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Do you know the age of your house?
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
By David Pett
There are innumerable reasons to want to find out the age of a home. Some homeowners will wonder if the paint probably contains lead. Or you may wonder who lived there, or who the architect was, or if there was one. But, because homes evolve, new roofs, porches or additions are built it can be confusing to find out the history of your house.
There are a number of ways to go about your investigation. You might begin by researching the architectural style of your house. Look at the shape of the roof and the placement of the windows, and then check online for the House Styles Index. Looking at the building materials and construction methods used for your home will give you valuable information too. A Preservation Brief from the U.S. Department of Interior is also available online that will give clues about the type of wood, plaster and mortar used in homes over the ages. Also, look inside the lid of your toilet. You’ll at least know the date that the current toilet was installed, even if the original is long gone!
The County Register of Deeds and the Tax Assessor can also shed light on your investigation. The Registrar’s office will have a listing of transactions involving your property including the names of everyone who ever purchased the land your house is on, and any claims against it. The Tax roll will tell you each person who owned your property, and the value of the property.
And last, but not least, talk to folks in the neighborhood. You may find neighbors, survivors of the previous owners, the meter reader, the mailman, local service providers, and others who might know something about the house. Although the verifiable details may be lacking, you might find someone who remembers hearing an oral history of the place. Others might have a family bible, an old photograph, a bill, or written correspondence that will help place your house in time.
Even if nothing turns up by using this method at least you may meet a few new friends. Happy hunting!
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