During the years 1864-1865, about 2,000 Chinese arrived in Newcastle to work on the Central Pacific Railroad. They settled along the section of town where the SP tracks (now Union Pacific) run now. Many clung to their old customs. Ninety-nine percent of the men wore pigtails and the women still had bound feet.
Work on the railroad was very hazardous and many Chinese lost their lives. Many were buried alongside the present Hwy 49. (Old Chinese cemetery)
In 1900, ten Chinese families built new structures on both sides of what became the main street. There were Chinese grocery stores, herb drug stores, butcher shops, barbershops, restaurants, boarding houses, casinos, honky-tonk places, community halls, a church and a school house. The school taught Chinese and American languages. The school was still in operation in 1950. The population at that time averaged 500-1,000 Chinese. Many made their living on the surrounding fruit ranches. Some purchased their own ranches.
For recreation the men spent many an evening gambling. They played fan -tan, dominos, and keno. (The Chinese really invented keno in China).
There were no medical doctors in Chinatown but there were herbalists.
Tong wars were a common happening in those days. At one time there was a feud going on
between two sections of Chinatown. In order to prevent one section from using the main street, wooden fences and poplar trees were planted as permanent barriers. Some of these trees can still be seen along Secret Ravine Road.
Each Chinese structure had inside water well, a vault, a brick wood burning stove, and a barbecue pit big enough to roast a whole hog. All were built by hand.
There was a temple of Gods for worship called a Joss House. A Chinese school was located here at the temple. Coloma State Park has articles on display in the Wah Hop Store which were purchased from the owners in Newcastle by the Park Dept. at the time Chinatown was demolished by construction of Interstate 80, around 1954. This was a great loss to the heritage of Newcastle.