Chew Foundation gifts Red Bluff historic document
Mayor Clay Parker holding up the Helen and Joe Chew Foundation’s gift to the city.
By GEORGE JOHNSTON | gjohnston@redbluffdailynews.com | Red Bluff Daily News
February 9, 2024 at 2:45 a.m.
RED BLUFF — The Helen and Joe Chew Foundation recently showed its gratitude to the city with a historic document dating back to the Chinese Exclusion Act.
At Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, Mayor Clay Parker showed off the gift and explained its significance. This petition, signed by 20 influential leaders, including the mayor and postmaster of Red Bluff, urged the commissioner of Angel Island to allow for the immigration of the Chew family.
Mayor Parker said the city was proud of what had been done. Looking at the petition, a reader can find a county assessor, supervisors, and other officials supporting the Chew Family.
“So even back in 1916, it was showing that Red Bluff is a very inclusive city, and we are proud of that,” Parker said.
On Sunday, the foundation had a dragon presentation in the city. Unfortunately, the parade had to move due to the weather, but it still happened.
The dragon presentation was the latest series of events the Chew Foundation had throughout the year.
In November, the foundation paid tribute to Chinese American Veterans of Tehama.
According to Jessica Chew, the Historic Chinatown Alley only has one living veteran, Russell Wong Foey, the last resident of the On and Foey family tree, both original families.
During this event, the descendants unveiled a Chinese American Memorial and unveiled the concept for a forthcoming WWII Mural.
“This mural will pay tribute to the remarkable achievements and historic contributions of our Chinese American WWII Veterans on their journey to receiving the Congressional Gold Medal,” Chew said.
Chew was the leading lobbying force to have a downtown area be named the Historic Chinatown Alley. This area is between Main Street and Rio Street, from Hickory Street to the north and Pine Street on the south end.
She wanted to name the alley in honor of the first Chinese families of Red Bluff and their histories in the city. Chew contacted the business owners within that stretch of Red Bluff about the alley naming, and they were supportive.
According to Chew’s research, Wong Foey was one of the earliest Chinese settlers to Red Bluff in 1862. Foey worked in orchards and became a judge, labor boss and arbitrator. He was a business owner and used to co-host the Chinese New Year parades on Rio Street every year with Chew’s family, who opened their first restaurant at Walnut and Madison Streets.
“In a way, this is so that the alleyway can look down upon the Chinatown that was once so vibrant and is cherished and many hearts of many families across America,” Chew said.