St. Bruno's Church of San Bruno

After the gold rush in 1849, many people settled on the Peninsula and the huge San Francisco County that extended from the northern tip of the Peninsula to Palo Alto was split into two counties — San Francisco and San Mateo. In early years, it was reported that Franciscan Padre Crespi and Padre Bruno while traveling throughout the Peninsula, taught the Indians south of the San Bruno Mountains. It is believed that is why the section that is present-day San Bruno was so named.

Around 1900, the community of San Bruno was being settled by more and more people, especially after the 1906 earthquake. Many of the settlers were of the Catholic faith, but the nearest church services were many miles away. In 1906, members of the Catholic faith were able to persuade Father James Cooper to teach catechism for one year at 812 Mills Ave. (Cody Hall) in San Bruno. Cody Hall had previously been at the corner of Mills and San Bruno avenues. The second floor had been used as a dance hall, while the first floor was a horse stable. It had been moved to 812 Mills after a companion building, the Eagle’s Roost, a notorious saloon, had burned down. After Cody Hall had been moved, it was remodeled for apartments and a gathering location, and the Catholics were able to rent it for their religious services while they planned for a new church.

In 1907, the parish of St. Catherine (Burlingame) was organized to raise money for a new church with San Bruno designated as the location. Members of the committee were: Miss Mercy Silva, Joseph Huff, Albert Coturri, J.J. Jones, Edith Martinelli, George Edwards, J.J. Smith, J.J. Maloney and Mrs. J. Valentine.

The pioneer Silva family donated land at the corner of Hensley and San Bruno Avenue for the construction of the church. The Rev. James A. Grant of Burlingame supervised the construction of the new St. Bruno’s Church with ground broken on Friday, Nov. 13, 1908. A Solemn High Mass was celebrated and a number of volunteers, Alvertus LoReaux, J.J. Maloney, Wm. Fairbanks, Bob and Frank Valentine, plus many others, began working on the new church. The church was built along the lines of the early California Missions similar to Mission Santa Barbara. A large tower was erected in which a bell, cast in 1886 by W. T. Garrett and Company, San Francisco, was hung in the belfry. The bell was rung every Sunday one- half hour before mass and again at the beginning of mass.

From 1908 to 1912, the Rev. James A. Grant administered St. Bruno’s Church as a mission of St. Catherine’s of Burlingame. In 1912, St. Bruno’s became a separate parish. In that same year, Father William Cantwell became the first resident pastor and he continued to serve the community of San Bruno until 1916. During his tenure he had the rectory built south of the church on Hensley Avenue. In 1916, the Rev. Father T. P. Haverin officiated here, and he remained until 1929. During his tenure he had two tennis courts built to the east of the church. These courts served as a recreation center for the people of the community. After Father Thomas Crimmins served three years in San Bruno, the very popular Reverend Peter E. Doyle became the fifth pastor. He remained until Dec. 24, 1959 when he died the day of the last mass at the original St. Bruno’s. The church had been condemned and money to restore it was not available. The beautiful, ivy-covered Santa Barbara style church was razed by the Flora Excavation Company on April 28, 1960.

The community of San Bruno had increased greatly in population from the thousand souls in 1908 when the original church was erected. In 1960 the population was well over 20,000 and a new church was needed to serve the community. Land was obtained on Crystal Springs Road and Oak Avenue and a new church named St. Roberts was erected. After much thought and consideration, it was decided to build yet another church, another St. Bruno’s, on the original land at Green and San Bruno Avenues. The old bell from the belfry had been saved and is now on display in front of the new St. Bruno’s church.