Activists Seek to Preserve Historic Japanese-American Presbyterian Mission Site Involved in Possible Sale

Wintersburg Village was one of few sites owned by Japanese Americans before the California Alien Land Law of 1913.

by Caitlin Yoshiko Kandil /  / Updated 

Wintersburg Japanese Mission and Manse (parsonage), circa 1910.Courtesy of Historic Wintersburg, Wintersburg Church

IRVINE, Calif. — A historic site representing one of Southern California’s earliest Japanese pioneer settlements may be in danger of being destroyed in a possible sale, according to activists from the Japanese-American community.

Historic Wintersburg — a 4.5-acre parcel of land in Huntington Beach, California, that includes the original Wintersburg Japanese Presbyterian Mission built in 1910 — is up for sale, which could mean that the more than century-old buildings and artifacts will be torn down if the property is redeveloped, Mary Urashima, chairwoman of the Historic Wintersburg Preservation Task Force, said. READ MORE…