The Imperio
This is the site of the first Roman Catholic Church in Milpitas. The orginal steepled
woodframe church stood near the middle of the parking lot off Main Street. It is
believed the first church was built in the 1870s or 1880s to serve the large Portugese
immigrant population of Catholics who arrived in Milpitas from the Azores. Prior
to the church's construction, Catholic priests from San José Mission or Santa
Clara Mission would visit a small adobe building called a "penitencia"
to hear confession by the local Indians and farmers. The exact location of this penitencia
is not known but is believed to have been a mile or two south of the present church
and on the banks of Penitencia Creek.
The only historical building still standing on the property is the small chapel-like
building seen in the photo. Called an “Imperio” (pronounced “Em-peddy-oh” by long-time
Milpitans) it was an intregal part of every Portugese Catholic church. The Imperio
was primarily used during the Feast of the Holy Ghost, an annual fiesta which featured
a parade down Main Street and the selection of a queen. At the end of the parade,
the queen placed her crown in the Imperio where it would be on display all day, according
to one long-time resident. Sometimes small services, such as a mass might be held
in the building at other times during the year.
The church built a larger frame building on the northern side of the property. Called
St. John's Hall, it was the site of many community and church functions. The Loma
Prieta Earthquake of 1989 severely damaged the the old hall so it was demolished
to make way for a newer facility.
Today, the St. John's complex includes a K-8 school, rectory, church, imperio, and
hall.