Hofman, Charles, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1889 at 308 South School Street in Ukiah, this two-story redwood house was commissioned by merchant Charles Hofman and his wife Sophie at a cost of $4,000, the second largest sum spent on a Ukiah building to that date. Architect-contractor F. M. Mason designed it in the Eastlake style, using decorative trim that had become affordable after the railroad reached town in 1889. The nomination describes it as Ukiah's first and best Eastlake house, with ornamented facade bays, a balustrated balcony, Lincrusta-papered hallways, plaster ceiling medallions and a mahogany newel post. Hofman ran the town's main general store and was a central figure in Ukiah's small Jewish community. The house later served as apartments and, after a 1978 partial restoration, as professional offices, with much original fabric and its floor plan largely intact. It was listed for its architecture and its link to Hofman's commercial prominence.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it Ukiah's first and best example of Eastlake styling, designed by architect-contractor F. M. Mason as the town's building boom followed the arrival of the railroad in 1889. It is also tied to Charles Hofman, a leading merchant who ran the town's main general store, and to a family central to Ukiah's small Jewish community.
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 93001022, listed September 30, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 308 S. School St., Ukiah |
|---|---|
| County | Mendocino County |
| Listed | September 30, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93001022 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1872-1909 |
| Architect / builder | F. M. Mason |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Eastlake |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as professional offices since the 1978 partial restoration; foundation work and seismic retrofit were completed in 1991. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 39.14832, -123.20826 (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 93001022.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133307659
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.