Sunnyside
Also known as: Styles,S.D.,Summer Residence
Why it's listed
Sunnyside is a shingled frame summer house built in 1890 on East Main Street in Richfield Springs, facing Canadarago Lake to the south. Samuel D. Styles, a New York City banker and printer, had it built by local contractor John Williams; the designer is unknown. The house has a gabled main block, a porch and porte-cochère on rubble limestone piers, bay windows and stained-glass stair windows. A 1909 addition at the rear added kitchen and pantry space and a servants' staircase. Inside, Colonial Revival fireplaces, a coffered dining room ceiling and an elaborate staircase stand out. A matching carriage barn with a cupola and weathervane survives behind the house. The property reflects the Picturesque tradition and Shingle style taste of wealthy visitors who made Richfield Springs a leading summer resort. After the resort declined from about 1920, most comparable houses and hotels were lost, leaving Sunnyside as one of fewer than a dozen of its kind.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a distinguished example of late nineteenth century residential architecture in Richfield Springs, built during the town's heyday as a fashionable summer resort. It combines Picturesque Movement elements with Shingle style detailing and keeps a high degree of integrity, including its lake-view setting and original carriage house. It is one of fewer than a dozen surviving resources of its type and period.
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 88000211, listed March 10, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 72 E. Main St., Richfield Springs |
|---|---|
| County | Otsego County |
| Listed | March 10, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000211 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1890-1909 |
| Architect / builder | John Williams (Richfield Springs) |
| Architectural style | Shingle style with Picturesque Movement elements; Colonial Revival interior details |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied and used as a private residence. It served as a funeral home from 1973 to 1981, and the carriage barn has had minor alterations. |
| Acreage | 2.9 |
| Within district | East Main Street Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.85211, -74.97781 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 88000211.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16900914
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.