Fashion Shop and Stephen Porcella House
Also known as: Stephen Porcella House and "Fashion Shop"
Why it's listed
This corner property in Novato, Marin County, combines a blacksmith shop and an adjoining house, both shaped by the hand of Stephen Porcella. The vernacular house with Italianate details dates to 1900 and remains almost unmodified, with its original wainscoting, doors and elongated double-sash windows. The board-and-batten shop, built about 1894 and later enlarged by Porcella, still holds the brick forge foundations, the block he used for forging, and iron rings where horses were tethered for shoeing. Porcella, a naturalized Italian immigrant, worked as a blacksmith in Novato until about 1950 and was the last of the town's blacksmiths. The site is valued for local history and as a reminder of a vanished craft. Refuse deposits beneath the house and the shop floor also offer archaeological evidence of a single family's domestic and commercial life over nearly half a century. The shop is abandoned, while the house remains in excellent condition.
Significance in brief: The property is tied to Stephen Porcella, an Italian immigrant who was the last blacksmith in Novato and worked there for about half a century. It represents a craft and lifestyle largely erased by later urban development. Trash deposits beneath the house and under the shop floor are also valued for their archaeological potential.
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 80000817, listed June 25, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 800 Grant Ave. and 1009 Reichert Ave., Novato |
|---|---|
| County | Marin County |
| Listed | June 25, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80000817 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1894-1960 |
| Architect / builder | Mr. Stephen Porcella |
| Architectural style | Vernacular domestic structure with Italianate motifs |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Historic - Non-Aboriginal |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The shop is abandoned and has not been used since perhaps the mid-1960s, with minor damage. The house is leased and in excellent condition. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 38.11449, -122.56670 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 80000817.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.