Chew Boon San (1) – The Third of the Chew Brothers

Chew Boon San 

Chew Boon San was the third of the Chew brothers. He came over to Malaya from China after their mother died in early in the 20^th century. 

Boon San came over bringing his family which included his wife Toh Bok Wai, Chew Gaik Khim, Chew Choo Beng and Chew Choo Peng. The family stayed at Kg. Kepayang.  

In 1909 he moved to Gopeng, a shop house he purchased, at No 6 Sungai Raia Road which became his new residence as well as his business premises.

From here he operated his business, Ban Hoe Bee Tin Ore Shop first trading in tin and later in rubber.

Chew Boon San and Toh Bok Wai had 4 sons and 5 daughters

In time to come he built his Gopeng Bungalow which was situated at the next the block.His eldest son, Choo Beng was married in the Gopeng bungalow.

Chew Boon San's Gopeng bungalow was located after his block now occupied by the Petron gas station.

When elder brother, Boon Juan was building his bungalow at Jalan Chamberlan Hulu Boon San decided to join him and built his unit behind his home.

Not long after he built another bungalow located at Kampar Road. This bungalow was eventually turned over to the Salvation Army.

Boon San’s second son Choo Peng was married at the Kampar Road bungalow.

In later years, according to Soak Leng the grandaughter, Boon San lived in a rented house next door to his house No 4 Sungai Raia Road.

“This house was large. It had a big hall and he and grandmother lived downstairs. Upstairs there were five rooms where the family lived”

Chew Boon San was a quiet man and similarly his wife Bok Wai.

Boon San's built his 2nd bungalow (left photo) back to back with Chew Boon Juan's bungalow at Jalan Chamberlain Hulu (currently the Raja Perempuan School)

Boon San's 3rd bungalow, currently the Salvation Army Girls Home on Kampar Road. (Inset) Chew Choo Peng marriage photo was taken at the Kampar road home.

During the day he would be in the tin ore shop. He read the newspaper while his sons Choo Beng and Choo Peng, tended the business.

We would all have dinner in the evening at 5pm. We had a cook who would prepare the food for the family including the workers.

Sometimes after dinner Boon San would visit his friends. They would meet in a sundry shop at Jalan Kampong Rawa and chat for about an hour.

My sister and I would tag along and grandfather would buy us sweets.

Other times we would talk with our grandparents in their room. During this time she (Soak Leng) would try to get pocket money from the grandparents for school.

She observed that her grandparents had separate beds. Grandfather slept on a big wooden bed while grandmother had a big metal bed which could hang a mosquito net.

Of her grandmother, she observed that she was a China bride as she had small feet, the kind that had been bound since young.

Chew Soak Leng at the former location of their Gopeng bungalow now a petrol station.

This is an account of Chew Boon San was told by his grand daughter Chew Soak Leng. 

End