On Sunday afternoon, May 12, Fort Walla Walla Museum presents Galen Tom in the role of 1880s entrepreneur and translator, Charles Tung. Tung’s story, that of a California-Chinese transplant, begins at 2 p.m. in the Pioneer Village or Grand Hall, depending on the weather.
Tung, a leader in the local Chinese community, was born in San Francisco and migrated to Walla Walla in 1880. Fluent in both English and Chinese, Tung often translated for local Chinese people who had begun moving to Walla Walla in 1872 to work on the Dorsey S. Baker railroad. They found transient work, too, because of the Idaho gold rush that had begun in the 1860s.
By 1890, estimates put the Chinese population at more than 800 in Walla Walla, whose total population was only 7,000. Most of the Chinese residents did not speak English but nonetheless worked as gardeners, launderers, cooks, domestics or merchants. Charles Tung was one of these merchants even though Walla Walla, like many American communities of the late 1800s had placed numerous restrictions on its Chinese population. Tung will speak at Living History about what it was like to be treated as the “other” by the majority race in Walla Walla.
Tung owned the Kwong Chung Sing Company and imported Chinese silk, porcelain, and tea to Walla Walla. He functioned as secretary-treasurer of the Chinese operated Pacific Enterprise Corporation that built a two-story structure at Fifth and Rose Streets in 1911. In 1930, Tung moved to China to enroll his daughter in Chinese schools. He returned to the States in 1939 due to the Second Sino-Japanese War. While in China he had operated a bank in the coastal province of Canton, now known as Guangdong province.
Charles Tung is portrayed by fifth-generation Walla Wallan, Galen Tom. Tom’s grandfather, who also served as a translator was the last president of the Tong, a local Chinese society. He also grew authentic Chinese vegetables.
Living History Company performers promote audience participation and are pleased to answer questions.
The Museum is open daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; April through October;
10 a.m. to 4 p.m., in winter through March.
Admission is $12 adults, $10 seniors and students, $5 children ages 6-12, and free for children age 5 and under. Museum members receive free admission all year. Memberships start at $35 for seniors and students, dual membership for two adults costs $55, and a whole household can join for $65. Membership entitles people to free admission, email announcements of special events, the quarterly newsletter, “The Dispatch,” and a discount at the Museum store. It is also good for admission to the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute near Pendleton. Visit our calendar with upcoming events at fwwm.org/all events. For more information call 509-525-7703 or visit fwwm.org. The Museum is in Fort Walla Walla Park at 755 NE Myra Road, Walla Walla, Wash., and is on Facebook and Instagram.