Last updated: September 19, 2022
Place
On Leong Tong House
David Calease, NPS
Quick Facts
Location:
1518 Cass Street
Significance:
Ethnic Heritage (Asian)
Designation:
National Register of Historic Places
OPEN TO PUBLIC:
No
MANAGED BY:
Private Property Owner
The On Leong Tong House is an early twentieth century commercial building one-half mile northeast of downtown Omaha. Constructed as a commercial laundry in 1911, the building served as the tong house from 1938 until 1959, when the tong dissolved following the death of Chin Ming Yuet (George Hay), the head of the association.
For twenty-one years, the On Leong Tong House served as a Chinese American merchants’ association, and is the last known building associated with the tong, a very visible part of Omaha’s early “Chinatown” centered around 12th and Douglas Streets. The tong served as the business, social, and cultural center of Omaha’s Chinese American community during the 1940s and 1950s. As a Chinese American “chamber of commerce,” the tong was an all-male organization composed of the leading Chinese businessmen, supporting newly-arrived immigrants until they got jobs, often at On Leong member businesses. The tong served as a benevolent society that assisted members and Chinese Americans with short-term assistance, even allowing people to live in the building short-term.
Flying the Nationalist Chinese flag below that of the United States, the tong was a focal point of celebration for Chinese holidays and other days of cultural importance. During traditional Chinese holidays, the tong headquarters was the scene of multiple-day feasts, the payment of debts, the negotiation of contracts, and conducting business that was part of larger social-cultural celebrations. The On Leong headquarters was also used as a meeting place for the local Gee How Oak Tin Association, an unrelated Chinese family association.The building is currently vacant but can be viewed from the street.
The National Register nomination for this property is not yet digitized but can be requested from the Nebraska State Historic Preservation Office.
For twenty-one years, the On Leong Tong House served as a Chinese American merchants’ association, and is the last known building associated with the tong, a very visible part of Omaha’s early “Chinatown” centered around 12th and Douglas Streets. The tong served as the business, social, and cultural center of Omaha’s Chinese American community during the 1940s and 1950s. As a Chinese American “chamber of commerce,” the tong was an all-male organization composed of the leading Chinese businessmen, supporting newly-arrived immigrants until they got jobs, often at On Leong member businesses. The tong served as a benevolent society that assisted members and Chinese Americans with short-term assistance, even allowing people to live in the building short-term.
Flying the Nationalist Chinese flag below that of the United States, the tong was a focal point of celebration for Chinese holidays and other days of cultural importance. During traditional Chinese holidays, the tong headquarters was the scene of multiple-day feasts, the payment of debts, the negotiation of contracts, and conducting business that was part of larger social-cultural celebrations. The On Leong headquarters was also used as a meeting place for the local Gee How Oak Tin Association, an unrelated Chinese family association.The building is currently vacant but can be viewed from the street.
The National Register nomination for this property is not yet digitized but can be requested from the Nebraska State Historic Preservation Office.