Alfred Gonsalves

Alfred (Freddie) Gonsalves and José Santos, Cape Verdean stonemasons, are members of Cape Verdean families that have worked in this occupation for several generations in the Norwich area. They learned from their fathers in the course of working on masonry since their teens and have built successful businesses in southeastern Connecticut while serving important roles in the Cape Verdean community, most notably as president and past president of the Santiago Society, a Norwich Cape Verdean cultural organization. Freddie designed and oversaw the reconstruction of St. Anthony’s Chapel, rescuing and re-siting this historical Norwich Cape Verdean landmark after it was threatened with demolition in 2004. Freddie won a Connecticut Historic Preservation award for this work in 2008 and has also received a Cape Verdean Hall of Fame award. José Santos and his brothers were members of the popular Cape Verdean music group The Santos Brothers.