Japanese in
Whitefish - Part 1
By
Jill Evans, Administrator of the Stumptown
Historical Society
If life was hard and
dangerous for the general citizenry of Whitefish
during the early years, it was more difficult
for minority groups, and there were at least
three of these: The Italians, The Japanese, and
the Chinese –all of them originally laborers on
the railroad—and their families. All settled
first in small sections of Whitefish near the
railroad tracks. The early Pilots carry a number
of articles and editorials tinged-or
crammed-with prejudice.
The Japanese were accepted earlier and more
readily than the other two groups. This seems to
have been the result of several factors.
The course of the Russo-Japanese was of 1904-5,
for one thing, was followed closely in
Whitefish, and sympathy lay with the Japanese.
Every week’s newspaper carried a story about the
progress of the war. When young Japanese in
Whitefish returned to Japan to fight for their
country, they were seen off with celebration by
the entire town. When Japanese diplomats, led by
Baron Komura, went through on their Great
Northern trip from Tokyo to Washington during
the war they were given a celebration at the
depot that included Japanese flags and emblems,
fireworks, the Kalispell band, a large crowd of
both Japanese and whites. Baron Okado and
President Theodore Roosevelt later stopped at
Whitefish during peace negotiations, and were
given an enthusiastic welcome. The Baron would
not get out of bed, but “Teddy” came out on the
platform in a nightshirt and overcoat, made a
friendly little talk, and was wildly cheered.
Also, the Japanese undeniably contributed to the
town, specifically at the Fourth of July
celebration of 1908, but at many other times
too. They were successful and cooperative
businessmen. In the early years Japanese
managers for the Oriental Trading Company were
enterprising and respected. And then M. M.
(“Swede”) Hori, who had been a houseboy for the
Conrad family, Kalispell financiers, was given
ten acres of Whitefish land by his employer and
moved to Whitefish. He opened the Hori Café and
Hotel, and in 1919 turned it into a $50,000
building extending from the present Pastime to
the Toggery. It was the most popular eating
place in town, and in the lobby of the hotel
were renowned heads of elk, buffalo, and deer,
prepared by the local taxidermy. Hori operated
this business until his death in 1931, and Mrs.
Hori continued its operation fifteen years
longer. During her ownership Mrs. Hori, who had
come to Seattle from Japan in 1911 and married
Hori in 1915, is said to have fed all transients
who came to her. Some chopped wood in return,
but she fed everybody regardless of payment. Her
dairy and truck farm were operated for her by
the Sakahara family while she ran the café.
Tom Hatsukano High School photo ca 1941 |
|
The Hori Gardens east of town
were a matter of pride to the Japanese and the
whole town. Their potatoes, celery, and other
truck garden vegetables were widely known and
won many prizes at fairs throughout the
Northwest. Large quantities of Hori vegetables
were purchased by the Great Northern dining
service, by whom they were widely advertised.
The ranch also had a prize herd of Holsteins and
operated a dairy. Mrs. Hori, later Mrs. Jiro
Masuoka, gave important gifts of money and city
lots to the town, and there is a plaque
commemorating these on the stairway of City
Hall, which reads: “In tribute to Mr. & Mrs. M.
M. Hori, in recognition of and appreciation for
their community interests, support, and generous
gift of real estate to the city of Whitefish.”
Although the Horis were the most successful
Japanese business people of Whitefish, they were
not the only ones. The Shiomis operated a
successful laundry for many years, which they
expanded in 1926 by buying out their major
competitor, the Whitefish Steam Laundry. Mr.
Hatsukano, who operated a candy store on Second
Street next to Pacific Power, was familiar to
all school children of the time and their
parents, partly because of his wide smile and
long, white beard.
See more of their story
in the Whitefish museum, located in the Train
Depot.
Note: The quoted
material is taken from
Stump Town to Ski Town, by Betty Schafer and
Mable Engelter, written in 1972 and reprinted by the
Stumptown Historical Society in 2003. It is available
for sale in the Whitefish Museum located in the Train
Depot. |
