1401 Spruce Street

The following is an example of a small letter-writing campaign In August 1920:

Neighbors Florence White and Vera White-Henning wished to personally send a note of protest regarding Mr. David Walker renting his small house (which adjoined their property) “to a large household of Japanese.”[7]

They noted that “You will be doing a great favor to our neighborhood by dis couraging (sic) the above invasion.”[8]

Another neighbor, Mrs. Catherine E. Dyer intimated a shared secret or rumor: “Information has been brought to the undersigned that a house in this immediate neighborhood, #1401 Spruce St, is to be rented to Japanese laborers.”

Her small, folded note continued that this was a formal protest against “the practice of some property owners in this city of renting houses in desirable neighborhoods to Japanese and thereby not only devaluing property values but also making the neighborhood undesirable where there are young children.”

She ended her note acknowledging to the city council there is no law to prevent the rental of property, but that more publicity should be given to these occasions as they might discourage such rentals in the future.[9]

A third letter from Mrs. Graunell, wrote to inform the city council “on the southeast corner of Rose and Spruce is going to be rented to Japanese which will be most objectionable to the whole neighborhood…” then implores them to “do all in your power to stop this nuisance and will you act upon it.. directly.”[10]

A final letter of complaint typed out from a Milvia Street address. The writer, Ms. Tibbs, purchased property immediately opposite Mr. Walker’s property at Rose and Spruce Streets and noted to the City Council: “I am moving from my present place partly on account of the presence of Japanese not far distant and feel it an injustice to have what I assume to be a good neighborhood immediately spoiled by such a condition.”[11]