An iron shutter, namesake for Mokelumne Hill’s Shutter Tree Park, came from prominent Chinese merchant Chung Kee’s stone store. Surviving the fire of 1898 and exodus of the local Chinese population, Kee’s store fell into ruin by 1910. One of its fallen shutters became encased within ailanthus trees (Chinese trees of heaven) which grew together to become a landmark on the corner of Main and Center Streets. When the town turned the corner lots into a park in 1977, the imposing tree and its relic inspired the name Shutter Tree Park. Twenty years later the tree died. The rescued iron shutter will now befittingly featured in a sculpted art mural overlooking the site of Chung Kee’s store.  Julia Costello, December 2020.

In the mid-80s, a grant was acquired by the District to develop Shutter Tree Park. In 2010, Richard and Sally Tuttle donated funds to build a playground in memory of their son, Jeffery Tuttle.  Calaveras County agreed to allow the District to place part of the playground equipment on property owned by the Library.

In 2021, the District received a grant from the Calaveras County Community Foundation and additional funds from the Mokelumne Hill Community Historical Trust to remodel the restrooms in the park to one ADA compliant restroom.

Shutter Tree Park has been used for a variety of community functions, including live music, weddings, family reunions, children's fairs, and summer arts programs. 

Artist Anne Cook has been creating a mural representing the community.

Artist Anne Cook creating the garden.

A dragon in the garden.

Volunteers helping create a work of art.

Herefords were one of the more common cattle breeds raised in the Moke Hill area.

Anne Cook creating the dragon.

The first steps in the process.

The Tree being constructed

The dragon representing the Chinese migrants who resided in Mokelumne Hill.

Before

If you would like to learn more about the history of Shutter Tree Park please follow the link below.

Shutter Tree Park History