National Register of Historic Places

Nevada-California-Oregon Railway Co. General Office Building

Alturas, Modoc County, California
Listed
September 5, 1974
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
74000529

About this property

The Nevada-California-Oregon Railway Co. General Office Building, commonly known as the N.C.O. Building, is a historic site in Alturas, California, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built 1917–1918 to serve as the headquarters of the Nevada-California-Oregon Railway. It has been an Elks Lodge since at least 1974. In 1880, the Nevada and Oregon Railroad was founded; it was sold in 1884 and renamed the Nevada–California–Oregon Railway (N.C.O.). N.C.O. began regular rail service for Alturas began on December 1, 1908. In 1917, N.C.O. sold part of its line, extending from Reno, Nevada, to Hackstaff, California, to Western Pacific Railroad for $700,000. Since N.C.O. based its headquarters in Reno, the company needed a new location along its remaining lines. Alturas offered $10,000 and 20 acres (8.1 ha) of land to N.C.O. to move to the town; the offer was accepted. On August 24, 1917, the Alturas Plaindealer ran a feature on the proposed headquarters with an architect's drawing. The project was estimated at $40,000, and stone would be sourced from a quarry in Sisson, California. Construction began sometime shortly after. On January 30, 1918, N.C.O. staff arrived in Alturas; because the new building was not yet completed, they worked in offices in the Fitzgerald House. It is not apparent when construction was completed, but it was probably later in 1918. In 1967, the N.C.O. Building was included in a California survey of historic sites in the state. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 6, 1974. Since at least 1974, the building has served as an Elks Lodge. The main exterior modifications to the building have been the addition of a BPOE (Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks) sign over the porch and a bulletin board. The design of the building is transitional between the older Mission Revival style and the newer Spanish Colonial Revival style. The building's Mission Revival elements are its arches and curved gable; Churrigueresque ornamentation at the side entrance shows Spanish Colonial Revival influence. The roof is tile and at the corner is a bell tower. At the time of construction, the belfry was in need of a set of bells; a single one is metal, but the rest are wooden dummies turned by the company. The building is fronted with a well maintained lawn along the east face. National Register of Historic Places listings in Modoc County, California Coppedge, Beth J. (September 6, 1974). "NRHP Nomination: N.C.O. Building". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. Media related to Nevada-California-Oregon Railway Co. General Office Building at Wikimedia Commons

Location

619 N. Main St.
Alturas, Modoc County, California
41.48961, -120.54385

Categories

COMMERCETRANSPORTATIONARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

NCO Railway Depot
Industrial
0.3 mi
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Industrial
0.4 mi
Jess Valley Schoolhouse
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19.5 mi
Adin Supply Company
Industrial
29 mi

Nearby Battles

Infernal Caverns Fight 1867
1867Indian Wars
12.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Nevada-California-Oregon Railway Co. General Office Building listed on the National Register?

Nevada-California-Oregon Railway Co. General Office Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 5, 1974.

What type of historic resource is Nevada-California-Oregon Railway Co. General Office Building?

Nevada-California-Oregon Railway Co. General Office Building is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Nevada-California-Oregon Railway Co. General Office Building?

The period of significance for Nevada-California-Oregon Railway Co. General Office Building is recorded as the industrial era.

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