Reed's Store
Also known as: Copperopolis Copper Mining Company Office
Why it's listed
Reed's Store is a square, two-story brick building with a pyramidal roof on the old plaza of Copperopolis. W. K. Reed, one of the discoverers of copper there, built it in 1861 as a general merchandise store. Its only decoration is a dentil cornice, and the windows have relieving arches. During the copper boom of 1861-1867 it was the town's pre-eminent store and the only two-story brick building ever built there. Mines in the area were then among the most productive in the nation, supplying copper for Union shell casings and munitions. In 1906 the Union Copper Mining Company bought the building and used it for offices and an assay office, with boarders upstairs. It later served the Calaveras Copper Company through the World War I era. A Craftsman porch was added around 1910. It stands beside the Honigsberger Store and the Armory, three of the four brick buildings left from the boom. The building is now vacant and has suffered vandalism and weathering.
Significance in brief: It was the leading store in Copperopolis during the 1861-1867 copper boom, when local mines supplied copper for Union Civil War munitions. It later served as headquarters for the Union and Calaveras copper companies, including during World War I. It is also a well-preserved example of simple Neoclassical brick commercial architecture and the only two-story brick building the town ever had.
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 92000309, listed April 2, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 679 Main St., Copperopolis |
|---|---|
| County | Calaveras County |
| Listed | April 2, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92000309 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1861-1867, 1909-1929 |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century (simple Neoclassical brick commercial) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as vacant; vandals have broken many windows and damaged interior plaster, and the front porch is weathered, but the building retains its integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.97605, -120.63567 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 92000309.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14683811
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.