A businessman once asked me to define a “house history.” In an attempt to answer his own query, he told me that a house history begins with the construction date of the house and details the upgrades throughout time. It sounded rather mundane and I suppose if it really were nothing more than that, it would end the discussion there. But that isn’t the case.  Believe me, a house history is much more interesting than the definition provided by that man and over the next several months this blog will be exploring house history research beginning with the “whys” of conducting one.

There are many types of buildings to explore such as: townhouses, detached houses, commercial buildings, stables, hotels, apartment buildings, etc., and the reasons for conducting the history are just as varied. The research can actually be a fun adventure of mystery and discovery. Here are some of those reasons for “why a house history” for both residential and commercial properties:

CURIOSITY

I don’t have to say much about curiosity. Anyone who has entered an older building whether it is a residence or business has probably been subject to the wandering thoughts, wondering who walked the halls, what life was like in the past. Questions pervade like, what contribution did the owners or workers make to the building or the business it housed? The swarming questions often beg to be answered and seeking documents for those answers is the beginning of conducting a house or building history.

KNOWING YOUR INVESTMENT

Beyond curiosity, another more important reason to conduct a house history is to become better acquainted with your property. What do we really know about one of the largest investments we are making? It is amazing that generally we purchase a house or building knowing very little of its past. Developing a historical prospectus via a house history can provide complete documentation of the property and building over the years including the economics, construction and renovations, owners, building uses, etc. There is nothing like knowing your property inside and out. It provides a solid handle on its worth.

RESTORATION/RENOVATION

Have you ever come across a building with a rather disjointed eclectic style which seemed to detract not only from its beauty, but from its value? I recall that very feeling when purchasing my home in the 1980s. After researching the history and engaging an engineer familiar with older homes it was discovered that the main part of the house was built pre-1810, an addition was built in the late 1890s and the final, somewhat bastardized extensions were added in 1970. I have no doubt that the reduction in price and length of time on the market had something to do with the lack of understanding of how to connect the old with the new. After purchasing the property and conducting a house history we gained insight into its past which assisted in our renovation and restoration efforts resulting in a more cohesive look.

These are just a few reasons why conducting a house history might be advantageous and fun. More to explore...

NEXT WEEK: Part II – Real Estate, Historic Designation and Building a Legacy

If you think that your building has very little history, think again. Having recently researched a 5-story building which houses a diminutive store on street level with three apartments resting above it, unexpected history has been discovered. From the original purchase by a single woman in the 1820s to a gathering of citizens led by a senator who denounced loyalty to Lincoln during the Civil War, the hidden history of this quiet little building will soon be revealed in book form. Does your house have a hidden history? What secrets does it hold? Consider doing your own investigative work. Future blogs will give some clues on how to perform your own search. Send your questions.

_Developing a family tree is obviously of great interest to genealogists and family historians, but without knowing ancestors beyond their name, dates, and the people they are connected to, the list becomes just that, a list. On the other hand, what if you knew (even if you’re not a genealogist) that your ancestor lived in a house just around the corner from where Oscar Wilde was visiting a famous actress, Lillie Langtry, who was scheduled to make her American debut in a play in the Park Theatre across the street from where your ancestor conducted business on a daily basis? Or what if your ancestor occupied the apartment just above where a gathering took place denouncing loyalty to President Lincoln during the Civil War? When we look over the information we have gathered as a family historian or genealogist, we find that it is the specific and unique details that breathe life into the names that one has gathered.  Rather than take the view that all people living in the 1800s dressed alike, took part in identical current events, ate the same food, lived in a house that was built in that era, and interacted with no one but their own relatives, why not discover what their personal life was really like?

BUILDING THE FRAMEWORK

Before beginning the process of discovery that will bring life to your ancestor the foundation must be laid. This starts with developing the framework of a plan including the choice of a family member who will be the focus individual and the location that is to be searched. While discovering the history of a dwelling, the information may touch on more than one life in the family, but your research should always return to the individual who is the focus of your search. Next, record all the background information beginning with the property street number and name. Locate the designated block and lot numbers which are generally found at the municipal or county clerk and often available online as well. Include the current town, county, and state keeping in mind that town and county lines may have changed over time. Part of your foundation investigation will include searching building records, studying and recording the physical aspects of the architecture and what you observe about its construction and possible alterations.

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

Once you have made a building choice and have your framework in place, a number of resource materials are available to begin constructing your ancestor’s life story including architectural books, municipal archives, online resources, local, county, and state libraries, building records, tax records, city directories, censuses, genealogy databases, architectural resources, and my favorite, newspapers. Organization is essential and knowing/discovering the area history as well as state, country, and world events will enhance your ancestor’s story and possibly dredge up additional questions that need to be explored.  

THE FINISHING TOUCHES

Though there may be several dwellings and/or businesses in your ancestor’s past, as a general rule, each should be researched separately after which consideration should be given as to whether or not the history of the buildings should be woven together. Producing a cohesive story from what can amount to hundreds of pieces of information is an art which is a subject for another blog entry. Throughout future blog entries on this topic, specific steps and tips for how to search some of the individual resources, and breathe life into your ancestor through house histories, will be explained in more detail.