If you're reading this post, it's likely that you have an historic home. It was owned by someone else the property before you. It is possible that you are looking for the history of your house due to a variety of reasons. Maybe you're renovating or restoring an old house. Perhaps you're seeking designation of historic significance for your property. Perhaps, as I and many others are you looking to be presented with an Century Home plaque from your local historical society in North Town Residency.
Whatever your motivation, finding out about your family's history is interesting and rewarding. However, it can also be challenging. Most people aren't sure where to look for relevant information for their research. In the majority of cases there isn't a single place that can provide all the information you need to conduct your research. The following steps will help you start your search.
First thing you should have is an official explanation of the home that is found in the deed that you signed when you purchased this home. This legal description will define the property you're considering to make sure that while studying the documents, you can ensure that you're dealing on the correct home. Starting with yourself as a buyer you can look backwards through the deed indexes to discover the previous sellers or buyers.
HTML0 * Ask the owners of the house and current neighbors to get all the information they have about the property and house.
Contact your local historical society for more information about the kinds of records that they maintain. You will typically find neighborhood histories, sketchy biographical notes, journals and photographs.
o Contact the municipality in your area to get construction permits as well as tax documents.
Record of County may include tax assessments, deed indexes and plats, building permits, maps , and photographs.
Check out the library of your town or county library for details about local history papers newspapers, city directories, vital statistics, and family history.
There's the possibility that you'll go through every avenue and not be able answer all of your queries. However, regardless of what the final outcome is, you'll find interesting information about your home and the community it was built within.
A process that involves documenting the history of your home is more than just names and dates. It's about discovering the tales of those who lived there prior to the time you. It's not just a good to read for new homeowners to come and their families, but they'll be grateful for the information you provide and will be able to enrich their existing.