On December 15, 1868, the man believed to be Seattle's first Chinese immigrant, Chun Ching Hock (1844-1927) opened the Wa Chong Company at the foot of Mill Street (now Yesler Way). The store sold imported Chinese goods, tea, rice, coffee, flour, and fireworks, but the company's most profitable business was labor contracting - recruiting and placing Chinese immigrants in domestic work, logging, mining, construction, and later in fisheries and canneries. Seattle’s Chinese community revolved around the Wa Chong Company, and Asian immigrants began moving their businesses into the area around King Street, forced from living elsewhere by restrictive real estate covenants and white homeowners. The neighborhood grew into what is now known as Chinatown - International District, and continues to be a cultural and commercial center for the city's diverse Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.

The Wa Chong Co. stationery pictured here is decorated with an elaborate letterhead featuring the location of the store from about 1900-1910. The body of this letter was written by Woo Gen (b. 1858) and refers to several cuts, or illustrations, that were used in the "Seattle Trade Register," the first commercial newspaper in Seattle. In 1900 Chun Ching Hock had returned to live permanently in Canton, China, leaving management duties to Mr. Woo while Mr. Chun expanded the company's operations to Asia. The company continued to operate in Seattle until 1953.

Handwritten on letterhead: "Seattle Trade Register // Gentlemen, Please let Mr. Martin have our cut of fireworks and ask him to give received to you, he will return to you in a few days. // We are Wa Chong Co., By Woo Gen"
Handwritten on letterhead: "Recd. of The Trade Register29 twenty nine fireworks cuts. // Wash. Spec. Co., M. R. Martin"

Caption information source: "Chun Ching Hock opens the Wa Chong Company in Seattle on December 15, 1868," by Margaret Riddle, HistoryLink.org Essay 10800.