Mukai Cold Process Fruit Barrelling Plant facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Mukai Cold Process Fruit Barrelling Plant
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Mukai Cold Process Fruit Barrelling Plant, built 1926, photographed 2014
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 Location in Washington (state)
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| Location | 18005, 18017 107th Ave. SW, Vashon, Washington |
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| Area | 4.8 acres (1.9 ha) |
| Built | 1926 |
| Architect | Denichiro Mukai |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 94001165 |
| Added to NRHP | September 26, 1994 |
The Mukai Cold Process Fruit Barrelling Plant is a special historical site in Vashon, Washington. It was once a busy factory where a Japanese American family, the Mukais, processed fruit. In 1993, it became the first place linked to Japanese American history to be named a King County landmark. The next year, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Experts say this 4.8-acre (1.9 ha) site is a rare and complete example of a place important to the history of Japanese American families in Washington.
Contents
The Mukai Fruit Plant Story
A Family's Journey
The story of the Mukai Plant begins with Denichiro Mukai. He came to America from Japan when he was a teenager in the late 1800s or early 1900s. He started in San Francisco and learned English while working for a wealthy farmer. People started calling him "B.D." for short.
After the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, B.D. and his wife, Sato, moved to Seattle. B.D. learned a lot about the delicious strawberries grown on nearby Vashon Island. In 1910, he and Sato moved to the island to start their own strawberry farm.
Strawberry Success
Many other Japanese immigrant families also grew strawberries on Vashon Island. B.D. Mukai was very smart and always looked for new ways to do things. He even hired his own boat to get his strawberries to market in Seattle faster than anyone else!
Sadly, Sato Mukai passed away in 1921. B.D. later married her sister, Kuni. In 1924, the Mukais opened their first plant to preserve berries in barrels. This was a big deal because it meant they could sell their berries directly to companies that made jams and ice cream all over the world. This changed the fruit industry!
Because Japanese-born people could not own land in the U.S. at that time, B.D. and Kuni bought a large piece of land in 1926 in the name of their young son, Masahiro, who they called Masa. B.D. designed a beautiful American-style house, and Kuni created a traditional Japanese garden next to it.
Masa grew up to be very important in the strawberry business. He studied engineering and found new ways to farm. He also helped create frozen fruit! Masa took over the family business, which became known as "Mukai and Son." Even during the Great Depression, the Mukai farm did well, hiring hundreds of seasonal workers. In 1938, the company changed its name to Vashon Island Packing Company, or VIPCO.
Tough Times and New Beginnings
The Mukai family faced a huge challenge during World War II. In 1942, the U.S. government issued Executive Order 9066, which forced all Japanese Americans living on the West Coast to leave their homes and move to special camps. This was called Japanese American internment.
Luckily, Masa Mukai knew a military officer who warned him two weeks before the order. This allowed Masa to move his family to Oregon, where his wife Chiyeko's brother lived. While they were away, a friend managed the business. Masa worked in the seed industry in Idaho and even invented a new machine to collect seeds.
After the war, the Mukais returned to Vashon, but strawberry farming was no longer as profitable. Masa used his engineering skills for other projects, like designing sewer systems and building homes. The fruit plant was sold in 1969 and has had several owners since then.
B.D. Mukai retired in 1935. He traveled a lot and eventually settled in California. He later moved back to Japan, where he passed away in 1973. Masa Mukai died in 1999.
Exploring the Mukai Complex
The Mukai Agricultural Complex still stands on Vashon Island, looking out over what used to be strawberry fields. The main building, the one-story wood-frame Barrelling Plant, was designed by Masa Mukai. There's also a small brick office and the family home, both designed by B.D. Mukai.
The house is a great example of homes built in the Pacific Northwest in the late 1920s, with a mix of Arts and Crafts and Neoclassical styles. The beautiful Japanese garden is also part of the historic site. It mixes traditional Japanese garden ideas with American landscaping. In its best days, the garden attracted many visitors and was even featured on postcards!
Saving History
In 1993, the plant was recognized as a King County landmark. This was a big step in protecting its history.
In 2000, a non-profit group called Island Landmarks bought the house and garden. Their goal was to restore the garden, create exhibits for the public, and offer educational programs. However, these plans didn't fully happen as intended.
By 2012, there were disagreements about how the property was being managed. A new group, called "Friends of Mukai," formed to help. After some legal challenges, the Friends of Mukai gained control of the Mukai home and garden in 2015.
Since then, the Friends of Mukai have worked hard to restore this important site. They created a detailed plan for bringing the Mukai Agricultural Complex back to life. In 2017, they secured funding to buy the Barreling Plant parcel, bringing all the key parts of the original farm under one management.
By June of 2019, the Friends of Mukai had successfully raised money and completed the full restoration of the Mukai house and garden. They also made the site easier for people with disabilities to visit.
The restoration of the 90-year-old Mukai Cold Process Fruit Barreling Plant is the final big project. The Friends of Mukai recently completed important stabilization work, which cost $842,000. This included fixing damaged wood, replacing an entire side of the building, adding new siding, and installing a new roof with insulation. Finishing the rest of the plant's restoration is the last step in their amazing plan to preserve this piece of history!
