Dong Village Dormitory Introduction
"Nanzhuang East Village Dormitory" was established in the 10th year of the Showa era (1935) and renovated in the 15th year of the Showa era (1940). The full original name was "Nanzhuang Brain Storage Office," which in Japanese means the office for the collection and distribution of brain production. The original planned layout included a "storage warehouse," a "chief office," and "inspector dormitories." In 2007, in response to local preservation calls, the Miaoli County Government evaluated the dormitory as a forestry ancillary building, recognizing its significant historical value within Taiwan's industrial heritage and as an important building from the Japanese colonial period in Miaoli County. It is well-preserved, with a beautiful surrounding landscape, making it highly valuable for preservation and reuse. It was announced as a historical building on June 14 of that year. Currently, this historical building only contains the chief dormitory, inspector dormitory, bathhouse, and toilets. It consists of one floor connected by three buildings. The architectural feature includes a combination of office and residential functions, and it is one of the few remaining small public bathhouse buildings for residential use in Taiwan. The building layout comprises an L-shaped office and chief dormitory compound, a U-shaped inspector dormitory standalone building, and a standalone public bathhouse and toilets for dormitory use. The roof's appearance retains traditional Japanese "oni" heads and "oni" tiles, while the框架 is of wooden construction with a brick foundation and elevated floors, showcasing its high value for cultural heritage preservation. This site preserves the local historical memory and connects to expand the tourism route in Nanzhuang. In 2018, the historical building was officially designated for use, and efforts for restoration and reuse were actively pursued. The operation model focuses on "cultural tourism," linking attractions around Nanzhuang Old Street with various cycling routes in Shitou Mountain, enriching the cultural tourism characteristics of the entire Nanzhuang area and ensuring that the historical significance of the building is conveyed and continued through visitors.
