This is the background of Kian Seng Huat, a stonemasonry business that was situated in the now-gone Kheam Hock Village.
The cemeteries that were built in the vicinity of Kheam Hock Village are responsible for its existence. In the 1870s, three Ong clansmen gave a piece of land for communal and burial purposes, starting Seh Ong Cemetery. Hokkien Huay Kuan (formerly Heng Shan Teng) expanded its cemeteries beyond Tiong Lama and Tiong Bahru to this area.
In the early 20th century, the community began to change into a cemetery operations service center as at least ten stone mason shops opened. These stores, which not only import granite from Quanzhou and Malacca or use local granite from Bukit Timah and Pulau Ubin, also have experts who supervise the import and also the making of tombstones. Some of these experts came from Hui Ann County, where these granite stones were hauled in, and their expertise was introduced here. Hence, these stone mason shops were an important element of Kheam Hock Village's identity. They contributed to the unique history of the area and assisted families who buried their ancestors there.
This Kian Seng Huat Stone Works Construction, situated on Kheam Hock Road, is the subject of this blog post, which examines the growth of these stone masons' businesses. The original proprietor was Tan Hoo Chwee, who hailed from Hui Ann County in Quanzhou. He and his family settled down in Kheam Road Village, where he started his stone workshop at 260 Kheam Hock Road. It was the first stone mason shop in Kheam Hock Road. The second one was Kian Cheong. The earlier ones were Kian Guan, Nam Lee, Hoe Chuan, and Heap Eik, followed by Chuan Hoe Huat, Kian Guan Hin, Hoe Ann, Eng Soon Huat, etc. In fact, some workers learned their skills from earlier shops and then set up shops on their own.
Row of Stone Engraving Shops, Kheam Hock Road
Kian Seng Huat mark on the tombs they helped to supervise and construct
However, during the Great Depression Period and the Sino-Japanese War, the market worsen even for this industry, so much so that these Kheam Hock stone masons decided to come together and form a Stone Merchant Association
Tan Hoo Chwee was also one of the founding members of the Hui Ann Association, set up in 1923 to aid immigrants from Hui Ann, Fujian, China.
Election of Tan Hoo Chwee as the General Manager of Stone Merchants' Association
石商公會首屆董事已選出，建成發和陳富永任總理。
南洋商报 (Nanyang Siang Pau), 17 April 1939, Page 10
石商公會首屆董事已選出，建成發陳富永任總理。
南洋商報 (Nanyang Siang Pau), 1939年4月17日, 第10版
本坡經營幼工石料之石商，因目下市況不佳，同途多貶值求售，瓦相傾銷，同業中人於是有感，知同途組織一團體之必要，因而倡組「石商公會」，藉聯絡感情，共謀福利。故於去夏五月間籌備向當地政府註冊，查進行以來，堪稱順利。迨本月六日，始獲當地政府來函書面通知，該會經予批准案。茲探悉該會甫收到通知書，復於昨日下午七時，假振中學校開會，選舉第一屆董事。依到會者，計有：
Nanyang Siang Pau 1939, Apr 17, pg 10
The Stone Merchant’s Association’s first Management Board was chosen, and Kian Seng Huat Tan Hoo Chwee was elected General Manager.
Stone merchants in this locality engaged in supplying stone for construction works, because the market is presently unfavorable, have been forced to sell at reduced prices, undercutting one another. Colleagues in the trade thus felt the need for a common organization and therefore initiated the formation of the “Stone Merchants’ Association” to foster solidarity and pursue mutual welfare. Accordingly, preparations were made last May to register with the local government, and the process has proceeded smoothly. On the 6th of this month, a formal letter was received from the local authorities notifying us that approval had been granted. It is now learned that, having just received the notification, the association convened a meeting at 7 p.m. yesterday at Chin Chung School to elect its first board of directors. Those present were as follows:
建成發陳富水、Kian Seng Huat, Tan Hoo Chwee
建昌號楊麒麟, Chop Kian Cheong, Yeo Kee Lin
泉成號柯富, Chop Chuan Seng,
文記號蘇轉成, Chop Boon Kee
協昌號蘇開成, Chop Hiap Cheong
福成號陳旺、Chop Hock Seng
王笑生、
陳德發、
泉協益、
蘇有志等十餘商號。
主席為陳富水，紀錄王國華。
首由主席宣布開會理由，繼復報告註冊官來函通知批准案事宜。嗣即進行無記名投票。選舉結果，當選如下：
- 總理：建成發陳富水
- 財政：泉成號柯富
- 司理：建昌號楊文送
- 收賬：文記號蘇轉成
- 查賬：福成号陳旺
- 董事：協昌號蘇開成、泉協益、蘇有志等七商號
選畢，眾咸慶得其人，至九時許散會。
Nanyang Siang Pau 25 Jun 1941 Pg 11 - Tan Hoo Chwee donate funds during his son's wedding.
陳富水爲子完婚節宴費獻金
南洋商报 (Nanyang Siang Pau), 25 June 1941, Page 11
A bulletin from the Bukit Timah branch of the Singapore China Relief Fund reported that Mr. Tan Hoo Chwee, a senior member of the branch’s Third Section, although advanced in age, was notably still forward-thinking and deeply patriotic. Since the outbreak of the war, he has tirelessly promoted the national salvation movement and earned a strong reputation. He has long served on the branch’s standing committee and held key roles in the Third Section, actively campaigning and working hard on relief efforts, winning widespread respect.
On June 15, at the wedding of his second son, Mr. Tan invited Mr. Huang Yihuan, a leading figure in the Singapore China Relief Fund, to serve as the witness. Out of concern for the national crisis and compassion for refugees, Mr. Tan avoided lavish celebrations, saved on banquet expenses, and donated 55 Singapore dollars. In addition, congratulatory gifts from various circles and from fellow members of the branch totalling 195 dollars were also fully donated. The combined sum of 290 Straits dollars was handed over yesterday to the branch for remittance to the main committee, to be used for medical aid and relief. Such sincere and righteous conduct is truly admirable.
移賀儀惠及災黎星華籌賑會武吉的嗎分會訊，該會第三組常委陳富水先生，年齡雖老，思想特新，愛國之心，素不後人，自抗戰以來，不辭勞瘁，宣傅救亡之工作早著聲譽，歷任該分會常委，兼第三組要職，奔馳呼號，努力賑之熱心，久為衆所欽沂。於六月十五日，為其令次郎成發君完婚，並敦請星華籌賑大會要員黄奕歡先生為證婚人，因陳君關懷國難，憫念災黎，不朝尚事鋪張，節省宴費，獻金五十五元，暨各界及該分會同志所賀禮儀，計一百九十五元，亦全捐獻，合共叻幣二百九十元，昨已彚交該分會以轉繳大會作救傷恤難之需，似此熱誠義舉，良堪敬佩也。
Tan Tee Seng is sitting 5th from the left. Picture taken circa 1961
无标题
联合早报 (Lianhe Zaobao), 14 July 1985, Page 22
新加坡建成发宝号东主
陈成发先生令胞弟 令胞弟
水成先生千古
音容宛在
新加坡石业商
建源号
泉协益 文记号 黄金发
陈源发
陈振德, 建源发, 友和号, 和安号, 林俊成号
臣兴号
陈顺发
顺发永记
林坤海 集兴号-
永合号, 建昌号, 新顺发, 苏东南, 联丰石业
源合号 泉成号 程两顺 泉和发 蔡厝港云石公司
永和发
黄大成 振源号 信发号
同敬鞔
Kian Seng Huat Stone Works Construction
TAN SENG HUAT
123, Kheam Hock Road Singapore (11)
TEL: 52078
Branch Office: 21-G Jalan Sungei Poyan
Off 16 m.s. Chua Chu Kang Road, Singapore (24)
TEL: 691773
Importers Of All Kinds Of Granites And
Tombstones From China And Grave Makers.
本號專辦
中國玉昌湖青石
泉州白石雲石等
各式墓牌石料
精工督造
大小風水
連工包料
一律歡迎
Tan Seng Huat died a few years after that. The villagers were evicted sometime in the 1980s and Kheam Hock Village ceased to exist
For Chinese immigrants in areas like Singapore and Malaysia. These imported stones with intricate designs and carvings helped them keep their ancestral traditions, identity, and status when there weren't many local materials or skilled workers.
In Singapore, as seen at places like Bukit Brown, these carvers make gravestones, adapting to local customs and designs. What started as imports from Hui An became a part of the unique tomb culture of Southeast Asia.
In September 2003, the China Arts and Crafts Association awarded Hui'an County the honorary title of "China's Stone Carving Capital." In June 2006, Hui Ann stone carving was selected into the first batch of the national intangible cultural heritage list.
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