Lewie Sing: Carlisle’s Chinese Laundryman

In 1899, Chinaman Sing Gee, planning to make a trip to China, sold his laundry business at 120 West High Street to Lewie Sing for $160. Lewie paid Sing Gee $100 and agreed to pay him the balance when he returned from China. Sing Gee returned in July 1900 and claimed that he was still the owner of the laundry.

Lewie Sing sent for his uncle, Hop Lee of Gettysburg, to settle the dispute. It was agreed that Lewie Sing should pay Sing Gee the remaining $60 and a further $25, and then Sing Gee would relinquish all claim to the business.¹

The laundry, a two-story brick building, was located on the south side of West High Street behind the Express Office and next to the Greenfield residence. It was also where Lewie lived. Lewie, who was single and in his 20s, worked hard and saved his money. With no other Chinese in Carlisle, he likely sought out others who shared his culture. The newspapers reported on Lewie’s frequent trips to Harrisburg where he sometimes attended its Chinese Masonic Lodge.²

In 1907, Dr. Joseph W. Noble of Carlisle, a renowned dentist in China, returned to Carlisle with his assistant Chang Tung. It was Tung’s first trip to America, and although he could speak English the newspaper reported that he “visited Carlisle’s only Chinaman, Lewie Sing, the West High Street laundryman and the two had some very interesting conversations.”³

Lewie died on July 1, 1908 in Carlisle’s Todd Hospital as a result of an operation for Tubercular peritonitis.⁴ He was 31 years old. His body was taken to Ewing’s Undertaking rooms where a large number of people came to pay their respects. The newspaper reported that Lewie was born in San Francisco, but his father, Soohoo Geeyen,⁵ later returned to China. It was thought that Lewie might be planning on returning to China because he had sent about $1,500 there during the past year.⁶

A great deal was learned about Lewie from his obituary in the July 13, 1908 edition of the Harrisburg Telegraph headlined “Lewie Sing Dies a Wealthy Man.”

“Carlisle, July 13. Hop Lee, of Gettysburg, a fairly well-educated Chinaman, and an uncle of the late Lewie Sing, of Carlisle, was in town Friday looking after a sale of personal property which belonged to Lewie. He stated that Lewie’s parents are still living in China, that his mother is about 70 and his father 70 years of age. They have not learned as yet of their son’s death, and when they do, by letter from Hop Lee, the latter says they will go to bed for at least two months in an effort to drown their great sorrow.

Lewie Sing was well fixed financially, having made good money here for years. Only four or five weeks ago, Hop Lee says, he sent home about $4,500 and a big amount some time before that. He wore the best of tailor-made clothing and dressed after the latest fashion. In the settling up of his estate, a diamond ring Lewie owned was sold at private sale for $50 and a splendid watch was disposed of.”

Lewie’s remains were shipped to Pittsburgh for temporary interment, and later, the Carlisle newspaper reported, may be taken to China.⁷ Lewie never made it to China, but he is buried in the Chinese section of Pittsburgh’s Homewood Cemetery.

Dr. A. R. Allen, administrator of Lewie’s estate, held a public sale of his property which included a bed and bedding, a stove and lamps, a watch, a solid gold watch & chain, a diamond ring and wearing apparel.⁸ He sold Lewie’s laundry business to two men from Pittsburg, Charlie Soo and Tom Ben.