Not a google researcher, but I'm struggling with the same question
myself. I'll give you some of what I've learned. I'm in New Jersey.
I'm not familiar with the way public records are accessed in PA.
You have to get as much information as you can from as many sources as
you can find. The first place to start is a title (deed) search.
I've spent many hours in the basement of the County Clerks office
following the chain of titles of my property and some adjoining
properties. Pay careful attention to changes in the description of
the property. Size, mentions of buildings uses, legal judgements.
Some titles will mention that the owner died and that the estate is
selling the property. When the size of you the property changes,
investigate what was happening with the adjoingin property. Make a
note of deaths and try to find recorded wills. They will sometimes
mention real estate.
Once you have the general history. You can (and probably should)
persue three courses of action. Investigate the people, the land and
the buildings. Who were the people? What was their occupation? Did
they live in the house, or did they rent it out? What other
properties did they own? Do some geneological research on the
families. What was the land used for? Was it a farm, a factory?
Take a look at the architecture of the building. You stated that it
is 1886. Are the features consistent with a late Victorian building?
What is original? What has been changed over time? Do the changes in
the house track the changes in the ownership? Was is an important
house in the neighborhood, or was it an ordinary home?
When you know a little bit about the people and the property, look at
newspapers in the library (on microfilm, probably). Maybe when the
house was built, it was mentioned in the paper. Or the owner of the
house had a business that advertized in the paper. Social
announcements sometimes mention weddings that took place in the house.
Obituaries may provide more details.
If you are very lucky, the deed search will show the land being
subdivided, then sold off in pieces. If you are unlucky, then nothing
will make sense and you will be more confused than when you start. I
was researching my house when I found a very small mention about a
factory owner building eight row houses a couple blocks from my house.
I know one of the current residents of the row. I was happy to tell
him that his house was built in 1884 and who built it.
Once final piece of advice. Don't jump to any conclusions. It is OK
to make assumptions, but always be prepared to accept new evidence
that may contradict what you think you know.
There are always many fascinating things to learn about an old house. Have fun!! |
