Moir Building
Also known as: St. James Hotel
Why it's listed
Completed in 1893, this three-story brick building at 227-247 North First Street in San Jose mixed ground-floor shops with upstairs flats and later served as the St. James Hotel. Its design blends Queen Anne and Romanesque Revival features, including a round corner tower, slanted bay windows, sandstone piers with acanthus capitals, cast iron storefront columns and a bracketed cornice. Inside are turned-baluster stairways, paneled wainscot, plaster rosettes and cherubs, with light shafts and a large skylight. The building was erected by William Moir, a young businessman in his early twenties, in the expanding commercial area north of downtown. Its main tenant was the San Jose Board of Trade, which advertised the Santa Clara Valley's agricultural and business potential through publications and fair displays. Moir also ran a bicycle shop there and served as a Board director. The building is regarded as a locally significant, surviving example of late nineteenth century commercial architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is a locally significant, excellent example of late 19th century commercial architecture and one of the last of its type and period in San Jose. It housed the San Jose Board of Trade, forerunner of the Chamber of Commerce, which promoted the Santa Clara Valley. It is also tied to developer-entrepreneur William Moir.
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 82000991, listed October 29, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 227-247 N. 1st St., San Jose |
|---|---|
| County | Santa Clara County |
| Listed | October 29, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82000991 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1893-94 |
| Architectural style | Eclectic combination of Queen Anne and Romanesque Revival |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied until recent years, when the upper floors were closed; described as in good condition, with some alterations such as c. 1950 storefronts and c. 1938 fire escapes. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 37.33956, -121.89328 (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 82000991.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q122949865
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.