Thanks to LTC Scott Ellinger and fellow Taiwan military bloggers, Don Wiggins and Kent Mathieu, I've received much in the way of pictures and stories that have provided material for postings.
Here, we have a building which has served many purposes and is still functioning as part of a complex of buildings.
Information for part of the history of the sugar industry in Taiwan came from: taiwanpedia.culture.tw/en/content?ID=3765
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| Photo courtesy of Scott Ellinger
Japan began its occupation of Taiwan around 1895. Shortly afterward, in 1900, the Taiwan Sugar Company was established in Tokyo. It was not a monopoly as several other corporations built sugar factories in Taiwan.
By 1923, there were 44 modern sugar factories, and over 100 converted or old-style factories in Taiwan. Truthfully, there wasn't much competition.
The southern area was the first and most productive sugar producing region. Specifically, the regions near Kaohsiung and Taichung were fertile and also provided access for shipment of this precious commodity.
As WWII ground on, the land used for producing sugar was turned into rice paddies. This eventually led to the decline of sugar as a major export commodity.
The building above was built by the Taiwan Sugar Company in the Yangmingshan area north of Taipei.
When it was constructed is unknown, but notice the automobile which might put this picture in the 1920s, possibly a decade later. The sulphur bath building is off to the left.
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| Photo courtesy of Scott Ellinger; USTDC.blogspot.com post 02/21/2012
This 1931 photo of the Taiwan Sugar Company building indicates an outward status quo by the Japanese. It would continue that way until 1945 when WWII ended.
But it wasn't until 1952 that the Japanese relinquished all rights to Taiwanese property. By then, the ROC had become fully entrenched.
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| Photo courtesy of Stev Pitchford: USTDC posts 05/12/2008, 02/21/2012 |
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| Photo courtesy of Stev Pitchford: USTDC.blogspot.com 05/12/2008, 02/21/2012
After WWII, the ROC eventually relocated to Taiwan after the PRC took control of the Chinese mainland.
As a major supporter of the ROC, the U.S..Armed Forces and dependents began to be assigned to Taiwan in large numbers.
The old Sugar Building was converted to barracks for servicemen who lived there from the 1950s until around 1972.
It was also used as a traveler's hostel occasionally. In fact, it was referred to as Hostel #1. |
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| Photo courtesy of Yangmingshan National Park Collection |
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| Photo courtesy of Liangcw-blog |
Since 1981, the former Sugar Building/Hostel #1 is part of a multi-building complex known as The Taipei Teachers' In-Service Education Center.
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| Photo courtesy of Scott Ellinger
Recently, Army LTC Scott Ellinger took a trip to Yangmingshan and shot the above photo in color and matched it, according to distance and angle, to the first picture in this post.
According to Victor W. Cheng's comment, the earliest the botttom picture could have been taken was in the early 1930s.
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>When it was constructed is unknown, but notice the automobile which might put this picture in the 1920s, possibly a decade later.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ymsnp.gov.tw/UD/library/H0026%E9%99%BD%E6%98%8E%E5%B1%B1%E5%9C%8B%E5%AE%B6%E5%85%AC%E5%9C%92%E6%97%A5%E5%AE%A4%E6%BA%AB%E6%B3%89%E5%BB%BA%E7%AF%89%E8%A7%A3%E8%AA%AA%E5%8F%8A%E4%BF%9D%E5%AD%98%E8%A6%8F%E5%8A%83.pdf
開工：昭和4年(1929)10月25日
竣工：昭和5年10月31日
The construction began on Oct 25, 1929, and was finished on Oct 31, 1930.
I had a room there in 1964 while working at USTDC. I really liked soaking in the hot bath, and the solitude of the place.
ReplyDeleteJohn Quinn
I also worked at USTDC and lived in the hostel. I will never forget the place. Very nice staff, very quiet, Peito not far away, lol. But really I was 19 at the time or 20.
DeleteI am thinking about going back to Taipei for a visit.
Joe Bristow
It seems as though the first two pictures should be reversed in sequential order. Scott Ellinger found the first picture at the Peitou Museum. It was not dated, but now we know it was after 1930. Thanks go to, as usual, Victor.
ReplyDelete>As WWII ground on, the land used for producing sugar was turned into rice paddies. This eventually led to the decline of sugar as a major export commodity.
ReplyDeleteIt's called "the contradictory relationship between sugar and rice production(米糖相剋)" in Taiwan history.
Comparing the same palm leaves (near the center of the hostel) in the two different photos support your analysis (the leaves in the 1931 photo are slightly longer and fuller, perhaps just one year or growing season apart). Enjoying this much, thank you!
ReplyDeleteRory,
ReplyDeleteThis one building has brought many different responses. Ellinger has retired, so a prolific source of GM info has departed. Tks for your comments. John