Who owned the land the Jungs lived on?
David Jacks
“Jacks Family.” MAYO HAYES O'DONNELL LIBRARY. Accessed August 15, 2022. https://www.mayohayeslibrary.org/jacks-family.html.
Due to anti-Asian sentiment in the U.S. in the 1800s, Chinese people were prohibited from owning land. The Jungs and the other Chinese fishing families in Pescadero first rented their land from David Jacks, a Scottish-American businessman and landowner who acquired a significant amount of Monterey land by auction. In 1880, Jacks sold his land on the Monterey peninsula to the Pacific Improvement Company, an affiliate of the Southern Pacific Railroad.
“Monterey, California. Pescadero, Chinese Fishing Village, 18 Mile Drive.” Online Archive of California. Accessed August 15, 2022. https://oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/tf1b69p16b/?brand=oac4.
The Pacific Improvement Company
The Pacific Improvement Company (PIC) was a holding company formed by four wealthy and influential funders of the Central Pacific Railroad: Leland Stanford, Collis Potter Huntington, Mark Hopkins, and Charles Crocker. The PIC kickstarted tourism in the Monterey area in 1880, with the opening of the upscale Hotel Del Monte in Monterey, which visitors could access by the Del Monte Express train. The hotel and train brought wealthy tourists to the area, which led to the development of the scenic 17-Mile-Drive, the golf course, and surrounding areas.
In developing the land, the PIC used the Chinese fishing villages as “exotic” sights, to increase tourism and profits.
According to historian Sandy Lydon's book Chinese Gold, Jung San Choy leased his property from the PIC for six dollars per year, in 1906, 1908, and 1909.
“The History of 17-Mile Drive in 17 Photos.” Pebble Beach Resorts, December 11, 2019. https://www.pebblebeach.com/insidepebblebeach/the-history-of-17-mile-drive-in-17-photos/.
“The Story of Pebble Beach Resorts: Heritage and Timeline.” Pebble Beach Resorts. Accessed August 15, 2022. https://www.pebblebeach.com/timeline/.