The Florin and Placer chapters of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), the Fukushima Kenjin Kai, the Bureau of Land Management, California State Parks, the USDA NRCS, the Sierra Nevada Conservancy and the American River Conservancy have formed a working partnership which seeks to acquire the historic 272 acre Veerkamp property at Gold Hill, a rural area between Placerville and Coloma in western El Dorado County.

In 1869, a group of Japanese people from Aizu Wakamatsu in modern Fukushima Prefecture in Japan, led by John Henry Schnell, arrived in California with the purpose of settling in California and to establish the Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Farm Colony at Gold Hill.

The Japanese people, who journeyed to San Francisco with John Schnell and his Japanese wife were in all likelihood the first group from Japan to arrive and settle in the United States. The Wakamatsu party arrived in Sacramento, then proceeded to Placerville and nearby Gold Hill where Schnell had arranged to purchase 160 acres from Charles M. Graner. They brought mulberry trees, silkworm cocoons, tea plants and bamboo shoots in the hopes of establishing an agricultural settlement. They also brought cooking utensils, swords and a large banner bearing the crest of the Aizu Wakamatsu clan. These artifacts were donated to the State Parks by the Veerkamp family and are well preserved and maintained by the Parks.

The Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Farm Colony struggled to survive for several years but was plagued by an insufficient water supply, lack of adequate funding, labor dispute and other economic problems. Two members of the colony stayed on as friends and employees of the pioneer Veerkamp family. It is our vision to resurrect the Wakamatsu Colony as a Historical Park and an interpretive facility that pays tribute to these first colonists and to the contributions that Japanese Americans have made to the State of California.

A unique window of opportunity has presented itself to acquire this historic property from the Veerkamp family, who have agreed to sell at a fair market price. Additional funds are needed to acquire the site, build a public park facility and preserve the Wakamatsu Colony story for future generations to enjoy. Your action will help make this dream a reality.


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