Sago Street during the 1840s, there were numerous sago factories on the street. pith of the rumbia palm and made into flour that is used to make cakes. During the 1850s, there were thirty sago factories in the town which had a total output of 8,000 tons annually. Many of the sago factories were in the Sago Street area. In the late 19th century, the area was well known for its number of prostitute dens. By 1901, there were 14 brothels on the street alone. In the later part of the 20th century, the brothels vacated Sago Street and the shophouses underwent
Sago Lane for the hard beds occupied by the dying. According to Milwaukee Sentinel in 1957, “about 70 persons a month come to each of the houses to die in loneliness”. The death houses never closed their doors, workers took shifts by day and night and kept the business running 24/7. 1960s: The poor conditions of these houses of Sago lane soon attracted international attention. In 1961, the newly elected government quickly stepped in to place a ban on these houses. The death houses began to close down and number of houses dwindled. Existing death houses converted to funeral parlors instead. Sago