Petaluma and Santa Rosa Railway Powerhouse
Also known as: Hogan Building; P & SR Sub-Station
Why it's listed
Built in 1904 at 238-258 Petaluma Avenue in Sebastopol, this cross-gabled, L-shaped power house served the Petaluma and Santa Rosa Railway, Sonoma County's only electric interurban line. Each arm measures 100 by 30 feet. The walls are unreinforced concrete faced with volcanic stone from the Stony Point Quarry, which also supplied track ballast. Craftsman details include exposed rafters and pendant-and-crossbar gable decoration. One wing held storage batteries for direct current, while the other held the dynamo room and a small office. The railway operated until trolley wires came down in 1947, and the trackage, wires and rolling stock are gone. This building is the only architectural survivor of the system and the first structure the company erected. It is valued as a reminder of the county's effort to provide modern passenger and freight service and to break the Northwestern Pacific's hold on local transport. After the railway sold it in 1945, it was used for brokerage storage, then grain distribution, and since 1962 as an office.
Significance in brief: It is argued to be significant under Criterion A for transportation history. It is the first building constructed, and the only building or structure remaining, from Sonoma County's electric interurban railway system. It is the only architectural reminder of the line, which ran from 1903 to 1947, and it reflects the shift from steam to the internal combustion engine.
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 91000918, listed July 23, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 238--258 Petaluma Ave., Sepbastopol |
|---|---|
| County | Sonoma County |
| Listed | July 23, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91000918 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1904-1941 |
| Architect / builder | Warren, C.A. Construction Company |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Movements (Craftsman detailing) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Since 1962 the building has served as a surveyor's office; alterations have been minor. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 38.40121, -122.82302 (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 91000918.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7171671
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.