![]() Many people in this mob had allegedly been present on Harrison Avenue much earlier that evening, watching the 4th of July celebrations of the Chinese, which included many fireworks. At around midnight, the police finally regained control and the mob dispersed. ![]() The mob was estimated at about 3000 men, and the police claimed there was little they could do to stop the violence, describing the mob as "celebrants" of the 4th of July. Some women' clothing caught fire, although none of the women sustained serious injury. In addition, white women, who tried to pass through the mob, were attacked as well, sometimes pelted with fireworks. They also beat any Chinese they found, including going as far as pulling out one man's queue right out of his head. The mob smashed the windows, including large plate glass ones (valued at about $2,000), belonging to Chinese businesses and homes. The Boston Post, July 5, 1901, reported on this wild attack. On July 4, 1901, from about 11pm to midnight, a racist mob ran amok in Chinatown. “ These Chinese chefs are especially clever in compounding that curious dish known as “chop sooy,’ a conglomeration of stewed meats and vegetables.” In addition, the article stated, “’ Chow mem’ is another choice dish, and an expensive one, too.” It seems likely that “mem” was a typo or misspelling and that the dish was actually “ chow mein.” This was the type of article that would entice people to check out Chinese restaurants, a nice alternative to some of the racist articles also found around this time. There was also reference to some specific Chinese dishes. The Chinese are fastidious about the quality of their food, as well as the manner of its preparation.” ![]() Everything about the place is neat and clean, as is also the personal attire of the chef. It noted the utter cleanliness of the restaurants, “ …the rear of one of the many Chinese restaurants. The Boston Globe, February 10, 1901, published an article with some general information about Chinese businesses from barbers to restaurants. It's pleasant to see that one of the first newspaper articles in the 20th century about Chinatown restaurants was especially positive. ![]() It was a turbulent time in Chinatown, though ultimately there were positive results. There were also fears in some circles about the dangers to young women in Chinatown, worries that they would be seduced into opium smoking and prostitution. This violence would keep some people from journeying to Chinatown, hindering the ability of the restaurant to increase the number of their customers. In some respects, Chinatown gained more respectability during this period, but it also became more violent as well, as two Tongs went to war. In addition, not all of the Chinese restaurants were located in Chinatown, some having spreading to other areas of Boston. The restaurants also often started adding music in the evenings, which, combined with their late hours and the availability of alcohol, made them similar in some ways to night clubs, thus attracting a different clientele. ![]() Nowadays, you don't usually consider dining at a Chinese restaurant for Thanksgiving dinner, especially if you desire a more traditional turkey dinner, but during the early 20th century, it was much more of an option. They added more Americanized items to their menus, as well as offering holiday specials, such as for Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve. It would face a number of serious challenges and obstacles during this time period, including continued racism, legal issues, and Tong violence.ĭuring this period, the Chinese restaurants attempted to widen their customer base by appealing more to non-Chinese Americans, which would lead to some success. At the start of the 20th century, Chinatown would continue to grow and expand, with a number of new Chinese restaurants opening. Let’s continue our exploration of the history of Boston’s Chinatown restaurants and survey the first couple decades of the 20th century. ![]()
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