This weekend we welcomed a descendant of "Big Jim" of San Jose's Woolen Mills Chinatown (1887-1902) to our Chinese American Historical Museum.

The Woolen Mills Chinatown was located two blocks north of the San Jose Woolen Manufacturing Company at Taylor and First Streets in San Jose, where Chinese workers were employed. This three-story landmark opened in 1870 and was popularly known as the San Jose Woolen Mills, one of the city's first factories, manufacturing blankets, flannels and suits.

Chin Shin (aka "Big Jim") was one of the wealthiest and most influential Chinese on the Pacific Coast with interest in agriculture and horticulture. He built the Garden City Cannery at the Woolen Mills Chinatown and employed hundreds of Chinese. The area was also known as 'Taylor Street Chinatown' or 'Big Jim’s Chinatown.'