CAMSIG members from UC Davis medical school and friends visit the historic Chew Kee Store, an herbal shop built during the Gold Rush by herbalist Yee Fung Cheung.

"Chew Kee" was a Chinese rammed earth structure established as an herb shop during the Gold Rush. Dr. Yee Fong Cheung, an herb doctor who was operating the store in the early years, came to America to administer to the medical needs of the Chinese miners, later also tending to the Chinese railroad workers. A man known only by his store name of "Chew Kee" owned the shop by the 1980's, and was providing groceries and supplies to the Chinese community. By 1910, however, there were only four Chinese Americans residing in Fiddletown. In 1913, Chew Kee deeded the property to their "adopted" son, Fong Chow Yow, also known as Jimmy Chow. Jimmy Chow worked in Fiddletown, living in the old herb store until his death in 1965. "Chew Kee", therefore, remains largely intact as the only remnant of the once-thriving Chinese community in Fiddletown.

The small gold rush community of Fiddletown is located six miles east of Plymouth in historic Amador County, California. The town was settled in 1849, presumably by Missourians. The town's name was changed to Oleta on May 24, 1878, at the insistence of Judge Purinton, a predominant local citizen. In the 1850's it became a trading center for a number of rich mining camps such as American Flat among others.  The name Fiddletown was restored on July 1, 1932. The Fiddletown District is California Historical Landmark 35.
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Click on thumbnails to see some great pictures of the tour.