Ask Mr. Somyot to please tell us your memories related to the Anusan Building. and the San Pa Khoi area Please give us a listen.
“I would like to start with Khun Luang Anusarn Sunthorn. Khun Luang is of Chinese descent. The family settled in Thailand as far back as the Ayutthaya period. Khun Luang is considered to be the 4th generation. From Ayutthaya, when the city fell, the next generation moved to Thonburi. Then gradually moved to Lampang, Lamphun and Chiang Mai. Khun Luang was born in Lamphun on the banks of the Kuang River. After staying for a while, the family moved to trade in the Soptha area. and moved to in front of Wat Ketkaram Chiang Mai city While staying at Wat Ket At that time, Anam's age was in his teens. Learned to repair bicycles, kerosene lamps, clocks, and even firearms. Soon they migrated to the Tha Phae side.
Around the age of 25-30, Khun Luang sailed down to trade between Chiang Mai and Bangkok. At that time, business was going well. So he built a house on Wichayanon Road. His Majesty recorded that he traded up and down Chiang Mai-Bangkok more than 50 times. In that era, sailing from the north to the south Chiang Mai to Bangkok takes 1 month. Up from Bangkok back to Chiang Mai takes 2 months. Each year, there will be about 2 trips. In addition to the business going well. Khun Luang had the opportunity to learn photography using glass film. Considered to be the first person to take pictures in Chiang Mai. At that time there was a forest survey by a group of Western technicians. These foreigners are employees hired by the government during the reign of King Rama V and missionary groups. They will have cameras on them. and the Payap County Judge at that time (Phraya Charoen Rajamaitri) This person was a former student of England who was in contact with foreigners. Khun Luang knew him so he learned photography from there. during that time Khun Luang is considered to be a very talented person. And there is one progressive person in the city.”
So how did you move from Tha Phae to the San Pa Khoi side?
“The reason for moving from Tha Phae to San Pa Khoi Because at that time the railway and Chiang Mai train station were almost completed. His Majesty the King had a vision that this area would grow and trade well a little longer, so he built the Anusan Building. The reason he made this decision was because he saw that the railroad was beginning to gradually move north. Especially the time when he had the opportunity to receive King Ya Chao Dararasami back from Bangkok. At that time, while traveling through Uttaradit city around 1914, he also took pictures of the trains at Uttaradit station. In that year, the excavation of the Khun Tan tunnel was not yet completed. The railway was completed in 1926 during the reign of King Rama VII.
The plan to build a monument building for trading with the railways was prepared in advance. When the train began to fully open All shipping by boat has stopped. As I said, sailing takes months. But in those days, roundtrip train travel took only 2-3 days. The Anusan Building actually began construction around 1932 and was completed in 1934. When the building was completed, Khun Luang passed away shortly thereafter. Anusan Building is therefore the children's generation (grandparents' generation), my father's generation, Ajahn Kraisri's generation. Nimmanhaemin be the successor and continue doing business I am now the 4th generation.”
What kind of business did this building have at that time?
“My father sells agricultural machinery. It is a small rice milling machine. The customer is a villager who wants to have a rice mill. Or want to make a small rice mill? No need to rely on big mills. which is good for him because he already had rice Finished coloring results in white rice. Rice husks are used. Broken rice and bran are used to feed pigs and chickens. The small mill was considered to be a great answer to the needs of farmers at that time. When the small mill machine sold well It has become a trend in this area. Fertilizers, agricultural chemicals, or heavy items like industrial spare parts that come with trains. It will come down here. This area is from the stories of past generations. He said there isn't much around here. There is a large mill that buys paddy near the train station. Another is a mill near Nong Prathip, there are two more there.”
ในช่วงคุณสมยศเป็นเด็ก ย่านสันป่าข่อยเป็นอย่างไร เรียกว่าเป็น center point ของการค้าขายได้ไหม
“This area is very prosperous, bustling with businesses related to new products. Things that come from trains sell well, such as machine parts. construction materials Followed by the lathes with industrial parts Those who are technicians live in this area because there are jobs in this area. like my father Agricultural machinery for sale water pump Lawn mowers, car repairs, lathe workshops. You can call this area a center for trade and sales, but it's a center that doesn't have much money (laughs). It focuses on providing services and trading in industrial equipment. If it's going to be bustling and constantly revolving around. Must go to San Pa Khoi Market. That is the real bustle. Because it is a fresh market, selling food and cooking ingredients to workers, soldiers, and people who come to buy things in the area.
A completely different business. And services for both people around here and people who come to buy things and people who travel, there are things like Chinthasanee Cinema. of Thaksin Shinawatra's father, there is the Railway Hotel, a large building in front of the train station. Move a little further and there will be a school. Like Prince's School Dara School And Church No. 1, seriously, people with money and gold will stay on that side (Kad Luang, Kad Ton Lamyai side). This side is the wholesale side. Selling tools, cement, steel, cement, paint will be here.”
Changes to trade at San Pa Khoi When did it start to happen?
“It started when train travel started to fall. From the existence of a road and a superhighway connecting Chiang Mai to Bangkok. Chiang Mai and Lampang Travel uses more tour buses. more planes The San Pa Khoi route started to drop down. But the existence of the Prince School Dara School Chiang Mai Christian School and McCormick Hospital It is part of the reason why the east side is still lively. and not at all stagnant.”
Now there are new businesses. The new generation is starting to know more about San Pa Khoi. Mr. Somyot, what is your opinion on the current trend of change?
“If we seriously work together to make it boom, it will be good. The reason why the agricultural machinery trade has dropped. The auto repair shop dropped down. Because business changes The trade routes have changed. Like a person who sells cars Now he has his own service center. Selling spare parts and getting returns like before is no longer possible. The same applies to agricultural machinery. Before, we were sales agents, but over the past 30 years, BAAC and all banks He connected directly with the machinery company, had loans, and had many services to choose from. The situation is no different from trading in spare parts. As far as I have observed the trend of the new generation business. I saw that the Chang Moi side was starting to boom. People liked it and there were a lot of tourists coming to visit. Opening restaurants, hotels, and boutique hotels, I think that a little bit longer and San Pa Khoi would have the same opportunities and possibilities. Change the old business Go into a new business Whether you let your children do it or rent it, that's up to you.
Passing on an inheritance For example, Anusarn Building, do people in the family have ideas or beliefs that are passed on?
“We talked about it all the time. ‘We will continue to strive to develop here.’ Discuss with your children that if you want to start, start here. As for other parts that haven't been done yet, leave them for now. I admit that I still think about the future if our country's railways are better, the trains are bigger, the technology is more advanced. It will be a high-speed train even though it only reaches Lamphun city. We ourselves might benefit. Because from Lamphun to Chiang Mai And it's an internal train that runs consecutively, similar to the Bangkok Airport Link. It should be good for San Pa Khoi. Arcade Bus Station The tour bus business should come back better.
In the Anusarn building The Reverend has done very well. Relying on steel and cement from trains, the beams were quite strong. The walls also use clay bricks and white mortar. But the beam uses cement and steel. The Reverend designed it himself and chose the location himself. Do you know why he chose this place? Actually, as the name suggests, 'San Pa Khoi' means the land here is a ridge where Khoi trees grow. Notice when the flood overflows from the Ping River. All other areas were flooded. Except for this area Even though it's next to the water, is it strange because it's higher than other places? It is a very good location for both living and doing business.”
