Researching the history of your house

ublic Domain Mark 1.0, image taken from Internet Archive ditigization, archive.org/details/SearsRoebuckCo.C1910/page/n1/mode/2up

This excerpt from a 1934 Sears, Roebuck and Co. home catalog shows plans for a house in the Cape Cod style.

Posted Tuesday, April 8, 2025 10:44 am

An architectural style sheet

Architectural styles, like styles of clothing, go in and out of fashion over the years. Another way of researching your home is to look up the style of your home and compare it with houses in your neighborhood. Here’s a few of the architectural styles popular in Sullivan County between 1830 and 1950.

Farm House, 1830—1930

Original farmhouse homes were built to accommodate large farm families. Architectural elements included expansive porches, large kitchens and multiple entrances for easy access to various parts of the property. Homes often feature simple exteriors made of natural materials such as wood and stone. Exposed structural elements such as beams or brickwork are also common architectural elements. Many farm houses also incorporated other details such as Greek columns, stained glass and jigsaw-cut trim.

Victorian, 1880—1910

The Industrial Revolution brought many advancements in manufacturing, including for homes and furnishings, allowing for inexpensive, mass-produced decorative elements to be shipped nationwide. This resulted in widespread use of elaborate and colorful designs, which were once only available to the wealthy. The most popular of the Victorian era architectural styles was the Queen Anne Victorian. This style represents the first truly American architecture of the Industrial Age.

Craftsman, 1905—1930

The Craftsman style is an American interpretation of the Arts and Crafts movement stared in England as a counter to the elaborate and sometimes garish factory-made designs of the Industrial Revolution. This style emphasized the beauty of natural materials and handcrafted details, featuring simple construction and natural materials such as wood, stone, stained glass and ceramic tiles. The exterior architecture featured exposed rafters and porches supported by massive piers and unadorned square posts.

Cape Cod, 1920—1950

The Cape Cod style draws inspiration from the simple cottages of early New England settlers. Originally featuring wood shingle exteriors, 20th century Cape Cod houses were often clad in clapboard, stucco or brick. This style became immensely popular in post-World War II suburban developments. Cape Cod homes symbolized the American dream of homeownership, providing affordable and charming housing.

Ranch, 1930—1970

Inspired by Spanish Colonial houses in the Southwest, the Ranch style loosely epitomizes mid-20th century modern suburban living. Its sprawling, single-story design incorporates a garage, reflecting the increasing importance of automobiles in American life and the availability of larger suburban lots. Ranch homes often feature sliding glass doors and patios, blending indoor and outdoor living spaces.

Suggested reading

Discovering the History of Your House and Your Neighborhood, by Betsy J.Green

House Histories: A Guide to Tracing The Genealogy of Your Home, by Sally Light

A Field Guide To American Houses, by Virginia & Lee McAlester

By BARBARA WINFIELD

If only walls could talk, what stories would they tell? Just like people, houses also have their histories—some more colorful than others. Searching the history of your house, when it was built, who lived within its walls and what changes various homeowners made can be a fascinating project. All it takes is for you to become equal parts architectural detective, historian, researcher and genealogist.

Your first questions are probably “How old is my house?,” “Who built it?” and “Who lived there?” Begin at the county tax assessment office or similar local entity, which should house ownership records and descriptive information about the property. The county assessor is responsible for identifying, classifying and valuing all real property transactions. They should have a listing of some, and perhaps all, of the people that owned the property before you did.

Start by establishing a timeline through tracing the property deeds. Every time a property changes hands, the transaction should have a corresponding deed. All of the deeds should be available for review through your local assessor’s office or county’s deed registry or recorder; sometimes this information is available online. This chain-of-title should give you a list of transaction dates, property owner names and descriptions of major structures or distinguishing characteristics at the property. Also, check with your local public library. Not only is your public library the backbone of the community, but librarians in general are a wonderful resource. There might even be a local history section within the library.

In general, look for the following items in your search:

Property records
Building permits
Blueprints
Maps
Old local newspaper articles
Photographs
Vintage post cards

Uncovering your home’s past will also tell you a lot about the history of the area you live in. When you’re out in your neighborhood, notice the houses on your street. Are they similar or different from each other? Ask yourself, who lived here before me? What kind of work did they do? The answers to these questions will give you a glimpse of how your home has evolved over the years.

Previous occupants aren’t the only ones who know your home’s past. Longtime neighbors often have a few stories to tell. They might recall notable events on the property or even be able to share some local lore that brings the place to life. Talking to community members is an excellent way to hear both personal stories and historical facts that may not be found in official records.

Many cities or towns have historical preservation societies dedicated to maintaining the history of local buildings and neighborhoods. These are the organizations you go to for a broader historical context, as they usually possess records, old photos and histories that may document the story of your home and neighborhood.

Sullivan County is rich in local history, and each of its towns and villages have interesting stories to tell. For example, Jeffersonville was originally settled in 1830 and called Winkelried. In 1887, Jeffersonville was linked to Liberty by telegraph and in 1913, electricity was run into the village from Livingston Manor. In 1911 the first bus route was opened, traveling back and forth between Liberty and Jeffersonville.

In the 1920s, Sullivan County became a popular Catskill summer-resort area. During this time, many homes were converted into boarding houses for tourists traveling on the NYO&W Railway (New York, Ontario & Western), which traveled up from New York City’s Grand Central Terminal and made stops in Liberty and nearby Livingston Manor. When the railroad closed down in 1957, several homes either went back to single family occupancy or became apartments.

Around the turn of the century, middle class business owners and professionals began building large Victorian-style homes throughout Sullivan County. Many of these homes were created by builders using catalogs featuring floor plans and materials. You would contract a builder and choose from the various designs featured in the catalogs, thereby eliminating the expense of an architect. During the early part of the 20th century, Sears, Roebuck & Co.’s catalog also offered house plans and kits that included all the materials needed (except bricks and cement, which were too heavy to ship) to build your own home without a contractor.

Driving around the area today, you can see many of these old houses, which feature similar design details on their porches, windows and doors. There are also few old Sears houses made from kits still standing in the area.

Fortunately, Sullivan County has a strong history initiative, as well as its own historian, John Conway, who can be reached at jconway52@hotmail.com. For more information you can also contact the SC Historical Society in 265 Main St. Hurleyville, NY 12747. Research by appointment only. Call 845/434-8044.