Yap Geok Song's Pineapple Factory off Grove Road

Yap Geok Song was a land property owner, pineapple and rubber planter merchant. His rubber estate was privately owned and was called Kuan Tian or Yap Geok Song's estate. He was also a shareholder / director of Eastern United Assurance and Oversea Chinese Bank. 

This supplement article focuses on him as a pineapple owner or rather i would say owner of a pineapple canning factory business. With the building plan below dated 1911, Yap Geok partial name can be seen. But what made me a bit more confidence it was his signed name  - Yap Geok Song.

The building plan was the plans to repurpose existing builds on 50, 51, 52 and 53 off Grove Road for a pineapple factory. This factory is for Yap Geok Song. 

There was even an article that dates back to 1 September 1906 of a lawsuit by Yap Geok Song against Adam-seroo for alleged breach of contract in stopping the supply of carts for the removal of pineapple porings. 

Pineapple Factory to Existing Building - at 50,51,52 and 53 off Grove Road  - 1911
(source: National Archives Singapore)

Yap Geok Song signature 

Yap Geok Song signature and location and size of the pineapple factory and working shed

Built Open Shed for Storing Pineapples.
(source: National Archives Singapore)

Yap Geok Song passed away at the age of 55 on 12 March 1928 due to heart failure at his town residence, 358 River Valley Road

Yap Geok Song 

Without going into too much details of the actual ownership of the pineapple canning / pineapple preserving factory, some of the information i found so far. Do note - i cannot be certain for now if Chop Jit Sin & Co.'s pineapple factory at No. 50 Grove Road is owned by Yap Geok Song as during that time period there was also a Chop Jit Sin owned by Tan Kah Kee. 

Articles on 50, 53 Grove Road

[January 1918]

Important Sale of Tinned Preserved Pineapple (3,073 cases)

Messrs. Ching Keng Lee and Company have been instructed and will sell by public auctions at Chop Jit Sin & Co.'s pineapple factory, No. 50 Grove Road (off Kallang Road).

[December 1920]

A fire occurred at 53 Grove Road, Singapore which is a pineapple canning factory on December 1920. The fire brigade engines, with Messrs Wilson and Newbury, were promptly on the scene and the fire was got under. The damage is estimated at $3,000. 

[June 1923]

Notice is hereby given the Trademarks belong to JIT SIN & Co. of No. 12 South Canal Road, Singapore, pineapple preservers and is used as a TRADE MARK in respect of pineapples preserved by them, sutuated at 53 Grove Road, Singapore 

Where Grove Road was in the past (1914 map overlay with today's map)

Side story - Architect Tan Seng Chong

While looking at one of the building plan that had Yap Geok Song, the architect of the building plan caught my eye - his chop appear on the bottom right corner - Tan Seng Chong 

Tan Seng Chong was an Architect and proprietor of Tan Seng Chong and Co. with business at 14 Raffles Quay as architects and general contractors, under European supervision. Prior to this he was a student of the I.C.S. and Municipal Surveyor and Daughtsman with 14 years of experience before deciding to start his own business as an architect and estimator in 1910 initially in his residence in No 189 Queen Street and subsequently in 14 Raffles Quay. He was the first Chinese to start his own architectural practice.

Tan Seng Chong 

Phones were only 4 digits then
(source: NewspaperSG) 

Tan Seng Chong, passed away on August 20, 1927  in his residence at No 189 Queen Street. He was 53 years old. He leaves behind his wife, Madam Au Swee Hai , one adopted son, Mr. Tan Teng Kee (also known as Battling Key), one son, Mr. Tan Chui Guan , 2 daughters, Miss Tan Eng Keow, Tan Hong Keow, 1 daughter-in-law, Tay Kim Swee Neo.

Picture of Tan Seng Chong funeral, hearse and accompanying group
taken in front of his office ( photo courtesy of Mervin Tan, great grandson)

[research still on-going]