The Mary A. Hutchins House in Waldoboro, Maine.
In 1875, successful shipbuilder Joseph Clark died and left his wife Mary a wealthy widow. Two years later she remarried to Frank Hutchins and built this house in 1879. It is a wonderful example of the Stick Style, popular in the 1870s. The architect has not been identified, and it may be from a published design. Historically, the house was painted in several colors to highlight the “framing” elements.
Stick Style is a variation of the Queen Anne style. It often features “exposed framing” (that is almost always applied and ornamental only), prominent stick brackets at the eaves, and varied siding materials in the wall panels to create a variety of patterns and textures on the surface. These houses frequently feature wrap-around porches, towers, and scroll-cut ornament like other Queen Anne style houses.
The style was named by noted architectural historian Vincent Scully, who traced its development in the mid-19th century in his influential 1955 book, “The Shingle Style and the Stick Style.” The book is still in print and worth owning if you are interested in Victorian-era architecture.
Stick Style is one of 25 styles and types illustrated in Chapter 2 of “Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners.”
Signed and personalized copies of the award-winning and bestselling 720-page hardcover book are available from the author in our online shop at YourHistoricHouse.com/shop/.
Our shop also carries select preservation and restoration titles by other authors. Save with our multi-book combo packs!
“Restoring Your Historic House is also available in bookstores nationwide and from online retailers.
© Scott T. Hanson 2025.
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