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Rojak Librarian

The Rojak Librarian is a blog that covers a range of topics related to Singapore's history, culture, and heritage. There are many articles on Bukit Brown, exploring the cemetery's past and present, the lives of the people buried there and the social and cultural significance of the site. I also cover about nature and Birdwatching in some of my articles.

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Showing posts from May, 2024

Posts

Cheang Siok Tin nee Mrs. Tan Soo Wan (Bukit Brown)

Block 1 Division B Died Young

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An ode to Tombkeeper Ah Soon (Bukit Brown)

Block 4 Div A tombkeeper

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Madam Koh Nia Chee (Bukit Brown)

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Madam Tan Geok Lin (Bukit Brown)

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Ong Say Koon (Seh Ong )

decorative tiles seh ong

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Mrs. Ong Poh nee Madam Low Lye Neo (Seh Ong)

decorative tiles seh ong

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Chui Lim Siew (Bukit Brown)

Block 4 Div A Hill 4

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Seah Ah Lek (Bukit Brown)

Block 3 Div A Died Young

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Newspaper mentions (2024)

newspaper mentions

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Teo Seng Teck (Bukit Brown)

Block 4 Div A Hill 4

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Lee Boon Tiang (Bukit Brown)

Block 4 Div A Hill 4

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Kam Boon Gong (Bukit Brown)

Block 4 Div A Hill 4

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Mattthias Pang Hock Swee (St. Joseph's Catholic Church Cemetery)

Died Young St. Joseph Church Cemetery

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Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Cheng (St. Joseph's Catholic Church Cemetery)

St. Joseph Church Cemetery

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Labels

Bukit Brown948
Hill 3301
Hill 1181
Hill 4153
Block 3 Div D130
decorative tiles129
Died Young124
Block 4 Div A105
Hill 294
birdwatching83

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Rojak Librarian: Nature has a lot to teach us, if only we stop to pay attention.

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Resource Guide on Bukit Brown

History from the Hills (2013)

Newspaper mentions (2014)

Newspaper mentions (2017)

Tuesday Report (2018) 星期二特写 | 行脚。发现第4集：武吉布朗之旅

Newspaper mentions(2022)

Grave Matters-The Greater Bukit Brown(2023)

Newspaper mentions(2024)

The Stories Behind: Birdwatcher turned grave hunter reunites families with forgotten tombs of their ancestors(2022)

Rojak Librarian+ (other Rojak matters)

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Popular Post

An ode to Tombkeeper Ah Soon (Bukit Brown)

I received the dreaded news today that Ah Soon passed away. He was sick for a while and wasn't around during this year's Qing Ming. For those not familiar with him, he was the tombkeeper that looks after Block 4 Section A. To me, Ah Soon was a person of quiet disposition who always carry a friendly smile and will greet you back when you say hi to him. One of his characteristics was that he was a chain smoker and wears a green towel like a bandana on his head. It was Ah Soon who shared with me the stories of some of the tombs he managed in "his" area. I still remember him proudly showing me (knowing i can't read chinese) the tombs he manages especially the tomb of two brothers who died one after the other and are buried there - the tomb of Brothers, Lim Kim Siew and Lim Kim Hock . He also shared that they were related to Miss Oh Twa Koh and Madam Wee Cheng Neo . Thanks to his insight, i manage to get more information and link them to many tombs not just in Bukit

James Foo Wha Cheng (St. Michael's Catholic Church Ipoh Cemetery)

The distinguished looking ceramic photograph of James Foo Wha Cheng at St. Michael's Catholic Church Ipoh Cemetery grounds caught my eye. He was also wearing a medal and a neck ribbon of a medal that was caught off. The beautiful marble stone reads; In Loving Memory of James Foo Wha Cheng Born 15th Septmember 1878 Died 11th March 1946 "To Live In Hearts You Leave Behind is Not To Die" R.I.P. Mr. Foo Wha Cheng, J.P., M.C.H. was born in Penang. He was a pioneer in Tin Mining and Plantation. Starting with Sungei Besi Mines ( where he graduated as a student of the Institute of Accounants and Book-keepers), he went to be involve in both business and civic society and was a prominent person in Perak. He was a member of the Chinese Advisory Board since 1922 and the Senior Unofficial Member of the Kinta Sanitary Board. He was the President of the Perak Mining and Planting Association and Senior Partner in the Federal Rubber Stamp Company. He was also a volunteer in the Perak B

Kamala Circus - The Great Indian Circus visits Singapore

I heard about the Tai Thean Kew circus from my involvement with Bukit Brown and during one my tours on the Queenstown Heritage Trail , i was told of another Indian circus troupe that existed in the late 1950's and 1960's. Recently, while curating ideas for a Bukit Brown tour on Pioneers of Early Entertainment, i came across a travelling circus troupe by the name of Kamala Circus. Kamala Circus (source: NewspaperSG) Kamala Circus was reputed to be the largest travelling show in the Far East. It boasted over 100 Indian artist and featured acts such as the flying trapeze act, the "Globe of Death" motor cycle act by two young girls, a 30 foot leap by a motorcyclist and the "cat" act. It claims over 300 tons of equipment and animals which include 16 horses, 8 Ceylon baby elephants, an African lion and 2 lionesses, 2 tiger cubs and 3 Indian mountain goats. It came to Singapore in 1947 from India via Ceylon and performed for a month before touring around th

Cheang Siok Tin nee Mrs. Tan Soo Wan (Bukit Brown)

Cheang Siok Tin passed away at the age of 23 on 19 July 1926 at 9:15 am at 31 Tras Street. She is the wife of Mr. Tan Soo Wan. She leaves behind a widower, a son and a daughter to mourn her loss. From her tomb the name of her children are; Son: Tan Eng Hong Daughter: Tan Koon Neo Cheang Siok Tin nee Mrs. Tan Soo Wan Husband: Tan Soo Wan Tan Soo Wan passed away on 19 December 1961 at his residence, 77 Lorong N, leaving behind his wife, 2 sons; Tan Eng Hong Harry and Tan Eng Seng Kelly 2 daughters; Tan Koon Neo and Tan Swee Neo and daughters-in-law, sons-in-laws and several grandchildren. The family of the late Mr. Tan Soo Wan thank Ven. Dhammasukha Buddhist Union. The seventh day ceremony will be held at Buddhist Union Jalan Senyum. Who exactly is Tan Soo Wan ? In searching for Tan Soo Wan, i found a few and can't be sure which is correct one for now. There is a Tan Soo Wan who was a committee member of the Rosedale Association. There is one within the timeline of a Tan Soo Wa

Ong Sam Leong (Bukit Brown)

Ong Sam Leong (王三龙) (1857 -1918) was the owner of Sam Leong and Company that provided and supplied manpower (indentured labourers) for the mining of phosphate to Christmas Island and large business in timber, oil, rubber estates, rubber treating and rubber estates supplies, owner of substantial land and properties and head of the firm Ong Sam Leong Co. carrying on business in South Canal Road and North Bridge Road. He even owned a brick works in Batam known as the Batam Brick Works . Among the Chinese community he was influential as well, being once the head of the Ban Chye Hoe Club. Even up to 1967, a Straits Time article dated March 27, 1967 mentions that Ong Sam Leong's wealth existed with a government announcement of urban renewal in Rochor area in which Sam Leong's estate was affected. I wonder if any of his estate and wealth still exist today among his grand or great grand children? Ong Sam Leong passed away at on 7 February 1918 in his residence at Bukit Rose, located

Madam Koh Nia Chee (Bukit Brown)

Madam Koh Nia Chee passed at the age of 76 on 12 March 1934. Listed on her tomb are the name of her children; Son: Pang Cheng Chye Daughter: Pang Sau Lan Grandson: Pang Chap Yit Granddaughters: Pang Thiam Neo, Pang Kim Neo, Pang Kim Keong, Pang Kim Kee, Pang Kim Hua Block 3 Section C, plot 257

Thio Sioe Kiat (Bukit Brown)

Thio Sioe Kiat Thio Sioe Kiat was born in Batavia and began work in his brother's firm, Chop Hock Seng (Messrs. Hock Seng & Co) steamship agents,tin mine owners and general merchants. Established in Singapore, they have interests in tin mining and gambier and pepper planting in Banca, Netherland Indies. (Banka Island off Sumatra, Indonesia). They also owned a 600 ton steamer called Governor-General Myer which carries both passenger and cargo from Singapore, Muntok and Palembang. He then ventured into his own business. He was granted a certificate of naturalisation by the Governor as a British subject in 1910. He also owned shares in The Overseas-Chinese Bank. However, in the slump of 1920-1921, he became a bankrupt having lost all his property and had to fold down in 3 firms. In one of his transactions he lost a princely sum of $40,000. Mr and Mrs Thio Sioe Kiat Death Thio Sioe Kiat died at the age of 84 on September 23, 1931. His wife, Tgie Hong Neo died

Wee Thiam Kee and family (Bukit Brown)

Wee Thiam Kee, Wee Thiam Siew and Wee Thiam Leong were partners in the business of Cigars, Cigarettes and Tobacco Dealers under the firm name Ban Leong and Company at 229, Rochore Road. On July 1, 1930, Wee Thiam Kee left this partnership to form his own company under the company name Chop Hong Leong. His two brothers, Wee Thiam Siew and Wee Thiam Leong continued the partnership under the name of Ban Leong and Company. There is not much information about his career, but because he passed away intestate (i.e, without a will) in 1939, it lead to a probate suit which gave me more information about him, his wife and three secondary wives. His first wife was Madam Ang Boey Neo and secondary wives are Khoo Ah Kow, Tan Beng Choo and Koh Cheng Keow. Wee Thiam Kee Secondary wives legal widows In a court case that span several days, the defendant, Madam Ang Boey Neo (alias Ang Meow Neo) contended that the 3 women were just mistresses and not lawful widows. Wee Thiam Siew (broth

Madam Tan Geok Lin (Bukit Brown)

Madam Tan Geok Lin passed away at the age of 47 on 15 September 1935. Listed on her tomb are the name of her children; Son: Wee Chay Tiong Daughter: Wee Khye Neo (Nyonya) Block 3 Division D, plot 150

St. John's Church - The "almost" forgotten Church at Old Jurong Road

One of the first villages with a significant Ann Kway population was Hong Kah Village. The name of the village comes from the Hokkien and Teochew term for "bestowing a religion" which was also the colloquial name for Chinese Christians. In 1876, a Chinese Christian convert, Tay Hong Seng contributed 3 acres of land for a church at the 11th milestone. St. John's Church was completed in 1884 and consecrated and dedicated under the name of St. John on 4 February 1884. It held services in Hokkien, Teochew and Hakka. According to oral account , the village was established when parishioners approach the Church pastor who applied to the colonial land bureau and was granted 60 acres of land and 10 families established what was known as "Hong Kah Choon" (Christian Village in Teochew and Hokkien dialect). An 1890 article mentions the mission in Jurong is stable and growing owning to the Christian population that cultivates the soil in that area. source: Jurong Heritage

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