Saint Vincent's Hill Historic District - Vallejo, CA - U.S. National Register of Historic Places on Waymarking.com

"The Saint Vincent's Hill Historic District represents a residential neighborhood in Vallejo that grew,,up around Saint Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church and School and is directly associated with changes in the workforce at Mare Island Naval Shipyard. Although a few small dwellings were constructed during the Gold Rush, most of the development occurred in waves after the neighborhood was platted and the Church was constructed in 1868 through the end of World War II. The neighborhood is laid out on a regular grid across steep, hilly terrain just north of the downtown. The grid is imposed upon hills that rise from sea level at the western edge of the district to 120 feet at the crest then drop 60 feet to the district's eastern and southern edges. The northern edge rises slightly from sea level. Except for those at the western edge, which abut the Mare Island Channel, the blocks are the same size and shape. They measure 400 feet from east to west and 275 feet from north to south with wide primary roads and narrow alleys. The district includes some or all of 38 adjacent blocks. Parcels are rectangular but differ in frontage and shape. Originally, all of the lots were platted at 50 feet by 130 feet with very wide primary road rights-of-way and narrow alleys. Some of the parcels have been subdivided, creating deep, narrow 25-foot wide lots or other small lots. Some lots have been joined together. Most buildings face east-west streets, which are named for states, though many on the edges of blocks front crossing streets, named for counties. Originally unnamed 20 foot wide alleys running east and west were later named for automobile brands popular at the turn of the century.

The district's most visually prominent building is Saint Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church constructed in the Gothic Revival Style at the crest of the hill on lands donated by General John Frisbie. The site was chosen because of u The view it presents from all directions of approach, from the Valley, from the Bay of San Pablo, and from the navy Yard". The selection committee believed that "Catholic churches should everywhere be, when circumstances permit, the most elevated and conspicuous edifices as the repositories here on earth of those divine truths and mysteries". As the parish grew and a school was added, other buildings filled out the original city block donated by Frisbie and adjacent parcels. Some of the original buildings, such as the Convent, were demolished or moved. Currently, the spire of the church is a familiar and beloved city landmark and the school is attended by a diverse group of children from all over the city.

The district includes approximately 540 parcels, about 95 percent of which have a residential use. The district contains approximately 691 primary buildings constructed during the past 150 years. About 542 of the dwellings are smgle-family residences some of which have second units. About 131 are multiunit or mixed-use buildings some of which were originally constructed as single-family dwellings. Of the 691 buildings, 542 contribute to the historic character of the district and 149 do not contribute. In addition to descriptions for all of the primary buildings, descriptions were prepared for 6 significant ancillary buildings such as barns or carriage houses. Most of the other ancillary buildings are garages or sheds that are occasionally described with the primary resource if they are clearly related stylistically. About 200 buildings, mostly second units, barns, sheds and garages, are located on the alleys. One site, City Park, is also a contributor. There are 20 vacant lots within, the district most of which were developed during the period of significance. The district's integrity is high due to the concentration of resources and the large proportion of contributors." (visit link)

Street address: Roughly bounded by Mare Island Way almost to Sonoma Blvd. and from Quincy Alley to Kissel Alley Vallejo, CA USA County / Borough / Parish: Solano Year listed: 2003 Historic (Areas of) Significance: Architecture/Engineering, Event Periods of significance: 1925-1949, 1900-1924, 1875-1899, 1850-1874 Historic function: Commerce/Trade, Domestic, Government, Health Care, Landscape, Recreation And Culture, Religion Current function: Commerce/Trade, Domestic, Government, Health Care, Landscape, Recreation And Culture, Religion Privately owned?: yes Primary Web Site: [Web Link] Secondary Website 1: [Web Link] Season start / Season finish: Not listed Hours of operation: Not listed Secondary Website 2: Not listed National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed

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