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Tomorrow we are heading out to do some historical research about the actual age of my home. One neighbor thinks no later than the 1930s, another thinks 1920s or before. Neither agree with the date of 1940.
Instead of posting a picture of the whole house again, a friend suggested that clues can be found in the mundane. Windows, doors, even old fuse boxes. So here goes.
I am totally unqualified to answer this in any sort of educated manner... so this is JUST based on houses I have lived in. Most places I've lived in have been built pre 1920 and have many features similar to yours, including my current place (apartment in a building built around 1912) and my previous house (built 1915).
You should be able to go to the county assessor's office and do a property information search. The deed or abstract should also give you the date the home was built.
I am guessing 1920's. Though there is little difference between that and the 1930's. The craftsman style was popular both decades, with the oak trim and beadboard. By the forties the trim would have been smaller and less of it and more likely a cheaper wood like pine. The property records should tell you the year it was built. Check with the county, most websites don't have access to info (for example the year is wrong for my house on most sites).
I am guessing 1920's. Though there is little difference between that and the 1930's. The craftsman style was popular both decades, with the oak trim and beadboard. By the forties the trim would have been smaller and less of it and more likely a cheaper wood like pine. The property records should tell you the year it was built. Check with the county, most websites don't have access to info (for example the year is wrong for my house on most sites).
I agree about the oak trim. Not 1940s at all. The tax records say "1940" but I've learned to become wary of those, especially when it's a "round number".
It also seems that frequently there are mass registrations of homes that occurred in the first half of the 20th century. Is it possible that in many locations "1930" and "1940" are popular tax record recording years. I am guessing that in many areas, people who owned property did not bother to get permits and just built on the property. When they wanted municipal services, they then registered the house, and began to pay taxes.
You should be able to go to the county assessor's office and do a property information search. The deed or abstract should also give you the date the home was built.
Yeah, I think that's the best bet too. Check to see when the building permit was issued.
My Dad researched the house we grew up in, looking through records at the county court house. There was no record of when it was actually built, but it was sold a number of times at sherif sales for non-payment of taxes. Best we could pinpoint was late 1880s.
You could also have a look at census records -- the 1940s census is available for free here: 1940 Census Archives. Earlier archives are available, but those are not free.
Another source would be early maps, to see how old your street is and when it might have been developed (if the houses on your street are all of similar ages). Some early maps have owners' names written on the lots.
Sanborn maps can be really useful. Does your city have a historical library or a historical room in the library? Phone books, deeds, recorded morgages all can help figure out the history of the house and propert.y
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