The Chinese Deadline

Bellingham today is a tolerant, laid-back kind of town, but it wasn't always that way. In 1885, residents of the area which would one day become Bellingham gathered to celebrate the expulsion of all Chinese people from Whatcom County. Eventually some of them came back, but they were not welcomed with open arms. One of the series of historical markers I've blipped used to show the location of the Chinese Deadline. From 1898 to 1903, Chinese were forbidden by city ordinance from crossing this line to enter Fairhaven, which was then a separate city and is now part of Bellingham .

The marker disappeared a few years ago and was replaced by a new one today at a ceremony where Bellingham Mayor Dan Pike apologized on behalf of the city for the wrongs inflicted on the Chinese community. The event was just one of many this year in Bellingham, Mount Vernon, Seattle, Tacoma, and Olympia as part of the Chinese Expulsion Remembrance Project.

You can see photos of the ceremony here, including traditional Chinese dancers.

One of the speakers today was Penny Tillson, whose late husband, Tyrone, was responsible for placing all the original 45 markers.

Marker #1

Marker #2

Marker #3

Marker #4

Marker #5