By Everett Eaton

It’s just one historical marker.

But it is the first to recognize the significance of the Chinese Laundry Era in Milwaukee, which impacted dozens, if not hundreds, of families who persevered through anti-Chinese riots, the Chinese Exclusion Act, and everyday discrimination to gain a foothold in America.

The historical marker will be installed at the YWCA-Southeast Wisconsin building on North King Drive, which was previously home to Fred Moy Laundry, a Chinese-owned laundry that operated between the 1940s and 1970s.

The YWCA has since integrated the old laundry site into its building, but the original brick can still be seen inside the building, according to Lorna Young, president of the Organization of Chinese American-Wisconsin chapter, the organization that applied for the historical marker from the Wisconsin Historical Society.

“Most of these old buildings don’t exist anymore, and this one is so well preserved,” said Young.

The YWCA and the OCA-Wisconsin will celebrate the marker on Friday, Oct. 24, at 11:30 a.m. at 1915 North King Drive.

The marker is a step towards sharing Asian American history in Milwaukee and will hopefully inspire others to share their stories, said Lorna Young, president of the OCA-Wisconsin.

“The era was not that long ago, and people who lived in that time are still alive today,” Young said.

The Chinese Laundry Era and the Moy family

The Chinese Laundry Era began in the mid-1800’s at a time when Chinese immigrants faced racism like discriminatory hiring, violence and harassment in the United States.

Laws eventually backed the violence Chinese immigrants faced with the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 − the first federal law to regulate immigration for a specific nationality. The act was not repealed until 1943.

To read the entire article: https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/neighborhoods/2025/10/15/chinese-laundry-era-commemorated-with-a-historical-marker-on-king-drive/86564052007/

Photo credit: OCA-Wisconsin From The Milwaukee Public Library Historic Photo Collection