In the olden days, the name Bin Chan House, could be seen on the pillar. What is Bin Chan?
Let us look into history for an answer:
Background – The Boey Family
Singapore Free Press Dec 29, 1913
The local Chinese community has lost one of its oldest residents in the person of Mr Boey Ah Sam who died
at the age of 85 at the residence of his son, Mr Boey Chuan Poh of Eng Ho House,
The funeral will take place later awaiting the arrivals of other sons from Batu Pahat where they have been planting.
The deceased leaves behind a widow, 9 children and a large no of grandchildren. He was born in Canton and
arrived in the colony 1842 when he was only 14 yrs old. He started business through the assistance of the late Mr James Guthrie of Messrs Guthrie and Company at Telok Ayer St from where the business was removed to No 21, Market St under the style of Boey Ah Soo and Company chop Swee Hoe in partnership with his late elder brother Mr Boey Ah Soo. This business was discontinued in 1890. Since then he had been planting gambier and pepper at Batu Pahat where he owned where he owned considerable property. A few months ago, he became ill and returned to the colony where he passed away peacefully. The funeral will be in the reform style
---
Boey Chuan Poh and his brother Boey Siew Chong were directors of the Union Times, a daily set up to uphold the British Government
and to create the best possible feeling between the large mercantile communities of English and Chinese in Singapore.
The Union Times was started in 1897, and was regarded as one of the earliest Chinese daily newspapers. It was also a reformist newspapers, and was critical of Sun Yat Sen revolutionary ideology.
For example on 22 Feb 1910 was the second anniversary birthday of the Chinese Emperor Hsun Tong, and there was no issue of Union Times, but a special dinner was given at Eng Ho House and the health of the King and the Emperor was duly drunk
Boey was born in 1873, and has a few residences, Devonshire Road and Damar Road. In early 1902, he decided to build another house, named as Bin Chan, which in Chinese Bin = Bright and Clear,
and Chan = Treasure/Pearl that is Bright Treasure.
But he sold the house as soon as he built it, only using once in Feb 1902 to host a farewell dinner for Dr Chan, a friend of Dr Lim Boon Keng. In March 1902, he advertised to let the house.
As Boey loved horses, he even has built Bin Chan House with stables. He has a horse named Bin Chan running in horse races such as the First Griffin Handicap on 4 May 1907.
He also has a horse exhibiting in the Horse and Dog Show on Sep 1903.
During one instance, there was a forum letter to ST about Stylish Cruelty to Horses
The date was 10 Jun 1904
Mr Boey replied on 13 Jun 1904
In 1905, Teo Eng Hock bought the house for his mother Mrs Teo Lee (nee Tan Poh Neo) and the rest, they say is history.
Mrs Teo died on Dec 24, 1932 and was buried in Balestier Road Burial Ground (opp Ah Hood Road)
(pic taken at Wan Qing Yuan)
Epilogue
On Aug 19, 1926, at 4.45 pm Boey Chuan Poh, the sole proprietor of Union Times died at his house at Devonshire Road.
He left behind a widow and 2 daughters and was buried on Aug 22, at 10 am at Bukit Brown Cemetery.
His grave was simple, no dragons, no horses, no wife nor mistress nor daughters name.
Perhaps like what his father funeral was, his grave was also in the reform style.
The newspapers which he owned - The Union Times, published an obituary notice on Aug 20, 1926
Boey Chuan Poh was a honorary gentleman who contributed much to society, He has been in the newspapers industry for more than 20 over years, and always seek for the welfare and benefits of humanity and the world, irregardless of political ideologies. His comments and opinion were accurate and has been appreciated by locals and foreigners. His death due to sickness was sudden and everyone was sadden by his early demise.
