The Stick Style H. K. Simons House in Greenfield, Massachusetts was built in 1876. The architect has not been identified.
Character-defining features of the house include asymmetrical massing, irregular silhouette with an unusually tall, rectangular tower with a very elongated slate roof. The characteristic criss-cross stickwork appears below the cornice; this motif is repeated at the porch balustrade and decorative trusses at roof gables. Window trim is banded continuously, and the porch is braced with distinctive, arched stickwork.Â
Simons was a 28-year-old bank cashier when he had the house built. The 1880 federal census shows it occupied by Simons, his wife and four children and two servants. By 1900, Simons was working in the insurance industry.
Stick 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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