Cone and Kimball Building
Also known as: Clock Tower Building
Why it's listed
Built in 1885-86 at 747 Main Street in Red Bluff, this two-story brick commercial building is topped by a corner clock tower that has long served as a local landmark. Sacramento architect A.A. Cook designed it for merchants Joseph Spencer Cone and Gorham Gates Kimball, whose earlier stock had been damaged by fire. The second story keeps its original Italianate features: a stepped parapet, bracketed cornice, rusticated piers and tall narrow windows with cast iron hoods. The ground floor was altered, probably in the 1930s, with plate glass display windows and a metal awning. The tower combines a bell-flared tile roof, four clock faces and a circular colonnade, and its Seth Thomas clock was electrified in 1953. The building has housed a general merchandise store on the street floor since 1888, with offices above. It was listed for its architecture, its known architect and its link to two prominent local businessmen.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a fine example of nineteenth century commercial architecture, combining a pseudo-Mansart clock tower with Italianate fenestration. It is also tied to pioneer businessmen Gorham Gates Kimball and Joseph Spencer Cone. The architect is known, which is unusual for commercial buildings of the period.
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 79000564, listed June 26, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 747 Main St., Red Bluff |
|---|---|
| County | Tehama County |
| Listed | June 26, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000564 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1885-1886 |
| Architect / builder | A.A. Cook, Sacramento |
| Architectural style | Italianate, with a Second Empire-style corner tower |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The ground floor has been continuously occupied since 1888 by a general merchandise store, and the second floor has been used as offices. The form marks the property as occupied. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 40.17811, -122.23590 (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 79000564.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.