Sonora Youth Center
Why it's listed
Sonora Youth Center is a one-story log building on South Barretta Street in a residential neighborhood of Sonora. Measuring 40 by 80 feet, it has scribed log walls, a concrete foundation, three limestone chimneys and an entry alcove between two projecting gables. Inside are two meeting rooms, each with a limestone fireplace, along with restrooms and a kitchen. Boy Scout Troop 62 first proposed a clubhouse, and high school principal Vernon Dunlavy widened the idea into a hut for all county youth in 1940. Architect Elmore G. Ernst of Stockton designed it, and John Froskland managed the construction. Volunteers donated logs, stonework and materials, the Rosenberg Foundation gave $3,000, and the National Youth Administration paid young workers. The total cost was $9,000, and the building was dedicated on November 7, 1943. It remains Tuolumne County's oldest youth facility and still hosts scouting and other youth programs, preserving a record of Depression-era cooperation.
Significance in brief: It is significant under Criterion A at the local level for its role in the social history of Tuolumne County as the county's oldest facility for youth organizations. It was built through a joint effort of civic groups, government agencies and the National Youth Administration during the Depression and early World War II. It also stands as a reminder of the New Deal youth employment program.
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 09000807, listed October 8, 2009. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 732 S. Barretta St., Sonora |
|---|---|
| County | Tuolumne County |
| Listed | October 8, 2009 |
| Reference number | 09000807 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1940-1943 |
| Architect / builder | Ernst, Elmore G. |
| Architectural style | Other - log cabin |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a youth meeting hall; the building is little altered from 1943, though the windows were replaced with metal-framed ones and the roof is now standing seam metal. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.97569, -120.37766 (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 09000807.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133571435
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.