Benicia in Solano County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Norman V. Gonsalves, Sr.

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, July 25, 2025

1. Norman V. Gonsalves, Sr. Marker

Inscription. Norm lived his entire life in his hometown of Benicia. He dedicated most of his life to preserving his Portuguese heritage and worked diligently to ensure that the Holy Ghost Festa or Feast of the Holy Spirit continued as an annual Benicia tradition. He passed this love and respect for his culture along to future generations of family and friends and constantly recruited new members to participate in the B.D.E.S. community and help continue the traditions of the Holy Ghost Society. This site is dedicated to his memory and the many family and friends of the B.D.E.S. Benicia Holy Ghost Society who have also gone before us.

Erected 2019 by BDES Hall Association; Benicia Holy Ghost Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures.

Location. 38° 3.143′ N, 122° 9.452′ W. Marker is in Benicia, California, in Solano County. It is on West J Street west of 1st Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 140 W J St, Benicia CA 94510, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Francisco Bay Area,

in Sacramento Valley,

and specifically in the Central Valley.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: BDES Hall (here, next to this marker); First Masonic Hall Built in California (a few steps from this marker); 1854 – Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church – 1954

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(about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Saint Paul's Episcopal Church (about 300 feet away); Site of the First Protestant Church in California (about 400 feet away); Playground of Dreams (about 500 feet away); Hayes Building (about 500 feet away); World War I Memorial (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Benicia.

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, July 25, 2025

2. Norman V. Gonsalves, Sr. Marker

The marker is monumented on top of a retaining wall and located next to the historic BDES Hall.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 17, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 13, 2025, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. This page has been viewed 46 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 13, 2025, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.