Tribune-Republic Building
Also known as: Laughery House Annex; Shaw House
Why it's listed
Built in November 1873 on Morro Street in San Luis Obispo, this two-story redwood building was first a newspaper printing office, with a press room upstairs and offices below. Over the next seventeen years it housed four successive newspapers, including the Tribune and the Daily Republic, the latter run by journalist and historian Myron Angel, who campaigned for the Southern Pacific Railroad's coastal route. Later it served as an annex to a hotel, the Laughery House. In 1905 it was moved six blocks to Santa Barbara Street, near the railroad station, and became a rooming house for railroad workers and, during World War II, servicemen from Camp San Luis. It is regarded as the oldest wooden commercial building in the city and retains its original structure, windows and redwood clapboard. Recent restoration converted the interior into three apartments. It was listed for its link to local communication history, Angel, and the railroad boom that shifted the town's commercial center.
Significance in brief: It is the only surviving newspaper printing office in San Luis Obispo, where four successive newspapers were published from 1873 to 1890. It is also tied to the Southern Pacific Railroad era, serving as a rooming house for railroad workers after its 1905 move. It is associated with journalist Myron Angel, who used it as his principal workplace from 1883 to 1890.
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 93000548, listed June 24, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1763 Santa Barbara St., San Luis Obispo |
|---|---|
| County | San Luis Obispo County |
| Listed | June 24, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93000548 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1873-1890, 1905-1943 |
| Architect / builder | Angel, Myron (listed under Significant Person); architect/builder unknown |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Communications |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Exterior described as in excellent condition and unchanged since the 1905 move; interior restored and reorganized into three apartments. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 35.27572, -120.65672 (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.
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 93000548.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14684164
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.