Emporium | |
| | |
| Location | 735 Main Street, Jamestown, California, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 37°57′10″N120°25′22″W / 37.95278°N 120.42278°W |
| Area | 0.1 acres (0.040 ha) |
| Built | 1897 |
| Architect | C.H. Wilson |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000817 [1] |
| CHISL No. | N558 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | February 17, 1978 |
| Designated CHISL | February 17, 1978 |
The Emporium is a historic commercial building erected in 1897 in Jamestown, California. [2] It was built as a department store which was short-lived, in the early 20th century served as a mercantile and telephone exchange, and from 1936 until 1967 it operated as a grocery store. [3]
It has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since February 17, 1978, for architecture and historical significance for the region; [4] [5] is also listed as a California Historical Landmark since February 17, 1978; [6] and has a historical marker erected since 2007 by the Tuolumne County Historical Society. [7] The building now serves as an antiques shop and cafe.
The Emporium was built in 1897 by J.W. Witney and Sons as a department store, with the first floor serving as the main place of sales. [2] It cost US$10,000 to build, and was designed by C.H. Wilson in a Late Victorian style. [2] It was a pioneering department store in Tuolumne County and the region, however it only occupied the building for 6 months. [2]
From 1898 until 1928, the building was owned by Moses Areant and operated as a mercantile and telephone exchange. [2] [3] Between 1906 and 1923, the Emporium building served as a telephone station for calls through the county. [2]
It was sold to Jim Porter and Peter Barendregt who operated a grocery store from 1936 until 1967. [3]