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Origins of an alley, origins of a
town
Our town (known as Yolo City) was born
in 1853 when Henry Wyckoff built a small box frame store
on the southeast corner of what is now First Street
and Dead Cat Alley. The Woodland Art Center tour and
booklet highlights the settlement's growth from that
site as commercial buildings spread to accommodate travelers
and farmers. Alley tourists also see the location of
Woodland's original railroad. The first train traveled
over the Cal-P tracks in 1869 across the alley near
College Street (known as Railroad Street). The branch
line connected Davisville, Woodland, Knights Landing
and Yuba City – it also brought Chinese residents
into the city. A small China Town developed, concentrated
between Second and Elm Streets but extended between
Fourth to Walnut Streets. This part of Dead Cat Alley
(known as China Alley) became a source of lively tales
about Man Hop, Ah Min, Boy Ying, Ah Fat, Gee Lee and
Quong Sing. Still the mystery of the alley name remains
– perhaps the following booklet exerpts will unveil
the secret.
Site of Old China Town on
the 400 Block including one of Woodland's oldest businesses,
the Chicago Cafe. Photo by Rich Westphal
Dead Cat Alley by name
• 1873, February 8: The Yolo Democrat
reports, "Sam Ruland on Dead Cat Alley was burglarized."
• In 1879 the Woodland Standard reported that
Mr. Cassili was driving his thresher engine past a Chinese
residence near Washington Hall when he "broke through
the ground where the Chinese have been excavating."
Apparently some Chinese men had tunneled under the alley
– perhaps to create more space for housing, perhaps
to stay hidden from the racism of the day.
• 1890, November 19: The Mail of Woodland reports,
"Passing down Dead Cat Alley yesterday a Mail reporter
noticed three youngsters in knee pants and waists diligently
puffing away at a cigarette and blowing smoke from their
nostrils and mouths like miniature steam engines."
• 1892, July: With north winds blowing, flames
broke out in a small barn on Dead Cat Alley in back
of Bartolli's grocery store – near First Street.
Peter Calder and Harry Gremenger were the first to see
the flames. According to the Democrat, "They were
in a wagon at Dunphy's Blacksmith Shop, corner of First
Street and Dead Cat Alley. They jumped and ran toward
the barn, shouting an alarm of fire as they ran."
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On May 7, 1962, Woodland City Council officially named
the alley "Dead Cat Alley."
• Archaeologists excavating beneath the Opera
House in the early 1980s found cat bones with butcher
marks from cleavers, hand saws and knives. Similar marks
were also found on bones from chickens, pig, cattle,
sheep and squirrels. These findings indicate the animals
were used for human consumption. The archaeological
report entitled The Chinese Laundry on Second Street
Papers: Archaeology at the Woodland Opera House site
– California Archaeological Report Number 24 was
published in 1984 by the California Department of Parks
and Recreation. This report notes that while cat and
dog meat are considered edible by the Chinese, they
were not commonly served meals. Racist assumptions probably
led to exaggerated stories of Chinese eating habits.
The 1886 Sanborn Map shows a clustering of Chinese residents
living along the alley between College and Elm. Also
shown on the map are corrals associated with the livery
and feed store (Fashion). Polks Woodland Directory from
1939 to 1960 listed Chinese Alley as running between
Walnut and Third. Three-quarters of the entire north
side of the alley became a continuous row of houses.
This section was known as China Alley, although still
part of Dead Cat Alley proper.
• Local architect Gary Wirth suggested the alley
was simply a popular place to fling one's dead cat.
• Marc Woodside, a retired postal carrier from
Virginia and observer of thousands of mailboxes, commented,
"This is the best address I've ever seen."
• Lenore Sharp, whose family operated a grocery
store on this block, remembers the alley as "Chiney
Alley." She reported that, "Nobody called
it Dead Cat Alley."
• Jack Din, whose family operated Tai Lee's Laundry
in the 1930s and 40s said, "We just called it The
Alley. We didn't know it was called Dead Cat Alley.
There were no signs."
• It’s possible the name of the alley arose
from a rat problem in the area. Supposedly, rats once
roamed along here because of the garbage from the many
restaurants. The rodents were poisoned, thus, the cats
that fed upon them were also extinguished.
• In 1919 the Sacramento Bee reported this about
the origin of the alley's name: "Rue de la Extinct
Feline is the pretty name for the alley just a half
block off Main Street. Its English name is Dead Cat
Alley. Years ago more cats whose entire nine lives had
departed to the realm of everlasting mice were found
in that alley than in any other part of town. The wisecracking
boys of the Gay 90s soon plastered the indelicate appellation
on the alley and it remained." (Daily Democrat,
11/4/84)
The true origin of the name is still unknown. Perhaps
you will be the first to solve the mystery of Dead Cat
Alley.
 Looking
west from behind the historic Odd Fellows Building to
the Opera House and beyond. Photo by Rich Westphal
References
• Cary, Marcia, Ron Pinegar, Jack
Potter and David Wilkinson. Historical Downtown Woodland
Walking Tour. Woodland CA.
• The Chinese Laundry on Second Street: Papers
on Archaeology at the Woodland Opera House Site. California
Archaeological Report, No. 24. Sacramento: California
Department of Parks and Recreation, September 1984.
• Walters, Shipley. Woodland, City of Trees. Woodland
CA: Yolo County Historical Society, 1995.
Resources
• Daily Democrat and Yolo Democrat
• Din family: John, Jack, Grant, Lucy Din Wong,
and Ruby Din Yee
• Fong, Paul: Owner of Chicago Cafe, one of Woodland's
oldest businesses
• Gay, Patti: Past president of Art League of
Woodland
• Long, Anita: Owner of The House Dresser
• Mail of Woodland: The Mail of Woodland
• Reiff, Ken: Pioneer family descendent and past
President Woodland Downtown Improvement Association
• Sacramento Bee
• Sharp, Lenore: Longtime Dead Cat Alley property
owner
• Wilkinson, David: Author of Crafting a Valley
Jewel, Architects and Builders of Woodland
• Woodland Standard
• Yolo County Archives (staff and volunteers) |
