Moyse Building
Also known as: The Gray Building
Why it's listed
Built in 1887 at 13150 Seventh Street, this two-story wood frame building is the oldest surviving structure in Chino, California. Measuring 30 by 50 feet, it has shiplap siding, a symmetrical gable-end facade, fluted cast iron pilasters, and a cantilevered balcony forming a porch over the ground floor. Turned ornament in the gable gives the street front its character. W.R. Dawson and a Mr. Torrey built it for Maurice Moyse, who ran a general store downstairs and the town's first post office. Chino's first school classes met in the upstairs room, and the first local Thanksgiving observance was held there. The Gray family later lived in it for about forty years. Few buildings from the town's early days remain, and this one kept most of its integrity. At the time of nomination it was vacant, owned by concerned citizens who planned to remove later alterations and restore it for office use, and the city council had already designated it a local historic site.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as the oldest remaining building in Chino and one of very few from the city's early years that kept its integrity. It housed the town's first post office, first school classes and first Thanksgiving observance. Reviewers also noted it as a late 19th century small-town commercial building with vernacular Queen Anne elements.
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 79000522, listed February 28, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 13150 7th St., Chino |
|---|---|
| County | San Bernardino County |
| Listed | February 28, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000522 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1887 |
| Architect / builder | W.R. Dawson and a Mr. Torrey (builders and painters) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th century small-town commercial vernacular with Queen Anne style elements (cast iron columns, transom lights, gable screen) |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as vacant and undergoing restoration by a group of citizens; condition marked good, with plans to remove major alterations and house the Chamber of Commerce on the ground floor. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 34.01466, -117.69055 (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 79000522.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q20714886
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.