Petaluma Silk Mill
Also known as: Carlson-Currier Silk Mfg. Co.; Belding-Heminway-Corticelli; Su
Why it's listed
Petaluma's old silk mill is a red brick industrial complex at 420 Jefferson Street, close to the former waterfront. San Francisco architect Charles I. Havens designed the original two-story building in 1892 for the Carlson-Currier Silk Manufacturing Company, which had been lured from San Francisco by local businessmen. It has a low hipped metal roof, many arched windows, and towers that hold the staircases. The original central tower was damaged in the 1906 earthquake and rebuilt with a lower roof. A wing was added after 1906, and in 1922 Petaluma architect Brainerd Jones added a second tower and wing, matching the earlier work and bringing the length to 310 feet. Its external towers and brick construction recall Victorian mills of New England. Silk thread was made here until 1917, followed by other owners, and since 1940 Sunset Line & Twine Company has made fishing lines and specialty cords. The building remains in use and is well documented by original plans and photographs.
Significance in brief: The mill has been a prominent architectural landmark of Petaluma's industrial waterfront since 1892 and symbolizes industry in the town. Its design recalls Victorian New England textile mills, with a symmetrical plan, brick construction and external towers. It also reflects late 19th century efforts to develop silk manufacturing in California, and local businessmen persuaded the Carlson-Currier company to relocate there.
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 86000386, listed March 6, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 420 Jefferson St., Petaluma |
|---|---|
| County | Sonoma County |
| Listed | March 6, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000386 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1892-1922 (specific dates 1892/1906/1922; 1900- period also checked) |
| Architect / builder | Charles I. Havens; alterations by Brainerd Jones; contractors Hedges and Paff (1892) |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in use as the Sunset Line & Twine Co. factory, in excellent condition with minimal later alterations; the second floors of the outbuildings hold cafeteria and lounge space. |
| Acreage | 1.2 |
| Coordinates | 38.23638, -122.63065 (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 86000386.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q56618328
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.