Be an Old House Detective and Find the History of Your Home

Like many old house people, my husband and I are drawn to old homes because of their rich history. We are curious to know who built the home and why, and what kind of families may have lived in the home over the years. We wonder if the house is original or how it's been altered, or even the history of the area itself. When preparing our own historic home for a nomination to the National Register of Historic Places, it was this very type of information that had to be researched.

Researching the history of a home can be time consuming, but fun and rewarding. All it takes is a notebook, some pencils, and a pocketful of quarters to be a do-it-yourself Old House Detective.

Where do we start?

When searching for a home's history, the best place to always start is with the previous owners or longtime neighbors. These people may have information about the house or recall changes to the home. Long time neighbors are often familiar with the area's history as well. They can point out where old landmarks once stood, and neighborhood improvements which give insight into the area's early history. They may even have old family photographs showing your home in the distance.

After collecting this neighborhood history, the next step is a visit to the Recorder's Office at City Hall.

The Recorder's Office houses the deeds of record to all properties in the community. Deeds are usually listed by the legal description, which reads as a lot & block in a particular subdivision or as sections, townships and range for rural residences.

Deeds usually show the progression of ownership of a home, as it passed from one owner to the other. It will also show any legal notices against the property. Look for transfers of title or quit claim deeds, mortgages and bank liens, or even construction liens. Road improvement and sidewalk liens will also show up on the deeds of record as well. With diligent detective skills, you should be able to go clear back to the time of the original land grant signed by a president of the United States. Ulysses S. Grant signed the land grant that eventually became our property.