General History

The first inhabitants of this area were Native Americans. They lived in small villages of less than 100 people each, and subsisted on a diet of fish, small game and acorns. A common term for the natives of this area is the Gabrielenos, derived from the Spanish Mission San Gabriel. A more fitting name is the Tongva, a Native American word.

The first European settlers to the greater Los Angeles area were the Spanish. In order to establish a Spanish presence in Alta, or southern, California and reward service to the crown, massive land grants were awarded in the 1780s. One of these was given to a soldier named Juan Jose Dominguez. In 1784 he was granted over 75,000 acres, designated the Rancho San Pedro. This is the area we now know as the South Bay, and included the modern day city of Redondo Beach. His nephew, Jose Cristobal Dominguez, eventually retained title to the grant. Cristobal and his wife, Maria de Los Reyes, had ten children. Their eldest son and the executor of the will, known as Manuel, subsequently became the principal figure in the Rancho.

After the death of Manuel Dominguez and his wife, Maria Engracia, their land holdings were split between six daughters. Three of the sisters, Susana, Guadalupe, and Maria de Los Reyes Dominguez, inherited portions of the estate, each including individual sections collectively known as the Ocean Tract. In 1889 this coastal tract was sold to the Redondo Beach Improvement Company, founded by Robert Thompson and John Ainsworth. They promoted, developed, and sold land that eventually became the nucleus of the city of Redondo Beach, incorporated in 1892. The name of the city is Spanish for “round,” which refers to the half-round street pattern of the original townsite.

One of Manuel Dominguez’s heirs, daughter Susana, held the first organized Catholic services in Redondo Beach. Maria Susana Delfina Dominguez was born June 5, 1844, and married Dr. Gregorio del Amo y Gonzalez on February 15, 1890. After living in Los Angeles for a short time, they moved to 618 Esplanade, Redondo Beach, where they lived until 1906. It was in this home that a group of Catholics met in the parlor for prayers and Sunday Mass. A visiting priest from St. Vibiana’s in Los Angeles would arrive to say Mass.

Dominquez Memorial Chapel

As the faithful grew in numbers, it became apparent that the parlor could not continue to serve as the church. The Dominguez children donated the land and the finances for the construction of a church to be built in memory of their parents. A committee was formed to plan the new church. The patron St. James was chosen.

The architects for the Dominguez Memorial Chapel were Messrs. Edelman and Riccard of Los Angeles, and the contractors were Hartnoll and Cole of Redondo Beach. The chapel was built on an 80 x 100 foot lot and was approached from the west with stairs mounting to heavy oak doors.  There were eighteen pews to seat the parishioners. Inside to the right was a staircase leading to the organ gallery, which could accommodate a full choir.

Prominently placed in the chapel were statutes, made in Spain, of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph.

Windows on the north and south side of the church memorialized the six Dominguez daughters. A stained glass window in memory of their parents, Manuel and Maria Engracia Dominguez, was positioned in the rear of the chapel. A 22′ high ceiling, which added to the beauty, was made of oak.

Attending the dedication were the Carsons (George and Maria Victoria, a daughter of Manuel Dominguez), the del Amos, the Watsons (James and Dolores, another daughter of Manuel), Bishop Mora, Father Joachim Adam, president of St. Vincent’s College, and the parishioners of the parish, which stretched from Santa Monica to the Palos Verde Peninsula.

Two bell turrets highlighted the western exterior; one of the bells, dated 1892, is currently hanging outside the western side of St. James Church. It was cast by W. T. Garratt & Co., San Francisco, and weighs 500 pounds.

The Bishop granted the petition for a resident pastor by sending Father Forthiar, the first pastor of St. James. He served the needs of the people until 1906, when Father Ferrer was assigned. By 1910, the congregation had grown and additional seats were installed in the chapel and a new pastor, Father O’Callaghan, arrived. But it was apparent that a new, larger church was needed, so planning and fund raising began. The population of the city had increased to almost 3,000 citizens, with fifty families registered in the parish. During the building program, Father O’Callaghan was transferred and it fell to Right Reverend Msgr. Nicholas Conneally to complete the new church.