Threatened: China House, Rancho Cucamonga, CA.

China House, Rancho Cucamonga, CA.  Photo found at The Press-Enterprise.

"Rural Chinatowns served as geographic sanctuaries where ethnicity, language, and cultural practices were held in common and where the amenities of traditional Chinese life where readily available," writes Richard Steven Street.  Marginalized ethnic groups at the turn of the 20th century needed a sense of community as Street recognized, "Chinese field hands encased themselves in a variety of protective institutions aimed at preserving their dignity and self-respect amid a hostile society."

Photo found at Flickr.

The unreinforced brick building is the only remaining structure of Rancho Cucamonga's Chinatown.  Buildings built of wood and scraps burned to the ground in 1919, after a man caused a cooking accident.  As a testament of perseverance, the China House remained long after the destruction of the community.

Rubbing the salt in the proverbial wound of erasing the physical places of immigrant history is the City of Rancho Cucamonga's decision to proceed with red tagging this early 1900s China House.  Set for demolition in as early as 60 days, the current owner, Cucamonga Valley Water District, does not have the interest or funds to restore or retrofit the building.  Its demolition would occur regardless of the city council's 1979 designation of China House as a landmark.

The demolition of this building would also come in the wake of greater interest in Asian history and preservation in California and throughout the United States.  This interest brings to question, what indeed are the motivations of the water district behind allowing this historic building to decay?

Update:  Kudos to the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California and the Chinese American Citizens Alliance for exploring options for saving China House, as reported by Neil Nesperos of the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin.

Update:  The plight of China House has just received national attention!

Update: Demolition delayed!

Update: The National Trust for Historic Preservation has just announced 2013's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places, and China House is one of them.  This year, the Trust's President, Stephanie Meeks, has taken to YouTube to further their cause.  For further information, see Save Chinatown House in Rancho Cucamonga.  Supporters are also on Facebook.