Chichizola Family Store Complex
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Why it's listed
Along Jackson Gate Road, two miles north of Jackson, a 20-acre complex records the growth of a family-run general store that served gold miners. Augustino Chichizola, an Italian native, began trading in 1849 and built a two-foot-thick schist store in 1850. Additions in 1904 and 1912 expanded it, and its interior counters, shelving and ladders remain in place. The district also holds a livestock barn from 1860, a lumber barn from 1875 that stored lumber from the family sawmill, a Queen Anne family home from 1903, a smaller 1911 house with Neo-Classical and Craftsman elements, garages, a hot house, a pigpen, and concrete powder and cap houses from 1905. Most buildings were built for function rather than style. The complex is considered significant for its link to commerce supporting mining in Amador County between 1860 and 1942, and it has changed little since 1942.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the complex best exemplifies the commercial response to gold mining in Amador County, from the Gold Rush until World War II. It represents the county's most important retail business serving miners. The district is described as virtually unchanged since 1942 and retaining a high degree of integrity.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 92000979, listed August 14, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1316--1330 Jackson Gate Rd., Jackson |
|---|---|
| County | Amador County |
| Listed | August 14, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92000979 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1860-1942 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Queen Anne; No Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Historic uses included a department store, warehouse and single dwellings; current uses are listed as specialty store and single dwelling, with a Vacant/Not in Use entry also on the form. Most buildings are described as in good condition, and several still function as originally intended. |
| Acreage | 20 |
| Coordinates | 38.36757, -120.77396 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 92000979.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q141632080
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.