Pachappa Camp facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pachappa Camp
Native name Korean: 파차파 캠프
Ahn Chang Ho picking oranges in Riverside (1912)
Location	Riverside, California
Founded	1904

Pachappa Camp was a very important place for early Korean immigrants in the United States. It was started in 1904 in Riverside, California, by a famous Korean leader named Ahn Changho. He was also known by his pen name, Dosan. Many people call Pachappa Camp "Dosan's Republic" because of his leadership.

Ahn Changho was one of the first Koreans to move to the United States. He was also a strong supporter of the Korean independence movement, which worked to free Korea from Japanese rule. The camp was active until 1918 and, at its busiest, was home to almost 300 people. Many historians and the city of Riverside believe Pachappa Camp was the first Korean settlement in the United States.

This camp was also where Ahn Changho started the New People's Association (also called Sinminhoe). This was one of the first and most important Korean groups in the United States. He also came up with the idea for the Young Korean Academy (Heungsadan) here in 1913. On March 23, 2017, Riverside officially recognized Pachappa Camp as a "Point of Cultural Interest."

History of Pachappa Camp

How Pachappa Camp Started

Pachappa Camp was founded in 1904 by Ahn Chang Ho, or Dosan. Dosan and his wife, Helen Ahn, first came to San Francisco in 1902. They wanted to study English and learn more about Christianity. However, it was hard for them to find jobs because of strong anti-Asian feelings at the time.

In 1904, Dosan and Helen moved to Riverside. Two Korean friends who worked on orange farms there told them about many job openings. Even with jobs available, Korean immigrants found it tough to get farm work. This was because Japanese companies controlled most of the labor contracts.

Dosan met Cornelius Earle Rumsey, a retired business owner. Cornelius offered jobs to Dosan and other Korean immigrants on his farm. He also loaned them money to rent housing and office space for a Korean employment agency. This agency, called the Korean Employment Bureau, opened in Pachappa Camp by April 1905. It helped many Korean immigrants find work and led to more Koreans moving to Riverside.

Many Koreans who came to Riverside were Christians. They had letters from American church leaders in Korea. They joined the local Calvary Presbyterian Church, building strong friendships and working together on projects. The loan from Rumsey was paid back quickly as more Koreans found jobs. Soon, the Korean immigrants rented and moved into the living spaces near the labor office at the camp.

Life and Growth at the Camp

The camp had a community center and about twenty small homes. These buildings were old, built in the 1880s for Chinese workers who built the Santa Fe Railroad. They were not in great shape. The homes did not have gas, water, or electricity. Residents used shared outdoor water pumps and outhouses.

Unlike many work camps, Pachappa Camp was a true community. It was home to men, women, and children. Families lived there, and the community organized itself. People shared family values, which made the community strong. Many men worked on farms, while others found jobs in local shops, hotels, hospitals, or as helpers for rich families. Women took care of homes, cooked for the community, and during harvest time, packed citrus fruits at local packinghouses.

The residents, led by Dosan, also spent time and money supporting the Korean Independence movement. They even sent money back to Korea to help with a famine there.

In 1905, the residents worked with the Calvary Presbyterian Church to start a mission at the camp. This mission offered English classes and church services. It also helped people from both groups learn about each other's cultures. By 1907, over 200 Korean immigrants lived in the camp, and many attended church services.

Gongnip Hyophoe (Cooperative Association)

In 1905, Korea became a protectorate of Japan. This meant Japan had control over Korea. That same year, Dosan and other leaders started the Gongnip Hyophoe, or "Cooperative Association." This group aimed to create democratic rules for a future independent Korea.

The association set up rules for people living in Pachappa Camp to keep the community strong and encourage good behavior. For example, lights had to be off by 9:00 pm. Korean women were not allowed to smoke long pipes in the street. Residents should not go outside in undershirts, and white shirts were encouraged for a "clean appearance." A Korean newspaper reported that there were 70 members in Riverside in 1905, growing to 150 by 1907.

Later, Gongnip Hyophoe joined with another group called Hapsong Hyophoe. Together, they became the Korean National Association (KNA). The KNA helped Koreans who were new to the United States. KNA groups were formed all over the country. They were very important for organizing Korean immigrants in their fight for Korea's freedom.

The Hemet Valley Incident

In 1913, a group of 11 Korean immigrants went to Hemet, California, to pick apricots. At this time, there was a lot of anti-Asian feeling in the United States. White workers at the Hemet Valley train station threatened the Korean laborers, who then ran away.

The Japanese Association of Southern California wanted the Japanese government to get involved. They said the Korean workers should be treated as Japanese citizens. However, the Koreans living in the U.S. refused this help. They argued that they were not Japanese citizens and that this was a Korean issue.

Because of concerns about relations between the U.S. and Japan, the U.S. Secretary of State, William Jennings Bryan, ordered an investigation. The president of the KNA, David Lee, sent a message to Bryan. He said the problem was solved and asked the U.S. government to stop talking to the Japanese government about Korean immigrants. Bryan then announced that the Hemet Valley Incident was settled. This was a big step because it meant the U.S. government recognized Koreans in the United States as a separate national group. This helped Korean immigrants who arrived in San Francisco, allowing them to enter the country as political refugees.

Why Pachappa Camp Closed

In January 1913, a "Great Freeze" hit California, destroying many citrus crops. This meant fewer jobs for people in Riverside. Koreans had to look for work in other places, like Los Angeles and other parts of California. In January 1918, the Riverside KNA group closed down. By 1920, the U.S. Census showed fewer than ten Korean families living in Riverside, and none were still at the camp.

After the Koreans left, Japanese Americans and later Mexican Americans lived at Pachappa Camp. In the 1950s, the area was redeveloped for businesses like gas stations. Today, the site has parking lots, fences, and gas stations. Only the nearby railroad track remains from the original settlement.

Pachappa Camp's Legacy

First Korean American Settlement

Some historians believe Pachappa Camp was the first true Korean American settlement. While Koreans lived in other cities like San Francisco, they didn't have their own distinct neighborhoods. In Hawaii, Korean laborers worked on plantations for several years before forming their own communities. Pachappa Camp was different because it was a self-organized community from the start.

Memorial for Dosan in Riverside

In 1999, a group called the Patriot Ahn Chang-Ho Memorial Foundation of Riverside began raising money for a memorial to Dosan. The Korean government and over 400 people donated more than $600,000. The memorial was officially opened on August 11, 2001. It is located at 3750 Main Street in downtown Riverside. It features a statue of Dosan, along with special concrete and granite landscaping.

Recognized as a Cultural Interest Site

On December 6, 2016, the Riverside City Council voted to make the Pachappa Camp site the city's first "Point of Cultural Interest." They also planned to install a memorial there. City officials spent six months researching the camp's history. They used records of births, deaths, and community activities to confirm its importance as the first Korean settlement in the United States.

See also

• Asian immigration to the United States
• History of Asian Americans