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NP8 Form 1CHOO-* 0MB Appro*! No. 10244018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number SUPPLEMENTARY LISTING RECORD NRIS Reference Number: 92000293 Date Listed: 5/6/92 Sonoma Plaza (Boundary Increase) Property Name Sonoma CA county State N/A Multiple Name This property is listed in the National Register of Historic Places in accordance with the attached nomination documentation subject to the following exceptions, exclusions, or amendments, notwithstanding the National Park Service certification included in the nomination documentation. Signature of the Keeper Date of Action Amended Items in Nomination: Statement of Significance: Under Areas of Significance, Exploration/Settlement (1823-50) and Archeology: Historic Non- Aboriginal are removed. This information was confirmed with Michael Crowe of the Western Regional Office, National Park Service. DISTRIBUTION: National Register property file Nominating Authority (without nomination attachment) i 2 7 1992 NFS Form 10-900 0MB No. 1024-0018 (Rev. 8/86) OHP United States Department of the Interior National Park Service NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES REGISTRATION FORM 1. Name of Property Historic name: Sonoma Plaza (National Register Boundary Increase) other names/site number: N/A 2. Location Street & number: The central town plaza and the facing streets to the north. south, east and vest of the p\a.za and extending along both sides of East Spain Street. East Napa Street and Broadway. Not for publication: N/A City, town; Sonoma Vicinity: N/A State: California Code: CA County: Sonoma Code: 097 Zip code: 95476 3. Classification_________________________ ___ Ownership of Property Category of Property No. of Resources within Property x private __ building(s) contributing noncontributing x public-local x district 82 56 buildings x public-State __ site _1_ _2 sites __ public-Federal __ structure 1 __ structures __ object 2 __ objects 88 58 Total Name of related multiple property listing: No. of contributing resources previously listed in the N/A_______________________________ National Register ______ 4. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, I hereby certify that this x nomination _ request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and profession­ al requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion, the property XX meets __ does not meet the National Register criteria. See continuation sheet. Signature of certifying offi Date California Office of Historic Preservation State or Federal agency or bureau USDI/NPS NRHP Sonoma Plaza Page 2 In ray opinion, the property _ meets does not meet the National Register criteria. See continuation sheet. Signature of commenting or other official Date State or Federal agency or bureau Nationai Park Service Certification I, hereby, certify that this property is: v entered in the National Register _ See continuation sheet _ determined eligible for the National Register. _ See continuation sheet _ determined not eligible for the National Register. _ removed from the National Register _ other, (explain:) ____________ Signature of the Keeper Date 6. Functions or Use Historic Functions Current Functions Government, city hall Government, citv hall Commerce, business Commerce, business, organizational Domestic, hotel, single dwelling Domestic, hotel, single, multiple dwelling USDI/NPS NRHP Sonoma Plaza (National Register Boundary Increase) Page 3 7. Description__________________________________________________ Architectural Classification: Mid-19th Century: Other: California Monterey Colonial Late Victorian: Queen Anne, Eastlake Late 19th and 20th Century Revival: Beaux Arts, Mission, Spanish Colonial Revival Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Movements: Bungalow Materials: foundations: brick, stone walls: frame. stone. brick. adobe , roof: mission tile, asphalt shingle, wood shake Describe present and historic physical appearance. x See continuation sheets NFS Form 10-900-a page 4 0MB Approval No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES REGISTRATION FORM: CONTINUATION SHEET Section No.7 Description: Sonoma Plaza Boundary Increase_______________ SONOMA PLAZA CONTRIBUTING BUILDING DESCRIPTIONS The area designated as the Sonoma Plaza National Register Historic District is slightly larger than the NHL District and is comprised of the Plaza and the adjacent side streets. The National Register District increase is along Braodway and the north side of East Napa Street. The District is essentially a commercial and residential district with relatively few intrusions. Topographically, the area is very flat with a grid pattern of streets that extends out from the central Plaza. The large square Plaza contains many mature trees which gives the space a very bucolic atmosphere although the buildings facing the Plaza are primarily commercial. The tangential side streets, which are primarily resi­ dential, are also lined with tall mature trees furthering this atmosphere. The commercial buildings range in height from 1 to 4 stories. The residential build­ ing are primarily one story with some two story buildings scattered throughout the district. Nathanson Creek is a small stream which flows diagonally from the northeast to the southwest along the eastern boundaries of the district. At the intersection of East Napa Street and Second Street East there are a series of stone embankment walls and a bridge which spans the stream. The overall inte­ grity of the district both physically and architecturally remains very high. The district has undergone minor change but still retains a great deal of integrity from the period of significance (1835-1944). The district contains buildings from the 1830s through the 1930s. The district in its past had the look of a small country town center. It essentially still retains that char­ acter. There are no new high rise building intrusions. Most of the changes are limited to low-rise new construction or the replacement of wood sash windows with aluminum and the removal of some decorative details from a few of the buildings. Most notable is the loss, at the corner of First Street East and East Napa Street, of the historic 1891 Mission Hardware building due to a fire in 1990. There are several intrusive new one and two story buildings along West Napa Street in the south west corner of the District. Several buildings have been moved within district, beginning in 1856. The most recent move was the Vasquez House which was moved to its present site in 1973. There are 81 buildings or sites which contribute to the District. Buildings determined to contribute to the district retain architectural integrity to their construction date, have integrity of location, and have the ability to convey a sense of the history of the change and development of the district during the period of significance. Buildings moved during the period of significance were determined to contribute to the District. Sonoma Plaza appearance during the period of significance: In the early years after its incorporation, the Sonoma Town Plaza had several different kinds of fences erected along its periphery with access NFS Form 10-900-a Page 5 0MB Approval No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES REGISTRATION FORM: CONTINUATION SHEET Section No.7 Description: Sonoma Plaza Boundary Increase_______________ stiles, but remained essentially a simple, open area with little or no vegetation, sometimes used for cattle grazing. During the Mexican period it had been used as a drill and parade ground for the troops from the Barracks. It was also used for horse racing. The Plaza was eventually improved in the early 1850s with the infilling of the holes created for the manufacture of adobe brick. In 1868 an election was called to decide to dedicate the Plaza for school purposes and as a public promenade. It apparently failed because there is no record of its use for school purposes. However, on April 29, 1876 the town council granted permission to Orrick Johnson to cut the grass on the Plaza for his personal use. In return, he was required to keep the fence surrounding the Plaza in good repair and to keep the cattle out of the Plaza, In 1879, the Sonoma Valley Railroad Company laid tracks along East Spain Street and was granted use of part of the Plaza. In 1880, the Company erected a building on the south side of the Plaza, and eventually expanded its operations with the construction of a depot, roundhouse, car barn, turntable, water pump, and engine house on the Plaza. Auxiliary elements were also a part of the complex such as spur lines, coal yard, and brick yard. As a result of a lawsuit in 1890, the buildings were removed in acquiescence to citizen complaints about: the inappropriate use of public land and the intrusion of dirt and noise from the engines in such close proximity to the Mission church. The size and location of the complex has not been investigated. With the construction of the monuments to the Bear Flag at the turn of the century, the Plaza became the focus of civic pride. This is most evident in the construction of the City Hall in 1906 in the center of the Plaza in much the same place of honor as the county courthouse in many other small American towns. This change in regard to the public use of the Plaza con­ tinued with the construction of the Carnegie Library in 1910 to replace the small frame structure on First Street East just to the south of the Plaza. The Plaza further evolved into a park-like space with the instal­ lation of non-native landscaping, construction of a naturalistic duck pond, stone bridge, and other amenities. The planting of more than 200 trees of 45 different species was the result of the beautification efforts of the Sonoma Valley Women's Club beginning at the turn of the century.

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