Church of St. Joseph
Why it's listed
Built in 1923, this reinforced concrete church at 1109 K Street in Los Banos was designed by San Francisco designer Charles Fantoni and built by contractor Guy H. Wilson. It measures about 100 by 45 feet and follows a three-nave basilica plan with a barrel-vaulted apse, Romanesque arched colonnades and arched windows. A bell tower rising about 150 feet is visible from several blocks away. Plaster was added to the exterior in the mid-1940s. The congregation sold the building in 1994, and the Los Banos Arts Council later restored the interior and added a kitchen and accessible restrooms in a matching style. The original stained glass windows were removed, and the rose window opening is boarded over. Two later buildings on the property, a rectory and a garage, are noncontributing. The church was listed for its architecture, as the only Romanesque church in the area and one of two surviving churches by Fantoni.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues local significance under Criterion C for architecture, as the only example of Romanesque ecclesiastical architecture in Los Banos and within roughly a 35-mile radius. It is also one of only two surviving churches designed by Charles Fantoni, which adds to its importance.
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 04000330, listed July 8, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1109 K St., Los Banos |
|---|---|
| County | Merced County |
| Listed | July 8, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04000330 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1923 |
| Architect / builder | Charles Fantoni (1870-1933), Architect; Guy H. Wilson, Contractor |
| Architectural style | Romanesque; Late 19th & 20th Century Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Sold by the church in 1994 and now used as the Los Banos Arts Council facility; the interior was refurbished and a kitchen and accessible restrooms were added at the rear. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.05934, -120.85093 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
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 04000330.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5117266
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.