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Portuguese Chapel Gains National Register Status!
March/April 2017
 c. 1920s
 2818 Avenida de Portugal in Point Loma. Photo by John Lauriano |
 Interior altar. Photo by John Lauriano |
 Left to right Carl Silva (previous UPSES president), Jay Correia (State Historic Preservation Office), Geri Lauriano (past Chapel Chairman), John Lauriano (Geri's husband) |
SOHO is excited to announce the National Register listing of the Portuguese Chapel, the pride of Point Loma's Portuguese community for nearly 100 years.
Since late 2015, SOHO has been working with Geri and John Lauriano, members of the United Portuguese Sociedade do Espírito Santo (UPSES) in Point Loma, to prepare a National Register of Historic Places nomination report on the 1922 Portuguese Chapel. This effort finally came to fruition on February 3, at the first State Historic Resources Commission meeting of 2017. Three UPSES members went to Sacramento to attend the designation hearing: Geri Lauriano (past Chapel Chairman), John Lauriano, and Carl Silva (past UPSES President).
The project began when the Laurianos brought the nomination to SOHO asking for help. After working with the State Historic Preservation Office and the Laurianos for almost a year, SOHO completed the nomination, which recommends designating the Portuguese Chapel under Criterion C for architecture, with a local level of significance. The chapel is architecturally significant because it embodies the "Portuguese chapel" building typology and Azorian Style. What makes this tiny building even more unique is that its interior simulates a 1920s tuna boat chapel! To read the full nomination, click HERE.
As part of the listing process, the City of San Diego's Historical Resources Board reviewed the nomination on January 26, along with an approving staff report and SOHO's testimony. After a brief discussion, the HRB voted unanimously to support this effort. Then came the State HRC hearing the following week. Since there was no opposition, the chapel was on the consent agenda. Once again, with unanimous approval by the HRC, the Portuguese Chapel will be officially listed on the National Register for Historic Places once the National Park Service gives final approval. Congratulations to the United Portuguese Sociedade do Espírito Santo!
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