加 州 范杜拉郡華美歷 史學 會 早 在西元1865年﹐中 國拓 荒 者來 到Ventura County﹐ 留 下不 可磨 滅的功 勣。中 國巷 子是位 於Ventura 市, 從Mission教 堂向南往海走Figueroa 路上﹐ 在Main和Santa Clara 之 間。 華 人當 時多 半是販夫走卒 ﹐ 從 事農 工 商及建 築工等辛 苦行 業。從他 們的社 區可 以反 映出當 時的華 人社 會。技術工 人﹐菜農﹐漁 夫是他 們普 通的職 業。也有一 些商 人從 事買 賣﹐做進 出口生 意﹐出 口海產製 品 ﹐進 口中 國的物 品和勞 工。 有一位學 者名 Tom Lin Yan 他教 書也在法 庭當翻 譯。 Sam Fong Yi (Sing Kee) 不 但有商 店﹐餐館﹐勞 工介 紹所﹐還組 織最 有名的義勇消 防 隊Chinese Fire Brigade. 這 個特 別的消 防 隊不 但服 務華 人社 區﹐也率 先服 務附 近地 區﹐頗負盛名。 後 來嚴 苛的移 民法和排 華事 件﹐ 後 繼無 人而解 散了。 就 連中 國巷 子也被驅 散了。但 是我 們後代子 孫仍繼 續在Ventura County扮 演重 要角 色。 你如 有相 關的寶 貴資 訊﹐ 請與我 們聯 絡。 www.vccahs.org Ventura County Chinese American Historical Society	On October 13, 2003, the Ventura City Council gave final approval and funding to the construction of the China Alley Memorial on Figueroa Street. This project is a joint venture between the City of Ventura and private donations raised by the Ventura County Chinese American Historical Society. The memorial will be a mural painting on a wall along the Figueroa walkway. This is the first memorial in Ventura County dedicated to the legacy of the early Chinese immigrants. The Historical Society has worked with the Historical Preservation Committee of Ventura and the Ventura City Council since May, 2001 on the memorial. Please make your tax-deductible donation payable to the VCCAA for the China Alley Memorial project.
	Nestled on this block, between the sea and the San Buenaventura Mission, a Chinese community was established in the early 1870s.  Here merchants, laborers, farmers, cooks, laundrymen, gardeners, and servants conducted businesses and lived in small homes.  On this block, Chinese settlers would buy and sell goods, get a haircut, dine on traditional fare, write letters to the homeland, worship, find employment, and commune with their countrymen.  These early pioneers maintained their language, traditional customs, rituals and found security in this small enclave.  The famed and important Chinese Fire Company was established in the late 1870s and provided services to the Chinese community as well as the town of San Buenaventura. Families began to join the community in the 1880s and children dressed in embroidered silk clothing could be seen walking along Figueroa Street with their proud parents.     The population of the Chinese community began to decline in the early years of the twentieth century.  Many settlers returned to China, partly due to the rise of anti-Chinese sentiments and exclusionary immigration laws and others moved to Oxnard where employment opportunities became available. During this period the block was modernized by the city and most of the buildings occupied by the Chinese community were removed. Four buildings, owned by Ung Hing, remained on the west side of Figueroa Street until 1921.                          The early Chinese pioneers in San Buenaventura made a great contribution to the growth of this city and the burgeoning nineteenth century agricultural industry. It is with great pride that this memorial honors the lives and history of these courageous settlers.  This memorial was jointly funded by the City of San Buenaventura and the Ventura County Chinese American Historical Society.