Ah Koon, Macritchie and Lau Pa Sat

MacRitchie Reservoir was completed in 1868.

In 1891, Municipal Engineer James MacRitchie oversaw a $32,000 expansion and the reservoir was named after him in 1922.

The construction of the Telok Ayer Market started in 1890.  It was completed on 1 March 1894.

The market, which covers an area of 55,000 square feet, used cast-iron pillars to support the building. The cast iron works was manufactured and shipped out from Glasgow. The building was designed by James MacRitchie.

The chinese locals called it Lau Pa Sat, the old market. The name came about when another market opened at Ellenborough Street. This new market was termed Sin Pa Sat, the new market.

Ellenborough market was destroyed by a fire in 1968. In its place now stood The Central Mall, Clarke Quay.


 
 Lau Pa Sat interior


 
Lau Pa Sat from the air


In 1926, Lai Ah Koon (黎亚坤)  came to Singapore from Hainan as a 15 year old. He found work as a coffee-stall assistant.

He started his own business in 1944 as Ya Kun Coffeestall. It operated from a makeshift stall at the Telok Ayer basin for 15 years and moved into the Lau Pa Sat until 1984 which was earmarked for a complete revamp.

Lai Ah Koon passed away in 1999.