Editor's Note: As a supplement to Linda Herrick Swisher's column about tracing a house history, Marla Kiley has written an article focusing on where to look for artifacts in an old home and what questions to ask current homeowners about previous owners.
Detectives swear there is always evidence to be found at the scene of a crime. The perpetrators can't help leaving behind proof of their presence, whether it be fibers of material, substances containing DNA, or fingerprints. This same theory can make the job of a genealogist easier. When a family has lived in a home for several months, years, or a lifetime, they are bound to leave behind traces of their tenure-traces which don't require the use of a microscope or black lights.
As a researcher of the history of old homes, I have uncovered genealogical gems in the most unusual spots. I began to research homes for a neighborhood fundraising tour. My original intent was to gather a little history about each home for a brochure. What I found was a secret world of history that had been left preserved. I discovered the most history about the homes in question by talking with the current owners. Several had only lived in the century-old homes for a few years, yet they had heard stories from previous owners or came upon clues while renovating the homes. I've researched the histories of several homes, and in every case I've found at least one story or physical sample that would add to the life story of an ancestor.
Precious Discoveries.
In one particular home, built in 1874, I was having a difficult time finding any records. Most had been destroyed in a fire. Then the current owner, who had lived there less than a year, showed me a set of nineteenth-century calling cards with the names of the residents and the home's address. These cards had been lost behind a heat register and discovered during a renovation project. With the names of the former owners in hand, I was able to find mountains of information from the history department of the local library.
In another century-old home where I was interviewing the owners, I found more than I expected. The original owners had hidden a small box of papers under the house's crawl space. Inside the box were fragments of letters and old recipes which had meant enough to the past residents to be carefully set aside.
Under the floorboards of my 1892 home, I discovered a delicate nineteenth-century ring, complete with a small and very old diamond. I had researched my home's history and knew exactly who must have owned this ring. Examining this piece of evidence, I could tell that Jenny Dunkel, the original owner of my home, was probably a petite woman with small fingers.
A friend of mine bought an old house that came with a photograph of a family wearing clothing of the early 1870s. The picture was taken on the front porch, and the trees which now dominate the front yard were tiny saplings in the photo. This photograph cannot be found in the library or in any other records. It hangs on my friend's wall, waiting for the relatives of this family to come looking for it.
Interview With the Ghost
One resident of a house built in about 1880 could tell me nothing about the history of her home or the names of previous residents. Before leaving, I asked an innocent question: "Have you ever had anything spooky happen in this house?" This led to an hour-long conversation about the ghost that lived in her house and seemed to appear most often to her small daughter. It turned out that a former resident of the house had raised three daughters of his own and then died in the home. Whether you believe in spirits or not, this type of information can give a family history color.
Interview With the Homeowner
You can get the current owner's name and address from recent property ledgers. The phone book will provide you with the owner's phone number. A call or a letter explaining what you are looking for should be enough to set up an appointment to meet. You'll probably find that most homeowners are more than happy to tell you anything they know. Here are some questions to ask:
In doing renovation, have you ever pulled out old newspapers from between the lathe and plaster?
Newspaper was a common insulation material. Preserved papers can give you insight about the events happening when your ancestral home was built. If homeowners have come across an old newspaper, they may have saved a piece or two.
Have you ever had anything spooky happen here?
Ghost stories are entertaining, even if you don't believe them. Every historic neighborhood has its share of ghost stories. Take such stories with a grain of salt, but remember that there may be a connection between a mystic tale and your relative.
Have you run across any old pieces of paper or boxes in the basement or crawl space?
Oftentimes the crawl spaces of older homes remain untouched, uncleaned, and perfectly preserved for decades. You may have to be the brave one to crawl under the house and look for any treasures. Coins, nails, old tools, etc. can be found sealed in the crawl spaces. My diamond ring was a lucky find, but I'm sure there are other, more precious time capsules waiting to be found.
Do you know what the original wallpaper, paint, or built-in cabinetry looked like?
This information can be extremely useful for making a complete picture of an ancestor. Discovering his or her tastes and surroundings can add personality to a person you never knew. Even if there are no physical samples of daily life from the previous owners, the house construction and layout can reveal much about their family life and their priorities. If the house is unique, architectural plans may be on file in the historical department of your local library.
Do you have any old photographs of the house?
Finding old pictures would be a lucky strike. After researching old homes, I know they're out there.
Do you know how to contact former owners or renters?
Often the owners and renters of old homes have an interest in history-that's why they own a historical home. If the current owners are uncooperative or don't know anything, former residents may be more helpful. The tax records and assessor's records will list all of the previous owners. Don't overlook residents who were only there a short time-sometimes they are the most knowledgeable.
Are there any neighbors nearby who have lived in their house a long time or any homes where a family has lived for generations?
In older neighborhoods, it is not unusual to find one or two homes that have been passed down through the generations. Longtime neighbors are very likely to have old photos in their albums of your ancestor's home or of the residents, even if it is just in the background. If no photos are found, stories about the home and its inhabitants may be available. These stories can be the richest sources of information.
No Place Like Home.
The ancestral home is an untapped area for genealogists which stores life, personality, and the history of the generations who have come before us. Seeing your ancestral home and talking with the owners and neighbors are wonderful ways to gather details and find links to your relatives.
Ancestry Magazine