We and Our Neighbors Clubhouse
Why it's listed
Built in 1910 on the corner of Union Avenue and the Los Gatos-Almaden Road, this redwood clubhouse near San Jose was constructed for the We and Our Neighbors Club, a women's group begun in 1892 by families who farmed and ranched in the Union District. The shingle-style building has craftsman details, a parlor with a rock fireplace, an assembly room with a stage, a dining room and a kitchen. Contractor C. H. Wheeler won the job with a bid of $2,650. Land was donated by charter member Sophia LaMontagne, and the first president, Mrs. Chris Schofield, paid for construction. The hall became the district's social center, hosting holiday parties, harvest dinners, and dances raising money for the Red Cross and other causes. It also served for religious services, graduations, weddings, voting, scout meetings and a county branch library. The club remains one of the oldest in the California Federation of Women's Clubs, and the building is little altered.
Significance in brief: It was built for the We and Our Neighbors Club, one of the five oldest organizations in the California Federation of Women's Clubs and the oldest club in the Loma Prieta District. The building served as the social center of the Union District, hosting community gatherings, fundraising events, services, voting and a branch library. It is evaluated as locally significant.
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 78000781, listed December 20, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | S of San Jose at 15460 Union Ave., San Jose |
|---|---|
| County | Santa Clara County |
| Listed | December 20, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000781 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900-1910 |
| Architect / builder | C. H. Wheeler |
| Architectural style | Rustic shingle cottage with craftsman details |
| Areas of significance | Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as the club's meeting place and rented for meetings, weddings, receptions and voting; few changes since construction apart from kitchen and ladies room updates, electricity, gas floor furnaces and a fire door. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 37.24355, -121.93099 (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 78000781.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q123862017
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.