<Begin Segment 8>

TI: Going back to your, the boarders, did the family ever establish a close relationship with any of the boarders that maybe someone who stayed at the place a lot, that, who became friends?

LW: Well, not really close, but they kind of knew each other. Because it's seasonal workers, but they stay year-round. So we get to know 'em pretty close. That's where I learned how to play cards. Not gambling, but pinochle and (cribbage).

TI: Because they would do their work or whatever, but every night they would be there, so you'd see them?

LW: Right. Because after they eat, they kind of socialize in the next room. Next room was more like a dining room, but where they could relax, you know. Because when they go upstairs, it's only a small bedroom.

TI: And generally, were these bachelor men that were there, the boarders? They were men, primarily?

LW: Yeah.

TI: And so I'm curious, in addition to being in the side room playing cards, what other activities did they do in the town in Walnut Grove?

LW: Oh, recreation-wise?

TI: Yeah.

LW: Only thing we had was, oh, when you get older, you had a basketball program, and baseball they play, and that's about it.

TI: I'm thinking more about the boarders, the seasonal workers to lived upstairs?

LW: Yeah.

TI: What kind of entertainment did they have?

LW: Nothing. Only thing is on the weekend, they usually get drunk, you know. You know how the Caucasian, paycheck to paycheck.

TI: And where would they go drinking?

LW: No, at my restaurant, we served beer.

TI: And were there any other places, whether in Japantown...

LW: Well, they had bars, but I don't recall anything where they could go drink hard liquor because it's expensive. They couldn't afford it.

TI: Like in the Japantown area, was there anyplace like that?

LW: No, Japantown there was no hard liquor, no bars at all. And actually, only place, like our restaurant, and maybe the Japanese restaurant might serve beer or something like that. That's about all.

TI: So where in Walnut Grove could they go for hard liquor if not in Japantown?

LW: Well, you got to go to the American section there.

TI: So let's talk about that --

LW: But, you know, funny thing, you know like that Tony's restaurant in Chinatown that burned down? See, that wasn't there when we were little. That came right after we came back from the camp.

<End Segment 8> - Copyright (c) 2009 Densho and Preserving California's Japantowns. All Rights Reserved.