Stage Stop
Also known as: Saunders' Store
Why it's listed
Located at Yosemite Boulevard and La Grange Road in La Grange, this rubblestone building was constructed in 1850-51 as Saunders' Store and later served as a stage stop. It appears to have been built in two phases. The left unit is the older and more carefully made, with a three-bay pedimented facade, cut stone facing on front and rear, and a classical Greek Revival character. The right unit has two bays, no pediment, and looks more hastily built, probably later in the 1850s. Heavy iron doors and relieving arches over the entrances are notable features. Stone stores of this kind were common in gold rush communities, and the two units may reflect a German immigrant stone building tradition. Later changes include stucco on the facades, now partly weathered away, an I beam and post at the right unit's door, and a partly collapsed rear wood shed. The building is owned by the county and used for storage.
Significance in brief: It is presented as a good example of a stone building type used in 1850s California gold mining communities, with prominent iron doors that are also representative. The left unit is described as an interesting translation of the popular Greek Revival style.
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 79003463, listed August 24, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Yosemite Blvd. and La Grange Rd., La Grange |
|---|---|
| County | Stanislaus County |
| Listed | August 24, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003463 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | William Saunders, John and Henry Inman, Nathan McFarland & Nathan Danner (builders) |
| Architectural style | Vernacular Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by Stanislaus County and used for storage. Stucco is weathering away, a rear wood shed has partly collapsed, and an I beam supports the right unit's door. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.66350, -120.46063 (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 79003463.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133554692
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.