Buying a Piece of History

When buying an historic or antique home you are buying more than a house with four walls, you are buying a piece of history.  The history of the home is contained right in the home’s fabric - the wood, stone and details that create the physical structure.  Much can be learned from viewing and analyzing the physical elements of an old house.  But the history of the house is much more than its physical components.

When I list an antique house I feel that the social history of the home is just as important as the physical history.  Home buyers emotionally bond with the history of the house just as much as they enjoy the architectural details of an old home.  For that reason, I like to prepare a house history and make it available to potential buyers.

Every house is different.  Some homes already have written house histories.  Others have a few compiled documents but no narrative.  Others have no previously recorded history.  When I sell a house with no researched history, I do the research myself to ensure that it is available for potential home buyers. 

Researching the history of the home

As a house historian, I do very detailed reports of a house’s history.  As a realtor, I do as in-depth a report as is possible in a reasonable time.  It’s a trimmed down version of what I would produce with my house history hat on.

Currently, Marcia Kramarz and I are listing the Col. Arial Bragg House, circa 1760, in Holliston, Massachusetts.  Here’s the approach I followed:

Identify Existing History

I always start off by asking the home owners for any information they may already have on their home.  Most home owners know at least a little bit of the history of their house.  Some may have documents or a written history from previous owners.

Collect Oral History

In the event that the home owners don’t have any documents, I then conduct an oral history interview.  I discuss with the owners what they have heard about their home from neighbors and previous owners.  This often is the basis for further research or at the very least can save time and jump start the research process.

Trace the Deeds

The next most important part is tracing the deeds.  With a very old house, like the Col. Arial Bragg House, it is often not possible to find deeds all the way back to the date it was built.  Deeds can be missing, not recorded or simply lacking in a reference to a previous deed or owner.  When this is the case it is good to use genealogical skills.  Often by researching the family members of the owners, you can find a previous owner if the property has been passed from father to son.  In the case of the Col. Arial Bragg house, three generations of Braggs lived in the home.  Through identifying Col. Arial Bragg as the father of Appleton Bragg I was able to able to find the deed showing the transfer of the property.

Check out Census Records

Tracing deeds is a necessary step but the deeds themselves can be quite boring.  The real story of an old home often comes from researching the social history of the owners or renters.  One of the best ways to do that is to use census records.  Census information is available through a subscription site like Ancestry.com or through an online database called Heritage Quest which may be available at your local library. 

You can learn a lot of information from census records.  Censuses were (and still are) taken every 10 years starting in 1790. I was able to find the owner of the Col. Arial Bragg House on the 1790 census which was very exciting.

Starting with 1850, census records list the names of individuals living in a home.  They may be the owners or they may be renters so be careful to check to see if the names match the corresponding time period in the deeds.  Depending on the year, census records reveal information such as occupation, age, where the residents were born and how much real estate they owned.  In one census you can even determine if they owned a radio!

Locate County Histories

Now that you are armed with all this information there is another place you can check for information – local county history books.  In the late 19^th century county histories were all the rage.  These books often featured biographical accounts of prominent people from each town in the county.  Some of the original home owners of your old house may be listed there.  Check your local library to find them.

Pulling it all Together

After gathering all this information, you need to pull it together in a useful format for potential home buyers.  A binder with sheet protectors will do.  You can also have it perfect bound at your local printer.  Make sure the information is presented in a logical, easy to read manner.

Is it a lot of work to put together?  You bet it is!  But it becomes easier the more experience you have.  But I’m willing to do it because I think my clients are worth it, I respect the significance of historical homes and I feel the home buyers deserve it.

© 2010 Marian Pierre-Louis