Palo Alto Stanford Heritage
Inventory photo taken in 1978. Photo from Guy Miller Archives of Palo Alto Historical Assoc. The following is from the Historic Buildings Inventory as revised in 1985:
This simple two–story rectangular form has a partial false front which reveals only the upper part of its street–facing gable. The bracketing and turned finials are typical of Italianate commercial building. At the rear, a storage room, outside stairway, and second–floor balcony were added at an early date.
Channing Market has served as a neighborhood store since its construction for Alphonse Emperger at the beginning of the 20th century. William Bigler, an early owner whose residence was next door, rightly believed that the rapid growth of the city made worthwhile a store that then seemed far from the center of the town.
In the second and third decades, an elementary school next to the store, a high school (later a middle school) across the street, and, since the 20s, Addison School a block away have brought generations of school children to the store for candy and knick–knacks. It was then owned by Herbert B. Spaulding, who lived in the cottage at the rear of the property.
Architecturally, it is an uncommon survival of late 19th century false–front commercial buildings once so common throughout the nation.
Demolished in 1981.
Location map
This building was built in 1901 and was a Category 2 on the Historic Buildings Inventory. The builder is unknown. The property measured 50 by 200 feet.
Sources: Palo Alto Times, 2/6/1903, 11/27/1907; Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) report on "Emperger Grocery (Channing Market)", (1980; Historic America, p. 343 — HABS, et al., Washington, DC, 1983)
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