They call it "another sleeping beauty waiting to be awakened."

In Hanford's historic China Alley, an old herbalist building known among those who frequent the area as the L.T. Sue Building, or just "15 China Alley," holds a special status. It was a site of healing back in the early 1900s that made Chinatown residents feel at home in a foreign land. It was a place that lured the non-Chinese to Chinatown and helped break down cultural stereotypes.

It's also a piece of history in need of restoration today.

"This building still has some charm to it. You can see the original chest of drawers where the herbs were kept. But it obviously needs a lot of work," said Arianne Wing, president of the Taoist Temple Preservation Society.

One step inside the vintage building offers a unique slice of history.

It has the air of nostalgia. The creaky hardwood floor has collected the dust of time. Spider webs hang from the ceiling. And the large worn-out Chinese apothecary cabinet that still sits behind a brittle wooden counter says it all.

Most of the artifacts from the building -- L.T. Sue's belongings, such as spectacles, a phonograph and an array of bottled herbs -- can be found inside the Taoist Temple museum today.

The artifacts, as well as historic buildings such as the Taoist Temple and the L.T. Sue building, will be once again be showcased during the annual Moon Festival.

This year's Moon Festival -- the 30th annual -- is more than just a celebration of Hanford's Chinatown heritage.

With it, organizers are hoping to kick off their new push to raise funds to restore the 15 China Alley building.

"We are not only celebrating the Moon Festival, but we're using it to show the public that we have another sleeping beauty to be awakened," Wing said.

Since it was donated by the Wing family to the society a few years ago, the organization has made it its top priority to stabilize the deteriorating herbalist building. They would like to restore it to its former beauty and make it a museum.

Wing does not know exactly how much such a project would cost. But Fresno architect Christopher Johnson, who is known for his national Register of Historic Places projects like the Santa Fe Depot and Kearney Mansion in Fresno, is working on a rendering for the building, she said.

Architectural drawings are expected to be unveiled at the festival.

This year's festival is also being dedicated to the late Harold "Hoot" Gibson, a former Kings County superintendent of schools who died last month. Gibson was instrumental in making this year's Moon Festival  happen, Wing said. The festival was almost canceled before supporters like Gibson stepped up to help, she said.

It is not the first time the Moon Festival has faced a challenge.  Three years ago, the festival was ready to be put on hiatus. But local businesses, such as Mackey and Mackey Insurance, came to the rescue.

The event, which coincides with the Renaissance Faire a few blocks away, is a popular Hanford tradition. The event attracts hundreds of residents and visitors to the tiny historic alley for a rare cultural experience.

Wing said the community's support plays a major part in preserving the area.

"That's the beauty of it. You can get emotional about how your community comes to your aid," Wing said. "As large as we're getting, we're still a tight-knit community."

The reporter can be reached at 583-2429.

30th Annual Moon Festival

Saturday

Noon-5 p.m.

Free admission

Kings Martial Arts Academy demonstration at 12:15 p.m., followed by lion dance and taiko drummers at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.