The U.S. city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was home to a "small, but busy" Chinatown, located at the intersection of Grant Street and Boulevard of the Allies in Downtown Pittsburgh where only one Chinese restaurant remains. The On Leong Society was located there.[1] According to the article, "... the first Chinese community in Pittsburgh developed around Wylie Avenue above Court Place," according to a 1942 newsletter of the American Service Institute of Allegheny County. The Chinatown spread to Grant Street, and then "... to Water Street and then spread out to Second and Third avenues."
The Chinatown grew from waves of Chinese immigrants who came east from California after the 1849 Gold Rush and the transcontinental railroads. The immigrants came from the area around Canton in China. According to the article, the Chinatown was primarily centered on Second Avenue with merchant names such as "Wing Hong Chinese Co., 519 Second Ave" and "Quong Chong Shing, 511 Second Ave", all of whom have been driven out when the Boulevard of the Allies was built forcing demolition of all buildings on Second Avenue, sometime by the 1950s. Even by the 1930s, "... the Chinatown was rapidly vanishing."[2][3]
Environmentedit
Pittsburgh's Chinatown in the 1920s to 1930s has been described as a dangerous place as there were frequent skirmishes between the two warring Chinese gangs, otherwise known as the "Tong Wars", covered by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the Pittsburgh Press. The Tong Wars were sensationalized by the press and played into racist stereotypes and anti-Chinese sentiment. "On Second Avenue there stands the temple, pagoda style, lifting itself three stories, its tiled roof and leaded windows giving it an air of Oriental distinction. Inside is the splendor of embroidery and hangings, teakwood and mother of pearl, red lacquer and gilt carvings, a carved stone altar for worship, and a long table for meetings of the On Leong Merchants Association."
Built in 1922 in Pittsburgh's old Chinatown
Old Pittsburgh Chinatown on Blvd. of the Allies
Chinatown's only remaining Chinese restaurant
External linksedit
Pittsburgh's Chinatown and how it disappeared - The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Referencesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chinatown, Pittsburgh.
^"Was there an Asian influence in Pittsburgh's history?".
^"Pittsburgh Little Chinatown Reduced to a Lone Restaurant".
April 27, 2024
chinatown, pittsburgh, chinatown, squirrel, hill, pittsburgh, city, pittsburgh, pennsylvania, home, small, busy, chinatown, located, intersection, grant, street, boulevard, allies, downtown, pittsburgh, where, only, chinese, restaurant, remains, leong, society. For the new Chinatown see Squirrel Hill Pittsburgh The U S city of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania was home to a small but busy Chinatown located at the intersection of Grant Street and Boulevard of the Allies in Downtown Pittsburgh where only one Chinese restaurant remains The On Leong Society was located there 1 According to the article the first Chinese community in Pittsburgh developed around Wylie Avenue above Court Place according to a 1942 newsletter of the American Service Institute of Allegheny County The Chinatown spread to Grant Street and then to Water Street and then spread out to Second and Third avenues ChinatownSub neighborhoodChinatown Pittsburgh in 2020ChinatownHistoric location of Chinatown in Downtown PittsburghCoordinates 40 26 13 N 79 59 51 W 40 4369 N 79 9975 W 40 4369 79 9975Country United StatesStatePennsylvaniaCountyAllegheny CountyCityPittsburghZIP Code15219Area code412 Contents 1 History 2 Environment 3 External links 4 ReferencesHistory editThe Chinatown grew from waves of Chinese immigrants who came east from California after the 1849 Gold Rush and the transcontinental railroads The immigrants came from the area around Canton in China According to the article the Chinatown was primarily centered on Second Avenue with merchant names such as Wing Hong Chinese Co 519 Second Ave and Quong Chong Shing 511 Second Ave all of whom have been driven out when the Boulevard of the Allies was built forcing demolition of all buildings on Second Avenue sometime by the 1950s Even by the 1930s the Chinatown was rapidly vanishing 2 3 Environment editPittsburgh s Chinatown in the 1920s to 1930s has been described as a dangerous place as there were frequent skirmishes between the two warring Chinese gangs otherwise known as the Tong Wars covered by the Pittsburgh Post Gazette and the Pittsburgh Press The Tong Wars were sensationalized by the press and played into racist stereotypes and anti Chinese sentiment On Second Avenue there stands the temple pagoda style lifting itself three stories its tiled roof and leaded windows giving it an air of Oriental distinction Inside is the splendor of embroidery and hangings teakwood and mother of pearl red lacquer and gilt carvings a carved stone altar for worship and a long table for meetings of the On Leong Merchants Association nbsp Built in 1922 in Pittsburgh s old Chinatown nbsp Old Pittsburgh Chinatown on Blvd of the Allies nbsp Chinatown s only remaining Chinese restaurantExternal links editPittsburgh s Chinatown and how it disappeared The Pittsburgh Post GazetteReferences edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chinatown Pittsburgh Inn to the past Downtown Cantonese restaurant points back to city s vanished Chinatown Archived from the original on May 16 2012 Was there an Asian influence in Pittsburgh s history Pittsburgh Little Chinatown Reduced to a Lone Restaurant Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chinatown Pittsburgh amp oldid 1206408128, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
