Fiddletown in Amador County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Chew Kee Store
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, May 1, 2010
1. Chew Kee Store Marker
Built 1850
Home-Office-Store of
Dr. Yee, Chinese Herb Doctor
Erected 1968.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Asian Americans • Notable Buildings • Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the Chinese Heritage Sites of the American West series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1850.
Location. 38° 30.28′ N, 120° 45.601′ W. Marker is in Fiddletown, California, in Amador County. Marker is on Fiddletown Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 14274 Fiddletown Road, Fiddletown CA 95629, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Fiddletown (within shouting distance of this marker); H. C. Farnham House 1855 (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Fiddletown-Oleta (about 800 feet away); D'Agostini Winery (approx. 2 miles away); Shenandoah School (approx. 2.7 miles away); Shenandoah Valley (approx. 3 miles away); City of Plymouth (approx. 5 miles away); The Arcade Bar (approx. 5 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fiddletown.
Regarding Chew Kee Store. The Chew Kee Store was built in 1850 using traditional Chinese rammed earth
this page online
Chew returned to China in 1913 and the store was deeded to Fong Chow Yow. Fong, known in Fiddletown as Jimmy Chow, was born in Fiddletown in 1885 and educated there. When his parents returned to China, Fong was considered to sickly to make the trip and was left in the care of Dr. Yee and later Chew Kee.
Fong lived in the back of the old herb store until his death in 1965. He was the last Chinese resident of Fiddletown. Fong made few changes to the store while he lived in it as he did not consider the store as his property.
Sources: Archaeological & Historical Studies at the Chew Kee Store, Fiddletown by Julia G. Costello.
and
Mud Brick and Earth Building the Chinese Way by Ron Edwards and Lin Wei-Hao
The Chew Kee Store is open to the public on Saturdays, from noon to 4pm, April – October.
Also see . . . Chew Kee Store Museum (No. 107 Point of Historic Interest). Sierra Nevada Virtual Museum website entry (Submitted on May 17, 2011.)
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, May 1, 2010
2. Chew Kee Store, Marker to the Right
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, May 1, 2010
3. Chew Kee Store Entrance
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, May 19, 2007
4. Chinese Herb Drawers
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, May 19, 2007
5. Chinese Store Shelves
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, May 19, 2007
6. Bedroom - note old newspaper "wallpaper"
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, May 19, 2007
7. Office
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, May 19, 2007
8. Kitchen
circa 1900
9. Chew Kee Store circa 1900
10. Illustration of the Chinese Rammed-Earth Technique
From Mud Brick and Earth Building the Chinese Way, by Ron Edwards and Lin Wei-Hao (1984: Rams Skull Press, Kuranda,
Qld., Australia) Out of Print.
11. Illustration of the Chinese Rammed-Earth Technique
From Mud Brick and Earth Building the Chinese Way, by Ron Edwards and Lin Wei-Hao (1984: Rams Skull Press, Kuranda,
Qld., Australia) Out of Print.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, April 15, 2011
12. Marker Honoring Herbert K. Yee for the Donation of the Land
Credits. This page was last revised on December 6, 2021. It was originally submitted on May 15, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,790 times since then and 48 times this year. Last updated on May 15, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. submitted on May 15, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
