Troy Laundry
Why it's listed
Located on the east side of Almaden Avenue in San Jose, this wood-frame laundry building began in 1895 as a mix of one- and two-story construction. Horizontal wood siding covers the exterior, a gabled shingle roof sits behind a stepped false front, and most windows are double hung. A major 1922-23 addition, built by carpenter Mike Solimine, introduced post and beam construction to create a large open production floor, along with a clerestory for light and ventilation and a separate double-brick boiler room. The laundry was founded by Charles L. Southgate and partner Stiner G. Stinerson, and it operated continuously from 1896 to 1979. Its customers included major hotels, restaurants, San Jose State University and distant clients such as Lick Observatory and Stanford University, with laundry collected at the railroad depot. Ownership later passed to the Dalesandro family and then others. The building is valued as a long-running local business and as a well-preserved false-front industrial structure, though its roof needs repair.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it was a landmark commercial operation in San Jose, running continuously at this location from 1896 to 1979. It is also described as a well-preserved example of late nineteenth century false-front wooden industrial architecture. The founder, Charles L. Southgate, and his partner Stiner G. Stinerson built a business that served leading hotels, restaurants and institutions.
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 82002268, listed January 28, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 722 Almaden Ave., San Jose |
|---|---|
| County | Santa Clara County |
| Listed | January 28, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002268 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (1922-23 addition by carpenter Mike Solimine) |
| Architectural style | Late nineteenth century false-front wooden industrial architecture |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Altered; the second-story roof structure is in need of repair. Sold in 1979 to an owner who planned to restore it for commercial use. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 37.32380, -121.88550 (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 82002268.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q125256547
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.