Sonoma in Sonoma County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Boccoli Building
Photographed by Alvis Hendley
1. Boccoli Building Marker
City of Sonoma Historic Building
Boccoli Building
1896
City of Sonoma
Sonoma Valley Rotary
Erected by Sonoma Valley Rotary.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. In addition, it is included in the Rotary International series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1896.
Location. 38° 17.498′ N, 122° 27.4′ W. Marker is in Sonoma, California, in Sonoma County. It is at the intersection of E Napa Street and 1st Street E, on the right when traveling east on E Napa Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 101-103 East Napa Street, Sonoma CA 95476, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in California’s Wine Country, in the San Francisco Bay Area, in the North Coast, and specifically on the Coast Ranges. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Duhring Building 1891 (within shouting distance of this marker); Simmons Pharmacy (within shouting distance of this marker); Castex Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Gottenburg's Garage (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Southern Pacific Stage Coach 1905 (about 300 feet away); The Poppe-Parmelee Building (about 300 feet away); J.G. Marcy Plumbers (about 300 feet away); G.W. Clark Cobbler (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sonoma.
Regarding Boccoli Building. The building at 101-103 East Napa Street contributes to the Sonoma Plaza Historic District which was originally listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 with a boundary increase in 1992. The 1992 nomination form describes this building as: "Vernacular two-story rock-faced ashlar reddish stone commercial building, with large plate glass windows in the store fronts and prism glass transom at 103. The stone was locally quarried. The two second story bays are faced in molded tin to resemble stone;
Photographed by Alvis Hendley, August 24, 2026
2. Boccoli Building
The marker is next to the door marked 103.
The church in the background is the First Baptist Church, built in 1850 as Ames Chapel. The church contributes to the Sonoma Plaza Historic District.
The church in the background is the First Baptist Church, built in 1850 as Ames Chapel. The church contributes to the Sonoma Plaza Historic District.
Ashlar Masonry
Ashlar masonry is formed using finely dressed stones of same size, shape, and texture laid together in cement or lime mortar of equal size joints at right angles to each other. The joints between the stones are very thin, regular, and of uniform thickness, which make the ashlar masonry very strong and sturdy.
Because it takes time and skill to prepare the finely dressed stones and then build with them, ashlar masonry is most often used for imposing structures like fort, castles, palaces and churches.
Wine Country Stonemasons
Italian stonemasons immigrated to Sonoma and Napa counties at the beginning of the 20th century to escape political unrest. Peter Maroni, Natale Forni, Massimo Galeazzi, Angelo Sodini, and others had acquired the skill of cutting hard stone in the quarries of Northern Italy. Stone was quarried in Santa Rosa and Kenwood, dropped from bunkers into horse-driven wagons, and conveyed to building sites where stone was finish cut and set in place.
Also see . . .
1. NRHP nomination form for Sonoma Plaza Historic District.
On June 14, 1846, a group of 33 Americans seized Sonoma, major military post, and took prisoner Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, Commandante-General [sic] of the Northern Frontier of Alta California and the dominant Mexican figure in the north. After electing William B. Ide as president of their new republic, the Americans raised in the plaza their homemade Bear Flag as the symbol of their independent California. These actions marked the beginning of the Bear Flag Revolt, which preceded receipt of news in California of the official outbreak of war between Mexico and the United States.(Submitted on August 30, 2026, by Alvis Hendley of San Francisco, California.)
2. NRHP nomination form for Sonoma Plaza Historic District Boundary Increase.
The National Register District increase is along Braodway [sic] and the north side of East Napa Street. The District is essentially a commercial and residential district with relatively few intrusions....The district has undergone minor change but still retains a great deal of integrity from the period of significance (1835-1944). The district contains buildings from the 1830s through the 1930s. The district in its past had the look of a small country town center. It essentially still retains that character.(Submitted on August 30, 2026, by Alvis Hendley of San Francisco, California.)
Credits. This page was last revised on September 1, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 30, 2026, by Alvis Hendley of San Francisco, California. This page has been viewed 8 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 30, 2026, by Alvis Hendley of San Francisco, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
