Marker Inscription
Born in China as Jo Fung Sheng in 1860, Joe Sing immigrated to the U.S. around 1890 to financially support his family. He settled in Austin, becoming one of the first Chinese immigrants in the city. Sing opened Hong Lee Laundry on 311 W. 5th Street, which he ran along with his wife, Francis (Moreno), a Mexican-American woman who lost her U.S. citizenship for marrying a Chinese man. Joe Sing supported the Austin Chinese community by providing loans for other Chinese men, who found it difficult to procure funds otherwise because of discrimination. Joe and Francis had four children, including Margaret, who bought this property, becoming the first homeowner in the family.
About this site
The Sing Family in Austin is a historical marker in Austin, Travis County, dedicated in 2010. It is one of 336 historical markers documented in Travis County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 641 historic sites cataloged across the county.
The site sits at 30.2567, -97.7266 near Austin. The nearest cataloged historic site is Schulze, Walter, House and Industrial Structure (Gone?) (historic place), about 0.1 miles away. Others within a short drive include Moonlight Towers, Stavely-Kunz-Johnson House, and House at 1400 Canterbury Street.
This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5507016573. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.
