Merrium Apartments
Why it's listed
Built in 1913 at 1017 14th Street in Sacramento, this five-story apartment building was designed by architect Clarence Cecil Cuff for attorney Chauncey H. Dunn, who named it for his wife. It has a reinforced concrete frame, buff Sacramento Sandstone Brick facing on the west front, and a deeply overhanging cornice. A two-story entrance with Sullivanesque foliated ornament and Wrightian details marks the center. Inside are 41 small but richly finished apartments with oak and mahogany floors, leaded-glass built-ins, Murphy beds and original ice boxes. The building was chosen for its fireproof construction, a notable feature in a city where other new apartment houses were wood frame, and it was reported as the city's first absolutely fireproof apartment building. It was listed as the finest Prairie-style multi-residential building in Sacramento and as a key product of the city's pre-World War I building boom. Only the entrance doors have been altered, and the interiors keep most original finishes.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is Sacramento's premier example of Prairie-style, Sullivanesque multi-residential architecture (Criterion C). It is also an early reinforced concrete frame apartment building chosen for fireproofing, and a key structure of the pre-World War I building boom (Criterion A). Its exterior and interiors are largely intact.
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 90001386, listed September 13, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1017 14th St., Sacramento |
|---|---|
| County | Sacramento County |
| Listed | September 13, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001386 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1913 |
| Architect / builder | Cuff, Clarence Cecil |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and early 20th century American Movements: Prairie School; Sullivanesque |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function listed as Vacant/Not in Use in Section 6, though the form also lists Domestic, Multiple Dwelling as a current function; integrity described as outstanding, with only the entrance doors altered. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.57802, -121.48777 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 90001386.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14683336
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.