Many of us have fallen in love with a piece of our architectural heritage. Whether it is a Gothic revival, Colonial, Victorian or Georgian style historical home, we have taken to our heart it has a history that is as unique as those that choose to buy them. Tracking down the history of your home can often be a challenge.
Like a genealogy in which researchers use information to locate the history of their family, there is a paper record that documents the history of your home. By going through that documentation you can sort out the history of your home.
Obviously starting in your own home is the best place to start. You are already there and it doesn’t cost a cent to look around the house. Studying the various aspects of your home will tell part of your homes tale. Look at the chimney, walls, roof, doors, foundation and windows noting the material that were used. Take into consideration that over time upgrades might have been done to improve the home. Attempt to distinguish between the new and the old building materials.
Your next step is to go through the recorded deeds. Your county courthouse, or land registry office should have documentation on past titles. Through these records you can create a chronological list of all the past owner of your home. Take note of the properties legal description and the name of the past owner when doing your search. Using the index to deeds by buyer will allow you to cross reference buyers to the owner from which they bought the property.
Finally don’t be afraid to use other public resources to further your search. Property will sometimes pass form one owner to another through a will, and can usually be found were the deeds are kept.
Mortgage records often contain detailed records of what the building was like at the time the mortgage was drawn up. Will and probate records may list more previous owners. Local tax records can give you an indication of when improvements were done to the home.
Libraries are a fantastic resource for information on your historic home. Many libraries have section dedicated to local history. Some of that history may be about your home or possibly one of the homes previous owners. City directories often list not only people’s occupations but also their address. Census records contain information about households as well. Look for photos of your home here as well, they can show you the evolution of your property over time.
City and county maps may be able to offer you details about the home that may have otherwise been hidden from you. Landmarks may no longer exist, and owner’s names may be marked along with the address.
Once you have taken these steps you will likely have a stack of notes and photocopies that you need to piece together. Making it into a chronological masterpiece is the next step in the process. Remember to continue with your own documentation of the home for future owners. Taking photos, documenting changes and savouring your own personal piece of history while you live there.
