From 1905 onward, Tan Piah Eng built his home much as he built his career at the Bukit Timah Rubber Estates - by living within its grounds, shaping its growth, and anchoring his family life there. His first two sons, Tan Kim Seng (1906) and Tan Kim Kee (1907), were born on the estate itself, a testament to how deeply the family was rooted in that landscape.
The Japanese Occupation (1942–1945) changed everything. His
estate house was destroyed, leaving it uninhabitable. In a letter dated February
1952, he wrote with quiet resignation: “I have lived in the estate and
seen it grow until the house I was occupying was demolished during the war, and
although I still would like to live in it, conditions are now not what they
were.”
Kampong Soopoo
Although he continued working at the estate until 1952,
completing an extraordinary 47 years of service, he had already moved
out during the Occupation. His new address became 58 Kampong Soopoo,
Singapore 12, off Kallang Road - today near where Kallang Avenue
stands.
But Kampong Soopoo was not unfamiliar ground. His extended
family - including his wives Chan Ah Siew and Oh Kim Soh - had
been living there since the early 1930s, likely first at 2 and 4 Kampong
Soopoo. After acquiring No. 58, the earlier houses were rented out, marking
a small but meaningful shift in the family’s domestic and economic footing.
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| 1966 map indicating where Kg Soopoo was. All rights reserved by NUS LIBRARIES HISTORICAL MAPS OF SINGAPORE (NUSLHMSG) |
The
earliest record of his abode at 58 Kampong Soopoo was in 1950 as written into
his Post Office Savings Bank Book, and in 1952 on a personal stationery note of
his.
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| Post Office Savings Bank book dated 5 May 1950. All rights reserved by National Library Board / National Archives of Singapore |
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| Personal stationery dated August 1952, All rights reserved |
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| Circa 1938 photo of relatives at Kg Soopoo, All rights reserved |
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| 1946 photo of relatives at Kg Soopoo, all rights reserved |
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| Circa 1939 (left) of Tan's son (by Mdm Chan) Kim Suan growing up at Kg Soopoo and 1981 when he visited the same place (right) - all rights reserved |
Kampong Bedok Laut
It was in February of 1953 that he purchased the Bedok house at Kampong Bedok Laut and together with Mdm Chan and Mdm Oh and family members moved to Bedok in November 1954
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| All rights reserved |
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| All rights reserved |
In February 1955 and at the age of 77, Tan Piah Eng passed away peacefully in this Bedok
house at 614-3 (number changed to 10J Bedok Road from 1964).
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| 614-3 Bedok Road at August 1955, all rights reserved |
While Tan
lived in these houses, there were other homes he bought for his various wives
and families, while also renting out others
On record
we have 2 & 4 Kampong Soopoo (mentioned earlier) as well as 630 Bedok Road
(later re-addressed to 30), just where the bus stop is and housing a Chinese
barber and tailor as tenants (likely purchased around the same time at 614-3)
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| 1950 Sales agreement indicating 2 & 4 Kg Soopoo (Mdm Chan and Mdm Oh are Tan's two wives), all rights reserved |
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| 1950 purchase of 630-A Bedok Road, all rights reserved |
Thanks to
Rojak Librarian (Peter Pak) we also have an article as well as drawings to indicate
purchases made much earlier at Bukit Timah in 1916, and 1923 – but we have no
other information surrounding these addresses
https://mymindisrojak.blogspot.com/2024/10/tan-piah-eng-former-bidadari-christian.html
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| 1916 article, courtesy of Rojak Librarian |
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| 1923 Cluny Road, courtesy of Rojak Librarian |
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| 1923 Cluny Road, courtesy of Rojak Librarian |
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| 1925 Bukit Timah Road, courtesy of Rojak Librarian |