05/26/2026
THE LOCKE CHINESE SCHOOL MUSEUM
樂居中文學校
This building was built in 1915 with $1,200 in funding provided by the Nationalist Party, Kuomintang (KMT) 國民黨分部, founded by Dr. Sun Yat-sen. The original use was for the KMT branch office in Locke, which also served as a town hall.
Dr. Sun is considered the ‘Father of Modern China’ and was crucial in starting the revolution that overthrew the last dynasty of China. He also came from the same Zhongshan region as the group that established Locke.
This building was converted to a Chinese language school in 1926 due to the growing number of children in Locke. There was still fear that families could be forced to return to China by the federal government, and parents wanted their children to be fluent and literate in Chinese in case they had to move back.
The name of the school was Kuo Ming School (國民學校). The Chinese kids would also attend the regular school in Walnut Grove. After regular school, they would come to this language school to learn to read and write Chinese from 4 pm to 6 pm.
The teachers at the school were strict, and students learned Chinese by memorizing lessons. Students were given a test every Saturday. Missing test questions resulted in punishment. The school was closed during World War II due to economic reasons.
In 1954, the Joe Shoong Foundation provided funding to renovate the building and purchase new equipment, enabling the school to open under a new name: the Joe Shoong School. Mr. Shoong was a prominent merchant who owned the National Dollar Store. The school was closed in 1983 due to a lack of Chinese kids in Locke. The building was opened as a Chinese School Museum in 1985.
Clarence Chu and his company are the owners of this building, having purchased the Locke estate property in July 1977.
Dr. Sun’s bust in front of this building was a gift from the Zhongshan Municipal Government in support of the preservation of the history and culture of Locke.
The bust of Confucius was donated by Lien Fan Chu Ng, Clarence Chu’s sister, who is a Justice of the Peace in Hong Kong.
Dedicated May 31, 2026
Plaque Donated By The Locke Foundation and Johann A. Sutter Chapter #1841 E Clampus Vitus
