conservancy buys historic japanese settlement

Some interesting news out of California... The American River Conservancy has purchased a historic ranch near Coloma, outside of Sacramento, that is considered the site of the Wakamatsu Colony, the first Japanese settlement in North America: Conservancy buys historic Japanese settlement near Coloma.

The 272-acre Gold Hill Ranch was purchased for $3.2 million using a combination of grants, private donations and loans. It is the location of the Wakamatsu Colony, settled by Japanese immigrants in 1869 as a hub for tea cultivation, silk worm farming and other traditional Japanese agricultural practices.

"The Wakamatsu Colony story is every bit as compelling as the story of Jamestown or the Mayflower and Plymouth Rock," said Conservancy director Alan Ehrgott.

The sale closed on Nov. 1. The Conservancy purchased the ranch from the Veerkamp family, which has preserved the cultural heritage and rural nature of the property for 137 years. The family approached the Conservancy in 2007 seeking to protect the land and provide public access. It also extended credit to the Conservancy to purchase the land.

In addition to its agricultural history, the property is also the only community outside Japan that was settled by samurai; the birthplace of the first naturalized Japanese American; and the location of the first Japanese woman buried on American soil. No doubt, this is land has stories. The question is, what are they going to do with it now?