Chaplain's House
Why it's listed
Built in 1896 and first occupied in 1897, this two-story, L-shaped wood frame house in San Diego served as the chaplain's residence for St. Joseph's Sanitarium, a hospital founded in 1890 by the Sisters of Mercy. It is the only remaining structure of that original hospital complex, which was later sold, cleared and subdivided. The house was moved in 1920 and again in 1922 to its present site, about a block and a half from where it began. Clad in wide shiplap siding, it combines two intersecting gabled rectangles, a heavy cornice that doubles as a pediment base, and a one-story slanted bay beside a decorative entry porch. The nomination values it chiefly as a fine, well preserved late 19th century vernacular cottage, with Classical Revival touches and an asymmetrical composition recalling Queen Anne design. Its owners are restoring the interior and exterior to original condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues its main significance is architectural, as an unusually fine and well preserved late 19th century vernacular cottage with Classical Revival gable details and Queen Anne-like asymmetry. It is also the last surviving structure of the original St. Joseph's Sanitarium, an early hospital founded in 1890 by the Sisters of Mercy.
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 78000750, listed November 24, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 836 Washington St., San Diego |
|---|---|
| County | San Diego County |
| Listed | November 24, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000750 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1896 |
| Architectural style | Late 19th century vernacular cottage with Classical Revival elements; relates to Queen Anne idioms |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Being restored to its original appearance by its owners; altered by a rear addition, a lower foundation and a recently rehabilitated porch roof; moved in 1920 and 1922. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 32.75057, -117.15650 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 78000750.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q5754779
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.