Since 1988, the Portuguese community across the region, particularly in Stanislaus and Merced counties, have known Casa Dos Açores at 8385 Lander Ave. in Hilmar to be a haven — a place for people to gather and bond over food, drinks, board games, music, dancing and sports. 

After over a decade of planning and fundraising by local families and Portuguese leaders in the community, a new building is taking shape. It began Thursday morning, as hundreds gathered on the dirt lot directly adjacent to the large blue building for a groundbreaking ceremony for the new two-story Casa Dos Açores cultural center.

Zeto Carvalho is the director of house and counselor of the Azorean Diaspora of California and served as emcee at Thursday’s festivities. He called it a “monumental day.”

“Forty-eight years have passed (since Casa Dos Açores became an incorporated organization), and today starts a new age with a new house full of dreams and full of hopes.”

Carvalho was joined by organization president George Costa, vice president Manuel Vieira, Merced County Supervisor Lloyd Parreira, Merced County District Attorney Nicole Silveira, Portuguese Council to the United States Felipe Ramaleira, a representative for Congressman Adam Gray, and over two dozen board members and community members in grabbing golden shovels and scooping up dirt repeatedly in a moment that prompted laughs and hugs from audience members.

“I couldn’t help myself,” said Vieira, smiling ear to ear after his multiple digs into the ground. “You cannot imagine how happy I am — we all are — because our dream is coming true. We, from the Azores, are very passionate about our traditions and our folklore, and of course, the Holy Ghost celebrations all over the state and all over the world. This is a sign of continuation of that tradition, of that faith in God and that faith in the Holy Ghost. Here we are doing everything we can so that our traditions do not go away.”

The new center is expected to open in about a year’s time.

The current center, with rooms on both levels, was originally built to help immigrants assimilate to life in the United States. Today, the large hall plays host to parties and other social gatherings, such as cultural performances and classes for adults and children. It is also a staple for the community to stop by for coffee, drinks and snacks.

“You go inside and you can play Sueca (a popular card game), dominoes, watch the (national soccer) games, eat dinner,” said Costa. “It’s all about helping the community and giving people a place to socialize while also giving members of the local Portuguese community, those of all ages, a place to connect with their roots and heritage.”

The building is celebrated by the community, but the consensus is that it is too old, needs too many repairs, and that it is far too small. Costa estimates that the current hall can hold a little over 100 people, while the new one will be able to accommodate upwards of 300. As one attendee noted, when he arrived in Hilmar from Portugal in the 1960s, “the building was old even then!” 

“For all my life, I've lived in Merced County and have driven past this building,” added Parreira. “It's done a great job for you all and for the community, but it's time.”

The history of Casa Dos Açores goes back to 1970, when a group of young men from the Azores formed a soccer team named Açoreano Sport Club. Seven years later, the leaders of the group, plus other leaders of the Portuguese community, funded and incorporated Casa Dos Açores, with the main purpose being to keep and promote the Portuguese Azorean culture through recreation, music, literature and sports, while also establishing a center to assist Portuguese immigrants. In 1979, the organization acquired a property at 1372 East Ave. in Turlock to house its office and library, a place widely referred to by many as the ‘Nest of the Azoreans.’ The organization was centered in Turlock until 1988, when it moved to the big blue building on Lander.

“What I love about being Portuguese and the Portuguese people is we have a lot of pride and loyalty. We appreciate our heritage, I think, as strong as any nationality that lives in the United States,” Parreira said. “The thing that makes me most proud is, as much as we appreciate our heritage, is how much we love the United States of America for what it's done for us.”

The design of the new building is that of traditional Portuguese architectural style — white exterior walls, dark base trim, arched windows and doorways with small balconies, and a roof with the look of red clay tiles.

“In the Azores, we have something called the ‘House of the People,’” Carvalho said. “This building is not just for the Portuguese, it's for everybody that wants to join a beautiful community that are united in strength and keeps all our traditions alive and keeps helping this beautiful country.”

Added Silveira: “As the District Attorney, my job is to keep all of you in our community safe, but that's not always done just by arresting bad guys or putting people in jail. It's things like this that keep our community safe. Having nice places to go, where people can enjoy each other's company in a safe place with each other is what makes our community great.”