Old St. Raymond's Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Raymond Church
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Old St. Raymond Church
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 Location in San Francisco Bay Area
Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 6600 Donlon Way, Dublin, California |
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| Built | 1859 |
| Architect | Donlon, Tom; Fallon, Jeremiah |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 06000242 |
| Added to NRHP | April 12, 2006 |
Old St. Raymond Church is a very old and important church building located in Dublin, California. It was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 12, 2006. This means it's recognized as a special historical place in the United States.
Contents
Building a Historic Church
Old St. Raymond Church is the oldest Catholic church still standing in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. It was built in 1859 and officially opened in 1860. The church was built on a piece of land about 4 acres big. This land was given by Michael Murray and Jeremiah Fallon. It was also home to the Old Murray Schoolhouse and the Dublin Pioneer Cemetery. Jeremiah Fallon even gave $30 to help pay for the church.
The church has a simple Gothic Revival style. It looks like churches from New England with its white wooden outside walls. Inside, it has old wooden benches and wide redwood floors.
Who Built the Church?
The Murray and Fallon families built the church. They were Irish immigrants from a place called Elphin, County Roscommon. These families left Ireland before the terrible Great Famine. They lived in New York City for a while. Then, they joined early wagon trains heading west. They were even part of the famous Donner Party for a short time. However, both families left the Donner Party at Fort Bridger, Wyoming, before the group faced its biggest challenges.
The wood for the church came from the nearby Oakland hills. Strong oxen pulled the logs, and they were cut into planks in Dublin. During the building of the church, a pioneer named Tom Donlon sadly fell to his death on September 6, 1859. He was the first person to be buried in the Dublin Pioneer Cemetery.
The Church's Journey Through Time
When it was first built, St. Raymond's was a "mission church." This meant the local people couldn't afford a full-time priest. So, a priest from Oakland would ride a mule once a month to offer Mass.
Over the years, the church was looked after by different larger churches. First, it was part of St. Leander's Church in San Leandro. Then, it joined St. Michael's in Livermore. Finally, in 1961, it became part of St. Augustine's in Pleasanton.
Important Events and Changes
The first wedding at Old St. Raymond's happened in 1865. Ellen Fallon, Jeremiah's daughter, married William Tehan there. A belfry was added to the church in 1880.
In 1966, a new, much larger St. Raymond's Church was built. The Oakland Diocese then gave the old church to the Amador-Livermore Valley Historical Society (ALVHS). This group worked to save and restore the historic building. The ALVHS used the building for many things.
In 1993, the ALVHS sold the church to the City of Dublin. The city also bought the Old Murray Schoolhouse and the Dublin Pioneer Cemetery. Together, these places became the Dublin Heritage Center. Today, the City of Dublin rents out the old church for community events and private uses.
Restorations and Appearance
The first time Old St. Raymond's Church was renovated was in 1922. The most recent restoration happened soon after the city took over the building. The church still looks mostly the same as it did when it was built in 1859. With help from private donations, a new bell tower was built. The church's restoration was finished in 1967.
See Also
- Dublin Pioneer Cemetery – This historic cemetery is located right behind the church. The first person buried there was a worker who died while helping to build the church.
