Simmons, Alton, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1912 at 309 Van Rensselaer Street in Syracuse, this compact two-story house was designed by architect Ward Wellington Ward. It sits on a narrow urban lot at the edge of a residential neighborhood near West Genesee Street. The frame building has a stuccoed first story, a broad gambrel roof sheathed in wood shakes, and a deeply recessed front porch with bracketed posts and latticework. A large stuccoed brick chimney dominates the north side. Inside, the original floor plan survives, with an open living and dining area finished in cherry, including exposed beams, wainscotting, glazed cabinetry, and a bracketed fireplace surround. Moravian tiles from Henry Mercer's studio face the chimney on the first floor and in the master bedroom. The house is valued as a well-preserved example of Ward's early work, typical of the smaller homes he designed for middle-class Syracuse residents in the early 1910s, blending Colonial Dutch and Craftsman influences with Arts and Crafts detail.
Significance in brief: The house is significant under Criterion C as a highly intact example of Ward Wellington Ward's residential architecture in Syracuse. It is one of the smaller houses he designed for middle-class clients in the early 1910s, showing Colonial Dutch and Craftsman influences with Arts and Crafts interior detailing. Both the exterior and the interior retain outstanding integrity.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 01001493, listed January 24, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 309 Van Rensselaer St., Syracuse |
|---|---|
| County | Onondaga County |
| Listed | January 24, 2002 |
| Reference number | 01001493 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1912 |
| Architect / builder | Ward, Ward Wellington |
| Architectural style | Arts and Crafts |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling; the interior and exterior are described as retaining a very high level of integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 43.05270, -76.16655 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 01001493.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4736907
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.