In the bustling heart of old Detroit, a ghost whispers of dragons and dim sum. This ghost is the Location of On Leong Association Building, a cornerstone of Detroit’s first Chinatown. The On Leong Tong, also known as the Chinese Merchants’ Association, established this building near Third and Porter Streets in 1917. It wasn’t just a building. It was the heart of a vibrant community.
The Location of On Leong Association Building became a hub. A place where families lived above their businesses. A place where the aroma of familiar foods mingled with the sounds of Cantonese. Detroit’s Chinatown, anchored by the On Leong Association, was a refuge. A place where Chinese immigrants could find solace and connection thousands of miles from their ancestral home. Imagine bustling shops and restaurants lining the streets. Picture families sharing stories and laughter over steaming bowls of noodles. The community thrived here, creating a little piece of China in the Motor City. Children attended Chinese school and church here. Families gathered for Chinese opera and movies. Weekends often meant picnics on Belle Isle with hundreds of other Chinese families.
The 1920s saw Detroit’s Chinese population boom. Over 300 Chinese-operated laundry services dotted the city. Restaurants offered traditional cuisine, further solidifying the community’s presence. The Location of On Leong Association Building stood as a testament to their hard work and resilience. It symbolized their determination to build a life in a new land while preserving their cultural heritage. However, progress often comes at a cost.
By the 1950s, the winds of change swept through Detroit. Urban renewal projects, like the construction of the Lodge Freeway, reshaped the city’s landscape. Detroit’s first Chinatown was not spared. The vibrant community was uprooted, forced to relocate to the Cass Corridor. While the physical location changed, the spirit of Chinatown, embodied by the On Leong Association, endured. Although a new Chinatown emerged in the Cass Corridor, the original location near Third and Porter remains a significant landmark. The Location of On Leong Association Building, though gone, echoes the stories of a community that once thrived there. It serves as a poignant reminder of a lost chapter in Detroit’s rich and diverse history.