Qualla: Historic Wintersburg in Huntington Beach, California

Historic Wintersburg in Huntington Beach, California: Introduction

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Charles Mitsuji Furuta arrived in America in 1900, intending to meet his brother in Hawaii. A Black Plague outbreak prevented him from disembarking. He continued to Tacoma, then made his way to Orange County's celery fields, where he met Reverend Hisakichi Terasawa walking among Japanese laborers. The reverend advised him to save money and buy land. In 1908, they purchased five acres together for what would become the C.M. Furuta Gold Fish Farm and the Wintersburg Japanese Mission. Furuta returned to Japan in 1912 to marry, and by March 1913 had completed a four-room bungalow. Just weeks later, California would pass laws forbidding Japanese immigrants from owning property. Furuta had beaten the deadline by months. His property became one of the rare Japanese-owned parcels in the state, and its six surviving structures now stand as a National Treasure, telling a story of immigration, persecution, resilience, and the ongoing fight for preservation.

Historic Wintersburg in Huntington Beach, California: Before the Land Laws

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

The Wintersburg Japanese Mission was founded in 1904 as a multi-faith effort, with Episcopalian, Methodist, Presbyterian, Buddhist, and Christian supporters meeting in borrowed barns and cottages. By 1910, congregants had built a mission building and manse, funded by donations fr...

Historic Wintersburg in Huntington Beach, California: Executive Order 9066

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. The FBI came to Wintersburg to interrogate Charles Furuta in the sunroom of his bungalow and Reverend Sohei Kowta in the church offices. Furuta was taken first to Tuna Canyon Detention Station in Los Angeles County, then to an ene...

Historic Wintersburg in Huntington Beach, California: From Goldfish to Water Lilies

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

The Furutas spent years recovering their ponds and pivoting their business. Instead of goldfish, they grew water lilies. The farm became the largest provider of cut water lily flowers in the United States during the second half of the 20th century. The church congregation followe...

Historic Wintersburg in Huntington Beach, California: A National Treasure Under Threat

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

The Furuta family sold the property in 2004 after nearly a century of ownership. The buyer, Rainbow Environmental Services, proposed rezoning to commercial and industrial use with demolition of all historic structures. In 2014, the National Trust for Historic Preservation named H...