the Thirteeners against the mystery of Chinese dishes, and they took in the whole thirteen courses without a murmur. How they feel to-day is another matter. Chu Gow, the president of the restaurant company, did his best for them. ...

The New York Times  and the New York World, March 29, 1906, reported the celebration at Port Arthur Restaurant. 

The New York Times excerpt

New York World

Port Arthur Restaurant was mentioned in the magazine Secret Service.

#433, May 10, 1907

... “There’s a Chink standing in the doorway of the Port Arthur restaurant who has been sizing me up right along.”

#438, August 23, 1907

... The account stated that the man had been taken suddenly ill in the famous Port Arthur restaurant on Pell street while eating supper three days before. ...

... The great sign of the Port Arthur restaurant attracted the attention of Sing Bird.

#457, October 25, 1907

Harry and Alice went out to breakfast at the Port Arthur restaurant, and were served “a la Chinoise,” which, if you please, is after the style of the Chinks in French.

Trow’s General Directory of the Boroughs of Manhattan and Bronx City of New York, July 1, 1907 listed Soy Kee Company at 7 Mott Street. 

In October 1907, Chu Gow moved his family to China. (See sidebar)

Trow’s General Directory of the Boroughs of Manhattan and Bronx, City of New York, July 1, 1908 listed Soy Kee Company at 7 Mott Street. 

The Port Arthur Restaurant advertised in newspapers. 

New York Evening Telegram, August 14, 1908

The New York Herald, September 24, 1908, covered the dinner, hosted by the Soy Kee Company, for Mr. Li Sum Ling. 

... Mr. Li was welcomed by Mr. Wong Kam Yung, the principal partner in the Soy Kee Company, who introduced the other partners, Mr. Gee Kee, Mr. Chu Gow, Mr. Yee Mun, Mr. Yung Sum, Mr. Lee Dip, Mr. Mow Chun, Mr. Ah Yup and Mr. Gun Chee. Also among the guests were Mr. Chu Gain, manager of the restaurant, and Mr. Young Nam. ...

Menu

Leslie’s Illustrated Weekly, December 3, 1908, published a photograph of Port Arthur Restaurant and Soy Kee & Company draped in mourning the death of the Emperor Kwang-su. 

Photographs of manager Chu Gain and Port Arthur Restaurant appeared in Leslie’s Weekly, April 15, 1909.

Two months later, Chu Gain was embroiled in the Elsie Sigel murder case. The murderer, Leon Ling, was a fugitive and never apprehended.

New-York Tribune, June 23, 1909

Cosmopolitan, September 1909

At the Library of Congress is a photograph labeled “Mission house where Elsie Sigel was murdered”. On the left, two letters of the Port Arthur Restaurant sign are visible: a sliver of the “T” crossbar and all of the ”R”. 

On June 27, 1910, the Daily Gate City (Keokuk, Iowa) and the Washington Herald (DC) reported the assassination attempt on Chu Gain. 

Daily Gate City, page 3

Chinese Have Big Bombardment

New York, June 27.—Warfare between the Four Brothers and the On Leong Tongs, rival Chinese organizations, broke out again in Chinatown. Eight or ten Chinese bombarded each other from both sides of Pell street, and Sing Gen, a noncombatant, was caught between the fire of the gun men of the On Leong Tong and the Four Brothers and was shot through the head. He will die. Gin Ching of the Four Brothers was shot in the abdomen and probably fatally wounded, while Chu Fu, also of the Four Brothers, got a bullet through him. His wound is not serious.

The fight so far as the police could learn, was started by the On Leong Tong men. Tom Lee’s fraternity of gamblers had been waiting with the Four Brothers for the killing of Chung Fook, April 10. They could hardly have picked a better time. The Four Brothers were in Chinatown from all over Greater New York to attend a banquet at the Chinese Delmonicos. Old Sam Lock, leader of the Four Brothers, had not shown himself in the street, but Chu Moy Yen and other big men of the society had gone through Pell street, and dozens of the Four Brothers were heading slowly for the restaurant. Chu Gain, the guest of honor, was the man the On Leon [sic] Tong men were waiting for.

The minute Chu Gain was sighted the trouble began. He escaped. At least fifty shots were fired in two or three minutes. The police arrested Chu Pan, the latter a Four Brothers man and the others On Leong Tongs. Three others were held as witnesses.

Washington Herald, page 1

Renew Tong Feud.

Three Chinese Are Shot in Battle in Pell Street.

New York, June 26.—The big triangular flag of the Four Brothers was whipping from the roof of the Chinese Delmonico’s at 24 Pell street to-day. The Four Brothers Society was having its annual dinner in honor of the ancient four who founded the clan and of Chu Gain, a Four Brothers man who was honorably acquitted recently of the charge of murder.

Suddenly there were several shots fired in quick succession. When the smoke cleared away a Chinaman was found lying on the sidewalk. It was Sing Jen, a peaceable man, who was shot in the abdomen by the gunmen of On Leong Tong. A few feet away from Sing Jen lay Chu Fon of the Four Brothers, shot in the head. Chu Pan, also of the same organization sat with his back to the wall of the tenement and received a bullet in his thigh.

The battle ended as suddenly as it began.

In the Hudson Street Hospital, Chu Fon died, Sing Jen was said to be dying, and Chu Pan was held a prisoner.

Eight Chinese were locked up.

The New York Evening Telegram, April 6, 1911, reported Chu Gain’s return to China.

Suitor of Elsie Sigel Goes to China to Wed

Chu Gain, one of the proprietors of the Port Arthur Restaurant, in the Chinese quarter, has made arrangements to return to China. He is taking with him a sum of money considered a fortune in his native land, as well as jewelry and American dresses, hats and shoes. He is to wed a Chinese girl, it is said. He was an unsuccessful suitor for the hand of Elsie Sigel, for whose murder another Chinese is sought.

Port Arthur Restaurant advertised in the Chinese Students’ Monthly, June 1909. 

A visit to Soy Kee & Company, Port Arthur Restaurant and Chinese Reform News was described in Men’s Wear, July 7, 1909. 

Soy Kee & Company had illustrated and photographic postcards. 

 

Postmarked August 22, 1909

 

The 1910 United States Census was enumerated in April. The residents of 7 and 9 Mott Street are below.

The Trow Copartnership and Corporation Directory of the Boroughs of Manhattan the Bronx, City of New York, March 1910, named the partners.

Soy Kee Co. (R.T.N.) (Wong Kam Yung, Gee Kee, Chu Gow, Yee Mun, Yung Sum, Wong Wye, Tong Yue, Ah Yup & Gun Chee) 7 Mott

The New York Herald, July 16, 1910, covered the Chinese Public School commencement at Port Arthur Restaurant.

Soy Kee & Company advertised in many publications.

New York Sun, November 25, 1908

New York Herald, December 6, 1909

Brooklyn Daily Eagle, December 10, 1911

The New York Times, November 23, 1913.

Chinese Students’ Monthly, 1914

Vogue, May 1, 1915

Asia, September, October and November 1920

The Trow Copartnership and Corporation Directory of the Boroughs of Manhattan the Bronx, City of New York, March 1911, named the partners.

Soy Kee, Co. (R.T.N.) (Ho Chu, Chu Sam, Chan You Saw, Chee Kee, Chu Gain, Lee Yee, Chan Yip, Wong Too & Tang Yue, only) 7 Mott.

The 1912 Annual Report of the State Commissioner of Excise of the State of New York had this entry. 

Certificate Holder: Minor, Herbert D

Location: New York 7–9 Mott st.

Subdivision: 1

The Trow’s General Directory of the Boroughs of Manhattan and Bronx, City of New York, August 1, 1912, entries:

Port Arthur Chinese Restaurant 9 Mott and Soy Kee Co imprs 7 Mott

The Trow Business Directory of the Boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx, New York City, 1913, entries:

Port Arthur, 7 & 9 Mott St, near Worth St, leading Chinese cafe and Soy Kee Co, 7 Mott

A vaudeville production titled “The Ragtime Laundry” introduced the Chop Suey Cabaret. A character named Soy Kee was portrayed by William E. Bence “the World’s Greatest Chinese Impersonator.” The production toured several cities. 

Perth Amboy Evening News (New Jersey)

February 26, 1913

The Port Arthur Restaurant may have been filmed according to Moving Picture World, March 29, 1913. 

New York’s Society Life and Underworld. (3 parts).—At college, Harold Blake had always been a wild sort of a fellow and, when he arrived at home, one of the party of his gay companions suggested that they “take in” Chinatown. Acting upon the sugestion [sic] they wended their way to the famous Chatham Club, where they met “Chuck” Conners, known as the “mayor” of Chinatown, who took charge of the boys and visited every nook and corner of that famous place. Just as the party was about to enter the Port Arthur restaurant Harold “heard a woman crying for help. Upon arriving at the place where the sound came from he saw a villainous looking man beating a woman. Harold “felled the brute and to his surprise the woman dealt him a stunning blow on the face. ...

The Edison Monthly, July 1913, published photographs of Port Arthur Restaurant, Soy Kee & Company, and Mott Street. 

Port Arthur Restaurant and the Chinese Tuxedo advertised in the New York Evening Telegram, November 25, 1913. 

The 1915 New York state census began on June 1. The residents of 7 and 9 Mott Street are below.

The 1915 New York, New York city directory listed two individuals, Chu Ho and Chu Sam, who were associated with the Soy Kee Company. 

Rider’s New York City and Vicinity, Including Newark, Yorkers and Jersey City; A Guide-Book for Travelers (1916) included Soy Kee Company and Port Arthur Restaurant. 

Soy Kee & Company was listed in R.L. Polk & Co.’s Trow General Directory of New York City, Manhattan and the Bronx 1916 on pages 1587, 2134 and 2135. On page 2280 was Port Arthur Chinese Restaurant. 

The New York Dramatic Mirror, July 1, 1916, said Yan Phou Lee, author of When I Was a Boy in China, welcomed guests at a dinner in Port Arthur Restaurant. 

Chinese Dine Ralph Ince

Members of the Chinese Nationalist of America recently gave a dinner to Ralph W. Ince, Vitagraph director, Lucille Lee Stewart and Huntly Gordon, also of that company. The affair took place in a restaurant known as “the Port Arthur,” at 9 Mott street, in a private banqueting room, decorated with Oriental hangings.

The league includes most of the prominent Chinamen in the United States on its membership roll. Among those present was Mr. S. Ma. formerly private secretary to President Sun Yat Yen [sic] of the first republic. The feast was presided over by Yon Phue Lee [sic], who made a brief address of welcome to the guests. War correspondent McCormick spoke on conditions in China as they are today, and Louis J. Bock [sic], author of “New York’s Chinatown,” described the family life of the Chinese in this country and Canada.

The 1917 Trow’s New York City Directory Boroughs of Manhattan and Bronx had these listings.

Port Arthur Chinese Restaurant (RTN) (Ho Chu, Sam Chu) 9 Mott 

Soy Kee (Soy Kee & Co) h 17 Mott

Soy Kee & Co (Soy Kee) fcy gds 7 Mott 

Importers—Chinese Goods

Soy Kee & Co 7–9 Mott Tel Worth 233 

Restaurants

Port Arthur Restaurant Co 9 Mott 

Soy Kee & Company was mentioned in Shiu Wong Chan’s The Chinese Cook Book (1917).

Who’s Who of the Chinese in New York listed Soy Kee Company and profiled Chu Ho’s son, Jack Ho. 

Mr. Jack Ho was born at Canton in 1899. His father, Mr. Ho Chu, had resided in the United States prior to his birth, having gone there when 13 years of age and worked up from a grocery store clerk to part owner and manager of Soy Kee and Company in Mott Street, New York, one of the oldest and most important Chinese concerns in America, The elder Ho on returning to China put into practice the American chain store idea, becoming manager of fourteen retail establishments. Mr. Ho received his early education in Canton, going to the United States at the age of 14. Eventually, he attended and graduated from New York University. Though urged to return to China, young Mr. Ho wished to try his fortunes in the United States and found his opportunity in the purchase of Vantine’s Oriental store in New York. Under Mr. Ho’s management, Vantine’s has been moved to 39th Street, a few steps, from Fifth Avenue, in the neighborhood of such renowned stores as Tiffany’s and Altman’s. Vantine’s today enjoys a wide reputation for the quality and exclusiveness of its lines of Chinese, Japanese, Philippine, Japanese and Indian goods.

Who’s Who said Port Arthur Restaurant was at 7 Watt [sic] Street.

Crockery & Glass Journal, December 18, 1919, mentioned Soy Kee & Company. 

The 1920 United States Census was enumerated in January. The enumerator counted tenants at numbers 5 and 11 Mott Street; 7 and 9 Mott Street was passed over. 

Port Arthur Restaurant was included in the U.S. Navy Ports of the World: New York City (1920); Visiting New York City: Buyers Manual (1921) and The New “Red Book” Information and Guide to New York, Manhattan and the Bronx (1923). 

The New York Tribune, April 7, 1921, and The New York Times, April 9, 1921, reported the sale of 7 and 9 Mott Street.

In 1923 Soy Kee & Company had a showroom at 1263 Broadway. By 1925, Soy Kee & Company relocated to 87–89 Fifth Avenue. The next three tenants at 7–9 Mott Street would be Eastern Importing Company (late 1920s or early 1930s) followed by Chinatown Emporium (late 1930s) and Chinatown Fair (1944). Around 1928, chef Henry Low, author of Cook at Home in Chinese, began his ten-year stint at Port Arthur Restaurant. 

Further Reading and Viewing

Inspector Collector, The Ineffable Bruce Ho: Restaurateur

American Heritage, April 1999, Chinatown

American Heritage, December 1987, Let’s Eat Chinese Tonight

Soho Press, This Is Chinatown, Port Arthur Restaurant and Chinatown Fair photograph

The Restaurants of New York (1925)

The Chinese Students’ Monthly, November 1920 – June 1921, advertisements

New York City Guide (1939)

Arthur Schwartz’s New York City Food (2008)

The Chinatown Trunk Mystery (2020)

Pic, September 6, 1938, The “Pic” Album of Notorious American Murders 

Find a Grave, Elsie Sigel

Street Scenes: Staging the Self in Immigrant New York, 1880–1924 (2008)

The Honourable Gentleman and Others (1919), Mott Street on the dust jack

Leslie’s Weekly, March 23, 1899, In the Light of the Moon (short story mentioned 16 Doyers Street)

Fabulous New York 1930s in Color, video, 0:27–1:37—Chinatown, Port Arthur Restaurant (1:05)

Manhattan, New York, 1967, video, 6:20–7:23—Chinatown, Port Arthur Restaurant (6:45)

Related Posts

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Dining at 14 Mott Street in New York Chinatown, Part 3: 1905–1915

Dining with Cartoonist Paul Fung

Eight Immortal Flavors

Henry Low’s “Cook at Home in Chinese”

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Jake Lee’s Paintings at Kan’s Restaurant

Jim Lee, Artist, Teacher and Chef

Lee Ti, Waiter and Artist

Loui Ghuey, Restauranteur, Photographer, Merchant and Sign Painter

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Ngoot Lee, Artist, Cook and Charter Member of the Group of the Oblong Table

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Tyrus Wong’s Cookbook Illustrations

Who Created the “How to Use Chopsticks” Illustrations?

Woey Sin Low, New York City

SIDEBAR: Chu Gow and Family

Chu Gow was born in 1869 in China. From Canada, he arrived in New York City in 1893. Chu Gow was a merchant. His Chinese Exclusion Act case file had three addresses for him: 16 Doyers Street; 5–7 Mott Street; and 7–9 Mott Street. 

In 1900, Chu Gow prepared for travel to China to marry and bring with his wife to New York. Two affidavits, dated December 18, 1900, from four Caucasian businessmen, identified Chu Gow as a member of Soy Kee & Company at 16 Doyers Street in New York City.

An affidavit signed by the U.S. Consul in Canton, China said

On the twelfth day of July, 1901, before me, the undersigned, personally appeared Chung See, who being duly sworn deposes and says, that she is the wife of Chu Gow, a naturalized British subject, and a merchant and member of the firm Soy Kee & Coy doing business as importer and dealer in general Chinese merchandise at No. 16 Doyer [sic] Street (now removed to Pearl Street), that she was married to the said Chu Gow, in Canton, on the 10th day of the 2nd moon, 27th year Kwan Sii [March 29, 1901], and that she was born in Canton, China, and is now 18 years of age (her photograph hereto attached), and that she intends going together with her husband, the said Chu Gow, to New York, for the purpose of living with him there. In witness whereof, I have herewith hereto set my hand and affixed the deal of this Consulate.

On September 24, 1901, Chu Gow and his wife entered the United States at Malone, New York. The affidavit reads as follows:

Malone. Sep. 24. 1901.

To whom it may concern:

Personally appeared before me at the time and place aforementioned, Chu Gow and being duly sworn did depose and testify as follows: viz

My name is Chu Gow. My occupation and business is that of a merchant and I am now, and have been for over six years last past, a member of the firm of Soy Kee Co, doing business at #36 Pell Street presently #16 Doyer [sic] St. in the City, County and State of New York.

I have seen the photograph, attached to the consular paper, answered[?] hereto and recognize the photograph to be that of Chung See my lawful and only wife, to whom I was married, as set forth in the consular paper heretofore mentioned.

Chung See is anxious to enter the United States and part[illegible] of my status as a merchant and in accordance with the opinions in J.D. 22056 she is entitled to enter the United States and I make this affidavit for the purpose of proving such right. 

Sworn to before me this 24th day of Sept 1901. 

His first son was Chu Gum Fie, born on May 14, 1902, at 36–38 Mott Street. 

The birth certificate said his mother was Young Chu. They appeared in the New-York Daily Tribune, November 1, 1903. 

Mrs. Chu Gow and Chu Gow Fice [sic], Her Son.

Chu Gow’s second son was Chu Mon Fie, born on October 3, 1904 at 36 Mott Street. 

Son number three was Arthur Chu John Fie, born on November 3, 1906 at 7–9 Mott Street. The celebration of his birth was reported in the New York Herald, January 5, 1907.

In 1907, Chu Gow made preparations to take his family to China. He submitted an affidavit, obtained passports for his sons, and was interviewed.  

The Yokohama newspaper, The Japan Weekly Mail, November 16, 1907, named the steamship Empress of China passengers, including Chu Gow and family, who arrived from Vancouver. 

In 1909, each son was registered at the Consul General’s office. 

In June 1919, Chu Gum Fie and Chu Mon Fie prepared to return to the United States. In a letter dated August 13, 1919, Chu Ho notified the Chinese Bureau of the Department of Labor. The two brothers departed Hong Kong on August 10 and arrived in Seattle on September 10. They were interviewed the following day. Chu Mon Fie said his father passed away “the 23rd day, 4th month in the year 1914, dying in Canton City, China”. Later in 1925, Chu Gum Fie said his father passed away “in Canton, China, on or about Mar. 23, 1913.” 

Lines 6 and 7

Lines 6 and 7

In 1920, Arthur prepared to travel and applied for a passport. 

On April 20, 1922, Arthur departed Hong Kong and arrived at Vancouver on May 8. 

He traveled by train to Halifax, Nova Scotia where he departed on May 22, 1922 (see line 11). He arrived at the port of New York two days later. 

In June 1924, Chu Mon Fie aka Lawrence M.F. Chu prepared to travel to Canton, China. 

There is no record of his return to the U.S. 

In October 1925, Chu Gum Fie aka George Chu prepared to travel to China. 

There is no record of his return to the U.S. 

In 1929, Arthur Chu returned to China for almost four years. According to a passenger list, his passport was issued on June 26, 1929. In the interview, Arthur said he married Jong Nor Wing aka Ruby One in New York on December 24, 1926. A record of their marriage has not been found. 

On May 7, 1933, Arthur departed Shanghai and arrived in Seattle on May 22. 

In 1935, Arthur made preparations to sail from Los Angeles, California to China. 

There are no records of his departure to China or return to the U.S. The California Death Index, at Ancestry.com, has an Arthur Chu who passed away in Los Angeles on October 20, 1936. 

Information about the other brothers’ passings has not been found. Chu Gow’s granddaughter, Cao Meien 曹美恩, is mentioned on the New York City Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association website. 

SIDEBAR: Soy Kee & Company and Port Arthur Restaurant Employees, Relatives and Others

Soy Kee & Company employees were mentioned in the “Letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, Transmitting, in Response to Resolution of the Senate of May 17, 1897, Copies of Certain Papers Relative to the Alleged Illegal Entry into the United States of Chinese Persons”. 

... papers not received at this office until September 26, about which Mr. Porter says that there was a certificate on the papers by the collector at New York marked “O.K.” Wong Chu Kee, of Soy Kee & Co., 16 Doyer street, New York, September 8, 1896. This paper was rejected by this office August 22, 1896. ... 

Wong Chu Kee, No. 147, of the firm of Soy Kee & Co., 16 Doyer street, New York, interest $2,000; has a large scar on the head near left ear, a small scar on right eyelid; rejected by collector at Plattsburg, August 22, 1896. (This appears to have been admitted by the record September 8, 1896.) No evidence of former residence and admitted by Porter. ... 

... Wong Kam, which is viséed by Thomas J. Dunn, deputy collector at the New York custom-house, on the 22d of January, 1896. The paper has also attached to it an affidavit of Chee Gow, the alleged manager of the firm Soy Kee & Co., as aforesaid, also with the visé of the New York custom-house indorsed on the back of it. With these papers Wong Chee Kee made application for admission at Malone, N. Y., but upon being referred to the collector, Deputy Collector John Martin ordered that it be rejected, notwithstanding it contained the visés of the New York custom-house, because it nowhere arrears that Wong Chee Kee was a merchant residing in New York, etc. ... 

Evening Star (Washington DC), June 29, 1909

... Yung Dat, whose Americanized name is Arthur Yung, a member of the same family.

Yung Dat is a close friend and partner of Leon, and also a friend of Chu Gain. He worked in the Port Arthur restaurant, run by Chu Gain, until about five months ago, when he opened a laundry in Brooklyn.

The following people were found through their Chinese Exclusion Act case files at Ancestry.com.

Yin Ting Chan [Quan Chan] [Yin Ting 陳]

Gender: Male

Age: 37

Birth Date: 4 Feb 1887

Birth Place: China

Residence Address: 7-9 Mott St

Residence Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date: 1917

Arrival Place: Seattle, Washington

Arrival Date 1: 7 Dec 1929

Arrival Place 1: Seattle, Washington

Place of Origin: Hor Tong Village, Sun Woey Dis

Occupation: Merchant

Occupation 2: Salesman & Bookkeeper

Sponsor: Soy Kee & Co, NYC

Picture: 1

Document Date: 1917-1929

Case Description: R

Case Number(s): 12, 888

You San Chan [Quock Jin Chan] [You San 陳]

Gender: Male

Age: 32

Birth Date: 1880

Birth Place: China

Residence Address: 7-9 Mott St

Residence Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date: 1899

Arrival Place: San Francisco, California

Arrival Date 1: 1919

Arrival Place 1: Seattle, Washington

Place of Origin: Hor Tong Village, Sun Wui

Occupation: Merchant

Sponsor: Soy Kee

Picture: 1

Document Date: 1919-1919

Case Description: R

Case Number(s): 34, 44

Box: 228

Fong Chin [Fong 陳]

Gender: Male

Age: 22

Birth Date: 1903

Birth Place: China

Residence Address: 7-9 Mott St.

Residence Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date: 1921

Arrival Place: Seattle, Washington

Arrival Date 1: 1931

Arrival Place 1: San Francisco, California

Place of Origin: Canton City, Canton

Occupation: Son of Merchant

Comments: Father Chin Kui Chee

Sponsor: Soy Kee Co.

Picture: 1

Document Date: 1920-1951

Case Description: R

Case Number(s): 61, 661

Box: 305

Yip Chin [Guy Gee Chin] [Yip 陳]

Gender: Male

Age: 40

Birth Date: 1872

Birth Place: China

Residence Address: 9 Mott St

Residence Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date: 1894

Arrival Place: Portland, Oregon

Place of Origin: Di Leung Village, Pung Gooey

Occupation: Son of a Merchant

Occupation 2: Merchant

Occupation 3: Restaurant Manager

Sponsor: Port Arthur Restaurant, NYC

Picture: 1

Document Date: 1906-1927

Case Description: R

Case Number(s): 12, 663

Box: 59

Sam Chu [Hen Hou Chu] [Sam 曹]

Gender: Male

Age: 26

Birth Date: 1881

Residence Address: 7-9 Mott St.

Residence Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date: 1904

Arrival Date 1: 1920

Arrival Place 1: Seattle, Washington

Occupation: Merchant

Sponsor: Soy Kee Co.

Picture: 1

Document Date: 1907-1920

Case Description: R

Case Number(s): 34, 586

Box: 238

Loy Chun [Tung Kay Chun] [Loy 陳]

Gender: Male

Age: 48

Birth Date: 1878

Birth Place: San Francisco, California

Residence Address: 7-9 Mott St

Residence Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date: 1914

Arrival Place: San Francisco, California

Arrival Date 1: 1927

Arrival Place 1: San Francisco, California

Place of Origin: Kaw Tow, Nam Hoi

Occupation: Laborer

Sponsor: Soy Kee Co

Picture: 1

Document Date: 1926-1927

Case Description: R

Case Number(s): 105, 799

Box: 350

Yue Dong [Bok Yin Dong] [Quock Hing Dong] [Yue 鄧]

Gender: Male

Age: 27

Birth Date: 1883

Residence Address: 7-9 Mott St.

Residence Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date: 1895

Arrival Place: New York, New York

Place of Origin: Seuk Kee Village, Pun Yu

Occupation: Merchant

Sponsor: Soy Kee Co.

Picture: 1

Document Date: 1910-1916

Case Description; R

Case Number(s): 30, 105

Box: 210

Chong Gee [Hong Hing Gee] [Chong 朱]

Gender: Male

Age: 43

Birth Date: 11 Oct 1885

Birth Place: San Francisco, California

Residence Address: 7-9 Mott St

Residence Place: New York, New York

Place of Origin: Nam Hoi

Occupation: Laundryman

Occupation 2: President

Sponsor: Port Arthur Restaurant Corp

Picture: 1

Document Date: 1922-1933

Case Description: R

Case Number(s): 6, 1013

Box: 25

But Cheung Haw

Gender: Male

Birth Place: China

Residence Address: 7-9 Mott St

Residence Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date: 6 Mar 1917

Arrival Place: Seattle, Washington

Occupation: Merchant

Sponsor: Soy Kee & Co

Picture: 1

Document Date: 1917-1922

Case Description: R

Case Number(s): 6, 877

Box: 21

Chan Ho [Ho Charles] [Chan 何]

Gender: Male

Age: 23

Birth Date: 1907

Birth Place: China

Residence Address: 7 Mott St.

Residence Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date: 1921

Arrival Place: Seattle, Washington

Arrival Date 1: 1930

Arrival Place 1: Seattle, Washington

Occupation: Laborer

Occupation 2: Son of Merchant

Sponsor: Soy Kee Co.

Picture: 1

Document Date: 1930-1930

Case Description: R

Case Number(s): 134, 138

Box: 414

Chu Ho [Won Sung Ho] [Dong See Ho] [Chu 何]

Gender: Male

Age: 52

Birth Date: 1865

Birth Place: China

Residence Address: 7-9 Mott St

Residence Place: New York, New York

Additional Residence Address: 87-89 5th Ave

Additional Residence Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date: 1878

Arrival Place: San Francisco, California

Arrival Date 1: 26 Oct 1926

Arrival Place 1: Seattle, Washington

Place of Origin: Leung Kai Village, Nam Hoy Dis

Occupation: Merchant

Occupation 2: Manager

Comments: In File- Interrogation Papers on First Entrance of Alleged Son, Ho Chan, 1921.

Sponsor: Soy Kee & Co, NYC

Picture: 1

Document Date: 1916-1926

Case Description: R

Case Number(s): 12, 816

Box: 64

Edith Ho

Gender: Female

Age: 1

Birth Date: 1927

Birth Place: Bayshore, LI, New York

Residence Address: 7 Mott St

Residence Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date: 1928

Arrival Place: San Francisco, California

Place of Origin: Leung Kai, Nam Hoi

Comments: Father of Ho Jack deceased 1929 China

Picture: 1

Document Date: 1928-1928

Case Description: X

Case Number(s): 125, 340

Box: 370

Jack Ho [Mun Cheung Ho] [Jack 何]

Gender: Male

Age: 32

Birth Date: 1897

Birth Place: China

Residence Address: 7-9 Mott St.

Residence Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date: 1913

Arrival Place: Seattle, Washington

Arrival Date 1: 1930

Arrival Place 1: Seattle, Washington

Occupation: Son of Merchant

Occupation 2: Merchant

Sponsor: Soy Kee & Co.

Picture: 1

Document Date: 1929-1932

Case Description: R

Case Number(s): 134, 73

Box: 413

Jack Ho [Mun Cheung Ho] [Jack 何]

Gender: Male

Age: 33

Birth Date: 1897

Birth Place: China

Residence Address: 7 Mott St.

Residence Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date: 1913

Arrival Place: Seattle, Washington

Arrival Date 1: 1932

Arrival Place 1: Seattle, Washington

Place of Origin: Leung Kai, Nam Hoi

Occupation: Laborer

Occupation 2: Son of Merchant

Sponsor: Soy Kee Co.

Picture: 1

Document Date: 1930-1932

Case Description: R

Case Number(s): 134, 143

Box: 414

Jack Ho [Chu Ho] [Wun Sung Ho]

Gender: Male

Birth Date: 1864

Birth Place: China

Residence Address: San Lung, 826 Dupont St

Residence Place: San Francisco, California

Additional Residence Address: 7-9 Mott St

Additional Residence Place: New York, New York

Additional Residence Address: 52 Montgomery Ave, Bayshore

Additional Residence Place: Long Island, New York

Arrival Date: Nov 1913

Arrival Place: Seattle, Washington

Place of Origin: Leung Kai Village, Nam Hoy Dis

Occupation; Minor Son of a Merchant

Occupation 2: Assistant Manager

Comments: Statement, 11/28/1916, Stated First Entered from San Francisco, 1878.

Sponsor: Soy Kee & Co

Picture: 1

Document Date: 1916-1929

Case Description: R

Case Number(s): 6, 875

Box: 21

Jack Won Ho [Yen Wai Ho] [Jack Won 何]

Gender: Male

Age: 26

Birth Date: 28 Dec 1896

Birth Place: China

Residence Address: 7 and 9 Mott St

Residence Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date: 22 Nov 1921

Arrival Place: San Francisco, California

Place of Origin: Sai Jock Village, Nam Hoi

Occupation: Son of a Native

Comments: Admitted, Riverside Hospital, North Brother Island, 1924, for Leprosy.

Sponsor: Son Kee & Co

Document Date: 1921-1924

Case Description: A

Case Number(s): 6, 670

Box: 16

Jew Ho [Fook Chong Ho] [Stephen Ho] [Jew 何]

Gender: Male

Birth Date: 1893

Birth Place: China

Residence Address: 87-89 5th Ave

Residence Place: New York, New York

Additional Residence Address: 7-9 Mott St

Additional Residence Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date: Sep 1913

Arrival Place: Seattle, Washington

Arrival Date 1: 1922

Arrival Place 1: Seattle, Washington

Place of Origin: Leung Kai Village,Nam Hoy Dis

Occupation: Minor Son of a Merchant

Occupation 2: Manager

Comments: In File- Certificate of Identity, 1913.

Sponsor: Soy Kee & Co, NY

Picture: 1

Document Date: 1916-1925

Case Description: R

Case Number(s): 6, 1790

Box: 39

John Ho [John 何]

Gender: Male

Birth Date: 1904

Birth Place: China

Residence Address: Ps 23

Residence Place: New York, New York

Additional Residence Address: Bordentown Military Acad.

Additional Residence Place: Bordentown, New Jersey

Additional Residence Address: 7 Mott St

Additional Residence Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date: Dec 1918

Arrival Place: San Francisco, California

Place of Origin: Canton

Occupation: Student

Picture: 1

Document Date: 1922-1922

Case Description: U

Case Number(s): 6, 1766

Box: 38

Ka Chiu Ho [Ho Lawrence] [Ka Chiu 何]

Gender: Male

Age: 22

Birth Date: 1908

Birth Place: China

Residence Address: 7 Mott St.

Residence Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date: 1923

Arrival Place: Seattle, Washington

Arrival Date 1: 1931

Arrival Place 1: Seattle, Washington

Place of Origin: Fat San, Canton

Occupation: Laborer

Sponsor: Soy Kee Co.

Picture: 1

Document Date: 1930-1931

Case Description: R

Case Number(s): 134, 139

Box: 414

Ting Ho

Gender: Male

Age: 62

Birth Date: 1864

Birth Place: China

Residence Address: 9 Mott St

Residence Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date: 1874

Arrival Place: San Francisco, California

Arrival Date 1: 1877

Arrival Place 1: San Francisco, California

Place of Origin: Tung Chee, Sunning

Occupation: Son of Merchant

Comments: Certificate of Identity #144861 to Replace #125084

Sponsor: Soy Kee

Document Date: 1925-1925

Case Description: R

Case Number(s): 105, 291

Box: 341

Gwong Hoong [Gwong 孔]

Gender: Male

Age: 46

Birth Date: 1883

Birth Place: China

Residence Address: 7-9 Mott St.

Residence Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date: 1917

Arrival Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date 1: 1917

Arrival Place 1: Seattle, Washington

Place of Origin: Wah Ping, Nam Hoi

Occupation: Merchant

Sponsor: Soy Kee & Co.

Picture: 1

Document Date: 1917-1930

Case Description: R

Case Number(s): 32, 3

Box: 216

Kue Hor [Lung Hor] [Gwong Long Hor] [Kue 何]

Gender: Male

Birth Date: 31 Mar 1877

Birth Place: China

Residence Address: 905 Grant Ave

Residence Place: San Francisco, California

Additional Residence Address: 7-9 Mott St

Additional Residence Place: New York, New York

Additional Residence Address: 145 Madison Ave, 3rd FL

Additional Residence Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date: 1903

Arrival Place: San Francisco, California

Place of Origin: Sai Jok Village, Nam Hoi

Occupation: Merchant

Occupation 2: Salesman

Sponsor: Soy Kee Co., NYC

Picture: 1

Document Date: 1923-1930

Case Description: R

Case Number(s): 12, 814

Box: 64

Chong Ho Kai [Calvin Ho] [Chong Ho 何]

Gender: Male

Age: 3

Birth Date: 1924

Birth Place: New York, New York

Residence Address: 7 Mott St

Residence Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date: 1938

Arrival Place: Seattle, Washington

Arrival Date 1: 1949

Arrival Place 1: New York, New York

Place of Origin: Leung Kai, Nam Hoi

Occupation: Native

Comments: Merchant Husband Ho Jack departed San Francisco 1928

Picture: 1

Document Date: 1928-1942

Case Description: R

Case Number(s): 125, 338

Box: 370

Hoy Ho Kai [Hoy Ho 何]

Gender: Male

Age: 2

Birth Date: 1926

Birth Place: Bayshore, LI, New York

Residence Address: 7 Mott St

Residence Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date: 1928

Arrival Place: San Francisco, California

Arrival Date 1: 1949

Arrival Place 1: New York, New York

Place of Origin: Leung Kai, Nam Hoi

Occupation: Native

Comments: Son of Ho Jack

Picture: 1

Document Date: 1928-1952

Case Description: R

Case Number(s): 125, 339

Box: 370

Yee Lee [Long Chee Lee] [Yee 李]

Gender: Male

Age: 27

Birth Date: 1886

Birth Place: China

Residence Address: 7-9 Mott St, Soy Kee & Co

Residence Place: New York, New York

Additional Residence Address: 113 E 14th St, Great China

Additional Residence Place: New York, New York

Additional Residence Address: Booth #6, 50 Church St

Additional Residence Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date: 10 Jan 1906

Arrival Place: Malone, New York

Arrival Date 1: 2 Oct 1929

Arrival Place 1: San Francisco, California

Place of Origin: Wah Ping, Nom Hoi

Occupation: Minor Son of a Merchant

Occupation 2: Salesman

Occupation 3: Restaurant Manager

Comments: In File- Photo of Alleged Father, Lee Jung.

Sponsor: Oriental Novelty Import Co, NYC

Picture: 1

Document Date: 1906-1929

Case Description: R

Case Number(s): 12, 1152

Box: 73

Yuen Leow [Wun Leow] [Hock Tin Leow] [Yuen 廖]

Gender: Male

Age: 35

Birth Date: 1874

Birth Place: China

Residence Address: 3-5 South 4th Ave

Residence Place: Mt Vernon, New York

Additional Residence Address: 7-9 Mott St.

Additional Residence Place: New York, New York

Additional Residence Address: 253 Fifth Ave

Additional Residence Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date: 1892

Arrival Place: San Francisco, California

Arrival Date 1: 1917

Arrival Place 1: New York

Occupation: Merchant

Sponsor: Soy Kee Co, Wah Tai Co, Great East

Picture: 1

Document Date: 1909-1928

Case Description: R

Case Number(s): 56, 666.10

Box: 272

Sing Low [Wah You Low] [Sing 劉]

Gender: Male

Age: 34

Birth Date: 1892

Birth Place: San Francisco, California

Residence Address: 7-9 Mott St

Residence Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date: 1921

Arrival Place: San Francisco, California

Arrival Date 1: 1925

Place of Origin: Check Hi, Check Hi

Occupation: Returning Citizen

Comments: Certificate of Identity #33196 San Francisco 1921

Sponsor: Soy Kee Co

Picture; 1

Document Date: 1921-1925

Case Description: R

Case Number(s): 61, 910

Box: 309

Yiu Lan Ng [Leung Ng] [Yiu Lan 吳/伍]

Gender: Male

Age: 39

Birth Date: 1886

Birth Place: China

Residence Address: 7-9 Mott St.

Residence Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date: 1914

Arrival Place: San Francisco, California

Arrival Date 1: 1927

Arrival Place 1: Seattle, Washington

Place of Origin: Lung Hing, Sunning

Occupation: Merchant

Comments: Certificate of Identity #16346 San Francisco #1914 Partnership List

Sponsor: Soy Kee Co.

Picture: 1

Document Date: 1919-1927

Case Description: R

Case Number(s): 105, 160

Box: 339

K. Long Poe

Gender: Male

Age: 23

Birth Date; 1899

Birth Place: Canton

Residence Address: 7-9 Mott St

Residence Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date: 1919

Arrival Place: San Francisco, California

Arrival Date 1: 1922

Occupation: Returning Student

Comments: No Date of Departure

Sponsor: Soy Kee & Co

Picture: 1

Document Date: 1919-1922

Case Description: R

Case Number(s): 6, 1194

Box: 580

Jarm Tang [Chang Tang] [Jarm 鄧]

Gender: Male

Birth Date: 1880

Birth Place: China

Residence Address: 7-9 Mott St

Residence Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date: 1906

Arrival Place: Malone, New York

Arrival Date 1: 1931

Arrival Place 1: New York, New York

Place of Origin: Seuk Hee Village, Pun Yee

Occupation: Merchant

Occupation 2: Salesman

Sponsor: Soy Kee & Co

Picture: 1

Document Date: 1906-1940

Case Description: A

Case Number(s): 6, 1386

Box: 30

Tsao Tang [Tsao 鄧]

Gender: Male

Birth Date: 1874

Birth Place: China

Residence Address: 7-9 Mott St

Residence Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date: 1906

Arrival Place: Malone, New York

Arrival Date 1: 1922

Arrival Place 1: New York, New York

Place of Origin: Sew Lome Mee Village, Nam Hoi

Occupation: Grocer

Sponsor: Soy Kee Co

Picture: 1

Document Date: 1906-1922

Case Description: A

Case Number(s): 6, 1387

Box: 30

Pak Oi Tung [Wah Hing Tung] [Pak Oi 董]

Gender: Male

Age: 34

Birth Date: 1890

Birth Place: China

Residence Address: 7-9 Mott St.

Residence Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date: 1920

Arrival Place: Seattle, Washington

Arrival Date 1: 1924

Place of Origin: Dai Jee Gong, Nam Hoi

Occupation: Merchant

Comments: Denied Reentry Application in 1926, Did not Leave

Sponsor: Soy Kee Co

Picture: 1

Document Date: 1924-1924

Case Description: R

Case Number(s): 56, 740

Box: 274

Chung Gett Wong [Sow San Wong] [Chung Gett 黃]

Gender: Male

Age: 17

Birth Date: 1890

Birth Place: China

Residence Address: 7-9 Mott St.

Residence Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date: 1907

Arrival Place: Malone, New York

Arrival Date 1: 1935

Arrival Place 1: Seattle, Washington

Place of Origin: Soy Seck, Pun Yu

Occupation: Merchant

Sponsor: Soy Kee & Co

Picture: 1

Document Date: 1907-1935

Case Description: R

Case Number(s): 34, 338

Box: 234

Gee Kee Wong [Yin Get Wong] [Gee Kee 黃]

Gender: Male

Age: 38

Birth Date: 1867

Birth Place: San Francisco, California

Residence Address: 7 & 9 Mott St

Residence Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date: 1896

Arrival Place: Malone, New York

Arrival Date 1: 1912

Occupation: Merchant

Comments: Partnership List of Soy Kee & Co in File

Sponsor: Soy Kee Co

Picture: 1

Document Date: 1905-1911

Case Description: R

Case Number(s): 95, 394

Box: 324

Quong Chan Wong [Waim Wong] [Wai Gai Wong] [Quong Chan 黃]

Gender: Male

Age: 32

Birth Date: 1887

Birth Place: China

Residence Address: 7-9 Mott St.

Residence Place: New York, New York

Additional Residence Address: Wilson Academy

Additional Residence Place: Nyack, New York

Arrival Date: 1906

Arrival Place: Vancouver, British Columbia

Place of Origin: Soy Sick Village, Pun Yu Dist.

Occupation: Merchant

Sponsor: Soy Kee Co.

Picture: 1

Document Date: 1919-1921

Case Description: D

Case Number(s): 33, 339

Box: 226

Quong Too Won [Quong Too 黃]

Gender: Male

Age: 27

Birth Place: China

Residence Address: 7-9 Mott St.

Residence Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date: 1906

Arrival Place: Malone, New York

Arrival Date 1: 1938

Arrival Place 1: Seattle, Washington

Place of Origin: Suey Sung, Pun Yee

Occupation: Son of Merchant

Occupation 2: Merchant

Comments: Partnership List Soy Kee & Co merchant Father Wong Kum Young

Sponsor: Soy Kee & Co.

Picture: 1

Document Date: 1913-1938

Case Description: R

Case Number(s): 125, 911

Box: 376

The following people were found through their World War I draft cards that required the name of their employer.

Soy Kee & Company

Bon Chan

Age: 21

Birth Date: 6 Mar 1897

Birth Place: Canton, China

Street Address: 7 Mott St.

Residence Place: Manhattan, New York

Employer: Soy Kee & Co

Draft Board: 094

Physical Build: Medium

Height: Medium

Hair Color: Black

Eye Color: Dark Brown

Relative: Chen Wing

Relative's Relationship: Friend

Signature: June 5, 1918

You San Chan

Race: Oriental

Age: 38

Birth Date: 11 Mar 1880

Birth Place: Canton, China

Street Address: 7 Mott St.

Residence Place: Manhattan, New York

Occupation: Salesman

Employer: Soy Kee & Co

Draft Board: 094

Physical Build: Medium

Height: Medium

Hair Color: Black

Eye Color: Brown

Relative: Ho Kai

Relative's Relationship: Friend

Signature: September 12, 1918

San Kan Chon

Race: Mongolian

Marital Status: Married

Age: 25

Birth Date: Feb 1892

Birth Place: San Francisco, California

Street Address: 7 Mott St.

Residence Place: Manhattan, New York

Occupation: Salesman

Employer: Soy Kee Co

Draft Board: 094

Physical Build: Slender

Height: Short

Hair Color: Black

Eye Color: Black

Signature: September 20, 1918

Sam Chu [Chu Gain’s brother]

Address: 7–9 Mott Street

Birth Date: June 19, 1881

Age: 37

Race: Oriental

Birthplace: China

Occupation: Clerk

Employer: Soy Kee Company

Draft Board: 094

Next of Kin: Young Gain

Height: Medium

Build: Stout

Eyes: Black

Hair: Black

Signature: September 12, 1918

Dan Dick

Race: Oriental

Age: 44

Birth Date: 30 Oct 1874

Birthplace: China

Street Address: 7–9 Mott St.

Residence Place: Manhattan, New York

Occupation: Salesman

Employer: Soy Kee Co

Draft Board: 094

Physical Build: Medium

Height: Medium

Hair Color: Black

Eye Color: Brown

Relative: Dan Jum Wali

Relative's Relationship: Cousin

Signature: September 12, 1918

Wong Get

Race: Mongolian

Marital Status: Married

Age: 27

Birth Date: 16 Sep 1889

Birth Place: Canton, China

Street Address: 7 Mott St.

Residence Place: Manhattan, New York

Occupation: Salesman

Employer: Soy Kee Co

Draft Board: 094

Physical Build: Medium

Height: Medium

Hair Color: Black

Eye Color: Black

Signature: June 5, 1917

Ho Jew

Race: Mongolian

Marital Status: Married

Age: 25

Birth Date: 25 Nov 1893

Birthplace: Canton, China

Street Address: 7–9 Mott St.

Residence Place: Manhattan, New York

Occupation: Salesman

Employer: Soy Kee Co

Draft Board: 094

Physical Build: Medium

Height: Medium

Hair Color: Black

Eye Color: Brown

Signature: May 27, 1918

Ho Kai

Race: Mongolian

Marital Status: Married

Age: 27

Birth Date: 28 Mar 1890

Birthplace: Canton, China

Street Address: 7–9 Mott St.

Residence Place: Manhattan, New York

Occupation: Importer

Employer: Soy Kee & Co

Draft Board: 094

Physical Build: Slender

Height: Tall

Hair Color: Black

Eye Color: Brown

Signature: June 5, 1917

Dong Hong Koi

Race: Oriental

Age: 40

Birth Date: 14 Mar 1878

Birth Place: China

Street Address: 7 Mott St.

Residence Place: Manhattan, New York

Occupation: Importer

Employer: Soy Kee & Co

Draft Board: 094

Physical Build: Slender

Height: Medium

Hair Color: Black

Eye Color: Brown

Relative: Dong Well

Relative's Relationship: Friend

Signature: September 12, 1918

Lee Shont

Age: 35

Birth Date: 16 Aug 1884

Birthplace: China

Street Address: 7–9 Mott St.

Residence Place: Manhattan, New York

Occupation: China Store

Employer: Soy Kee

Draft Board: 094

Physical Build: Medium

Height: Medium

Hair Color: Black

Eye Color: Brown

Signature: September 12, 1919

H Foo Wing

Race: Mongolian

Marital Status: Single

Age: 24

Birth Date: 8 Jun 1893

Birthplace: San Diego, California

Street Address: 7–9 Mott St.

Residence Place: Manhattan, New York

Occupation: Clerk

Employer: Soy Kee

Draft Board: 094

Physical Build: Slender

Height: Medium

Hair Color: Black

Eye Color: Black

Signature: June 5, 1917

Yen Wong

Marital Status: Married

Age: 27

Birth Date: 24 Dec 1881

Birthplace: Canton, China

Race: Mongolian

Street Address: 7–9 Mott St.

Residence Place: Manhattan, New York

Occupation: Merchant

Employer: Soy Kee Co

Draft Board: 094

Physical Build: Medium

Height: Medium

Hair Color: Straight Black

Eye Color: Dark Brown

Signature: June 5, 1917

Hoe Yee

Race: Mongolian

Marital Status: Married

Age: 26

Birth Date: 14 Oct 1891

Birthplace: Canton, China

Race: Oriental

Street Address: 7–9 Mott St.

Residence Place: Manhattan, New York

Occupation: Salesman

Employer: Soy Kee Co

Draft Board: 094

Physical Build: Stout

Height: Medium

Hair Color: Black

Eye Color: Brown

Signature: June 5, 1917

Port Arthur Restaurant

Lew Chong

Race: Oriental

Age: 35

Birth Date: 14 Jan 1883

Birthplace: China

Street Address: 7–9 Mott St.

Residence Place: Manhattan, New York

Occupation: Cook

Employer: Port Arthur Restaurant

Draft Board: 094

Physical Build: Medium

Height: Medium

Hair Color: Black

Eye Color: Black

Relative: Young Ken

Signature: September 12, 1918

Ah Fong

Race: Oriental

Age: 38

Birth Date: 12 Dec 1879

Birthplace: China

Street Address: 7–9 Mott St.

Residence Place: Manhattan, New York

Occupation: Kitchen Helper

Employer: Port Arthur Restaurant

Draft Board: 094

Physical Build: Slender

Height: Tall

Hair Color: Black

Eye Color: Brown

Relative: Tai Hung & Co

Relative's Relationship: Friend

Signature: September 12, 1918

Yung Gin

Race: Oriental

Age: 35

Birth Date: 15 Dec 1883

Birthplace: China

Street Address: 9 Mott St.

Residence Place: Manhattan, New York

Occupation: Manager

Employer: Port Arthur Restaurant

Draft Board: 094

Physical Build: Medium

Height: Medium

Hair Color: Black

Eye Color: Brown

Relative: Wife in China; Sam Chu

Signature: September 12, 1918

Chin Gow

Race: Mongolian

Marital Status: Single

Age: 29

Birth Date: Aug 1889

Birthplace: Singapore

Street Address: 7–9 Mott St.

Residence Place: Manhattan, New York

Occupation: Cook

Employer: Port Arthur Restaurant

Draft Board: 094

Physical Build: Medium

Height: Short

Hair Color: Black

Eye Color: Black

Signature: June 5, 1917

Som Gun

Race: Oriental

Age: 45

Birth Date: 7 Sep 1873

Birth Place: China

Street Address: 7 Mott St.

Residence Place: Manhattan, New York

Occupation: Cook

Employer: Port Arthur Restaurant

Draft Board: 094

Physical Build: Slender

Height: Tall

Hair Color: Black

Eye Color: Brown

Relative: Wong Bu Kui

Relative's Relationship: Friend

Signature: September 12, 1918

Fong Ming

Age: 33

Birth Date: 16 May 1885

Street Address: 7 Mott St.

Residence Place: Manhattan, New York

Occupation: Waiter

Employer: Port Arthur Restaurant

Draft Board: 094

Physical Build: Medium

Height: Short

Hair Color: Black

Eye Color: Brown

Relative: Wong Kui

Relative's Relationship: Friend

Signature: September 12, 1918

Woo Suey Kwong

Race: Oriental

Age: 45

Birth Date: 24 Dec 1872

Birthplace: China

Street Address: 7–9 Mott St.

Residence Place: Manhattan, New York

Occupation: Cook

Employer: Port Arthur Restaurant

Draft Board: 094

Physical Build: Medium

Height: Medium

Hair Color: Black

Eye Color: Black

Relative: Cho Kin

Signature: September 12, 1918

SIDEBAR: Some Tenants at 7–9 Mott Street

Chinese Empire Reform Association moved from 5 Mott Street to 7–9 Mott Street.

The fourth person from the left or right is Joseph Singleton. 

The Chinese Reform News started as a 16-page weekly. The paper’s office was originally at 5 Mott Street. The Chinese Reform News, now at 176 Park Row, was featured in The Edison Monthly, February 1912. 

The New York Evening Post, October 8, 1917, reported the World War I draft and said

... Of the fifty-three drafted men, seven were Chinese, including Foo Wing, who has been in business at 7 and 9 Mott Street, and who was formerly a United States Government interpreter at San Francisco. ...

The following men were found through their Chinese Exclusion Act case files.

Key Chan [Key 陳]

Gender: Male

Age: 15

Birth Date: 1 Nov 1907

Birth Place: China

Residence Address: 7-9 Mott St

Residence Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date: 8 Dec 1921

Arrival Place: New York, New York

Place of Origin: Go Bin Village, Sun Woey Dis

Occupation: Minor Son of a Merchant

Picture: 1

Document Date: 1921-1922

Case Description: A

Case Number(s): 6, 774

Box: 19

Chee Law [Tai Tow Law] [Chee 劉]

Gender: Male

Age: 31

Birth Date: 1898

Birth Place: China

Residence Address: 7 Mott St.

Residence Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date: 1908

Arrival Place: San Francisco, California

Arrival Date 1: 1923

Arrival Place 1: San Francisco, California

Place of Origin: Gong Boy, Nam Hoi

Occupation: Son of Merchant

Comments: Laborer's Return Certificate Approved July 1929

Picture: 1

Document Date: 1929-1929

Case Description: R

Case Number(s): 134, 9

Box: 412

Shuit Lee [Shuit 李]

Gender: Male

Age: 38

Birth Date: 1883

Birth Place: China

Residence Address: 7-9 Mott St

Residence Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date: 13 Aug 1902

Arrival Place: San Francisco, California

Arrival Date 1: 29 Sep 1923

Arrival Place 1: Seattle, Washington

Occupation: Merchant

Number of Children: 1

Comments: Deported, 4/25/1930, Reason Unknown.

Sponsor: The World Trading Co

Picture: 1

Document Date: 1921-1930

Case Description: D

Case Number(s): 6, 710

Box: 17

Ah Fook Lou [See Dep Lou] [Ah Fook 劉]

Gender: Male

Birth Date: 26 Nov 1895

Birth Place: China

Residence Address: 7 Mott St

Residence Place: New York, New York

Additional Residence Address: 22 Mott St

Additional Residence Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date: 14 Apr 1922

Arrival Place: New York, New York

Place of Origin: Lew Oak Village, Sun Woey Dis

Occupation: Son of a Citizen

Occupation 2: Laundryman

Comments: Interrogation Taken in 1924, a Different Birthday- 1/7/1898 was Stated.

Picture: 1

Document Date: 1899-1957

Case Description: R

Case Number(s): 6, 1308

Box: 28

Hong Ku Tang [Bock Leong Tang] [Hong Ku 鄧]

Gender: Male

Age: 54

Birth Date; 1878

Birth Place: Hong Kong

Residence Address: 7-9 Mott St

Residence Place: New York, New York

Arrival Date: 1910

Arrival Place; San Francisco, California

Arrival Date 1: 1926

Arrival Place 1: Seattle, Washington

Place of Origin: Wah Ping, Nam Hoi

Occupation: Laborer

Comments: Certificate of Identity #1229 San Francisco 1910

Sponsor: Tung Fong Co

Picture: 1

Document Date: 1914-1932

Case Description: R

Case Number(s): 61, 656

Box: 304

The following men were found through their World War I draft cards.

Tong Jarne

Race: Oriental

Age: 37

Birth Date: 16 Apr 1881

Birthplace: China

Street Address: 9 Mott St.

Residence Place: Manhattan, New York

Occupation: Merchant

Employer: Own business

Draft Board: 094

Physical Build: Medium

Height: Medium

Hair Color: Black

Eye Color: Black

Relative: Tow Sum

Signature: September 12, 1918

Hong Kwong

Race: Oriental

Age: 35

Birth Date: 19 Jul 1883

Birthplace: China

Street Address: 7–9 Mott St.

Residence Place: Manhattan, New York

Occupation: Merchant

Employer: Self-employed

Draft Board: 094

Physical Build: Slender

Height: Tall

Hair Color: Black

Eye Color: Black

Relative: Joe Saw

Signature: September 12, 1918

Ng Leng

Race: Oriental

Age: 33

Birth Date: 25 Nov 1884

Birthplace: China

Street Address: 7–9 Mott St.

Residence Place: Manhattan, New York

Occupation: Porter

Employer: Hoo Chew [might be Ho Chu]

Draft Board: 094

Physical Build: Stout

Height: Medium

Hair Color: Black

Eye Color: Brown

Relative: Ng Fun Jing

Signature: September 12, 1918

Che To Sene

Marital Status: Married

Age: 22

Birth Date: 3 Nov 1895

Birthplace: Canton, China

Street Address: 7–9 Mott St.

Residence Place: Manhattan, New York

Occupation: School

Draft Board: 094

Physical Build: Stout

Height: 6 ft

Hair Color: Black

Eye Color: Dark

Signature: no date

Fong Yor Sze

Race: Oriental

Age: 33

Birth Date: 1 Dec 1884

Birthplace: Canton, China

Street Address: 9 Mott St.

Residence Place: Manhattan, New York

Occupation: Seaman

Employer: Unemployed

Draft Board: 094

Physical Build: Medium

Height: Medium

Relative: Lee Sing

Signature: September 12, 1918

Chan Yew Ting

Age: 33

Birth Date: 13 Jan 1885

Birthplace: China

Street Address: 7–9 Mott St.

Residence Place: Manhattan, New York

Occupation: Salesman

Employer: Ho Guy

Draft Board: 094

Physical Build: Slender

Height: Medium

Hair Color: Black

Eye Color: Brown

Relative: Ho Guy

Relative's Relationship: Friend

Signature: September 12, 1918

Muk Yick

Marital Status: Married

Age: 33

Birth Date: 15 May 1885

Birthplace: China

Race: Oriental

Street Address: 7–9 Mott St.

Residence Place: Manhattan, New York

Occupation: Cook

Employer: Unemployed

Draft Board: 094

Physical Build: Medium

Height: Medium

Hair Color: Black

Eye Color: Brown

Relative: Wong Fa Kai

Relative's Relationship: Friend

Signature: September 20, 1918

(Updated April 15, 2025; next post on Wednesday: An Evening in Cathay (1939))