Early Chinese Immigrants Remembered In Belleville

BELLEVILLE, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of the Belleville Historical Society. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site.

The arrival of the first Chinese immigrants 150 years ago in September of 1870 was quietly observed in Belleville [on Sept. 20].

Margaret Lam and David Yen, Chairpersons of the United Chinese American Association of New Jersey set a dozen red and a dozen yellow roses at the Chinese monument located in the cemetery of the old Bellville Dutch Reformed Church (now La Senda Antigua).

Few are aware that the Belleville Chinese community existed even before New York's Chinatown. Margaret and David were joined by Belleville Historical Society president Michael Perrone and North Arlington resident Val Hadshinow. Perrone and Hadshinow created the monument.

The group then crossed the river into North Arlington to visit the still standing mansion of Captain James Hervey. Captain Hervey was the former sea captain and prominent business owner who brought the Chinese immigrants from California to work in his Passaic Steam Laundry, the largest commercial laundry in America at that time.

The Chinese community here began with the arrival of 68 Chinese men and boys from San Francisco and grew to three hundred. The first Chinese New Year on the east coast was celebrated here in February of 1871, a Chinese temple was established and a school for the Chinese immigrants opened later that same year. For almost two decades Belleville was a center of peaceful living for the Chinese with their elaborate celebrations and held out as an example of a welcoming community in an era of strong anti-Chinese sentiment.

The Belleville Historical society has postponed its normal public events due to the pandemic and hopes to resume events possibly later this year.

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