Historical Chinese American Dedication
Melissa Ponder (mponder@edcc.ctc.edu)
Wed, 18 Jun 1997 13:25:06 -0700
>
>PLEASE POST
>
>Chinese Historical Society of Southern California
>P.O. Box 862647
>Los Angeles, CA. 90086-2647
>
>
>June 16, 1997 Randall Bloch: 818-980-4386
> Susan Yamasaki: 213-621-3171
> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
>
> RESTORATION COMPLETION & RE-DEDICATION CEREMONY
> WILL CROWN THE ACHIEVEMENT
> OF 19TH-CENTURY CHINESE SHRINE'S PRESERVATION
>
>WHAT: Chinese Memorial Shrine Restoration Completion and Re-dedication
>Ceremony; Press Conference; Photo Session
>
>WHEN: Saturday, June 28, 1997, 11:00 A.M.
>
>WHERE: Evergreen Cemetery, 204 N. Evergreen Avenue, Los Angeles
>
> Culminating seven years of effort, the Chinese Historical Society of
>Southern California will host a ceremony to commemorate restoring the
>19th-Century Chinese Memorial Shrine in Boyle Heights, on Saturday, June 28,
>1997 at 11:00 A.M. Government officials, historians, and Chinatown community
>leaders will attend the event. YOU ARE INVITED.
>
> Built in 1888, the Shrine is recognized as the earliest structural
evidence
>of Chinese culture in Los Angeles and was declared a Los Angeles
>Historic-Cultural Monument No. 486 on August 31, 1990. The monument consists
>of twin ceremonial kilns for burning sacred items, and an altar. It was once
>the site for many Chinese rites including Chinese Memorial Day, Hungry Souls
>Day, and funerals. The Shrine was not used after 1965 and has suffered
>gradual deterioration. It was scheduled to be demolished in early 1990, but
>the Chinese Historical Society successfully fought this with the support of
>Councilman Richard Alatorre, the Los Angeles Conservancy, and others.
>
> On September 17, 1992, the Chinese Historical Society purchased the
monument
>from Evergreen Cemetery as the first major step toward its long-term
>preservation. A ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 3, 1995 commemorated the
>first stage of restoration: construction of a retaining wall, fence, steps
>and a gate. Local, state, and federal representatives were present.
> Copies of newspaper articles on the project since its inception are
>available upon request from the Society. Detailed information and
>photographs are also available at the Chinese Historical Society's Website:
>WWW.CHSSC.ORG.
>
> "The restoration of the Boyle Heights [shrine] will enable the entire
City
>to take pride in the cultural and historical contributions of the early
>Chinese in Los Angeles." U.S. Congressman Xavier Becerra.
>
> "As Mayor of Los Angeles, I congratulate you on this endeavor to
>preserve a crucial part of the history of Los Angeles." Mayor Richard
>Riordan.
>
> Restoration of this Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument is made
>possible, in part, by a grant from the City of Los Angeles Department of
>Cultural Affairs
>
>