St. Raymond's Church
Also known as: Dublin Heritage Center; part of site CA-ALA-521H
Why it's listed
Built beginning in 1858 by Irish settlers who founded Dublin, this wood-frame church on Donlon Way is a simple Greek Revival building with clapboard walls, a steep gable roof and a symmetrical front. A square three-story bell tower with Gothic-style pointed openings and an octagonal steeple was added in 1880. Inside, the plain white walls contrast with a redwood floor. The church served its congregation until the 1960s, and in 1964 local citizens campaigned to save it after the fire department scheduled it for a training burn. The City of Dublin acquired it in 1993, and it now hosts concerts, lectures and weddings. Behind and beside it lies a Catholic and Protestant pioneer cemetery, with graves of families such as Fallon, Murray, Dougherty and Donlon. The property was listed as a rare early wooden church in Alameda County that has kept its original location, setting and appearance.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is significant locally under Criterion C as a rare, early wooden Greek Revival church in Alameda County and the only such church in Dublin. It retains high integrity of design, materials and setting. The adjoining cemetery holds the graves of Dublin's founders and early settlers and adds historic context.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 06000242, listed April 12, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 6600 Donlon Way, Dublin |
|---|---|
| County | Alameda County |
| Listed | April 12, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000242 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1858-1880 |
| Architect / builder | Donlon, Tom (builder); Fallon, Jeremiah (builder) |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century: Greek Revival; Late Victorian: Gothic |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a public hall by the City of Dublin for small concerts, lectures, weddings and meetings; the cemetery remains active at about two burials per year. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 37.70138, -121.93965 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 06000242.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q2018490
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.