Brainerd Jones

Who was Brainerd Jones?

Brainerd Jones was an American architect who designed and built most of the architecturally significant buildings in Petaluma, California.

Jones is best known for designing three Carnegie libraries in Sonoma County, two of which are still remain standing and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Jones also has seven other buildings which he contributed to and nine of which are on the National Register.

The overall importance and character of the Petaluma downtown can be partially attributed to Brainerd Jones' contribution. In Santa Rosa, Jones also designed many significant buildings including the Exchange Bank, the Saturday Afternoon Club, the Petaluma Women's Club building, the Lumsden House, and the Oates-Comstock House.

The D Street area has a wealth of important old houses, many of which are attributed to Brainerd Jones, including the Byce House, used for the filming of Peggy Sue Got Married; the Reynaud House as well as four other brick homes. Jones is known for his use of native stone in his buildings.

Other examples include: the 1917 Petaluma and Santa Rosa Electric Railway Depot in Sebastopol, the 1922 addition to the C.C. Silk Mill in Petaluma, the 1911 remodel of the McNear Building in Petaluma and part of the McClay Building, the 1920 Petaluma Post Office, the Simon Pinschower House in Cloverdale, and the 1922 Petaluma Golf and Country Club Clubhouse.