Elks Building
Why it's listed
Rising five stories at the corner of Weber and Sutter streets in downtown Stockton, this U-shaped building was constructed between 1906 and 1908 for the Elks. San Francisco architects Salfield and Kohlberg designed it with a steel and concrete base, heavy timber framing and two-foot-thick brick walls, a combination linked to concerns after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Classical pilasters, granite lintels and a projecting copper cornice mark its street fronts. Ground-floor stores, including the Holden Drug Company, sat below offices and the fourth- and fifth-floor lodge rooms. Contemporary newspapers called it one of Stockton's handsomest buildings, and it cost over $100,000. The entrance was remodeled in the late 1920s in a Moderne tile style, and the copper urns and stained glass dome have been lost. At nomination it was largely vacant, with rehabilitation for offices planned. It is recognized for its architecture and its role in the city's early twentieth-century commercial growth.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant for its architecture and its link to Stockton's turn-of-the-century commercial boom. It is noted for its boldly projecting copper cornice, classical detailing and corner position. It was considered one of the city's finest buildings, and its Elks lodge rooms were reported to be among the finest in the country.
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 80004606, listed June 3, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 42 N. Sutter St., Stockton |
|---|---|
| County | San Joaquin County |
| Listed | June 3, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80004606 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1906-1908 |
| Architect / builder | Salfield and Kohlberg, Architects |
| Architectural style | Commercial Style with classical detailing |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as 90% vacant at the time of nomination, with rehabilitation planned and the building to be leased for office space. The building had been occupied until 1974. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 37.96318, -121.28568 (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 80004606.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5364384
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.