Your house has stories to tell.
Ever wonder who lived in your house when it was built? What was the neighborhood like back then? How did the house itself change over time with different owners?
Find out what makes your home unique - and maybe solve a few of those quirky house mysteries - with a professionally researched and written history. I dig into public records and genealogy resources to uncover your home's story.
You never know what you'll find: Researching the history of a house I lived in revealed a long-forgotten family who were good friends with Frederick Douglass, Susan B. Anthony and their families. I ended up finding copies of letters they'd all written to each other, letters that told me about their kids, vacations, thoughts about current events - all kinds of stuff. I'm still writing about them.
You may even find relatives! A friend of mine moved into an apartment that she later learned her great-grandmother had lived in years earlier.
House histories make great gifts for new home owners and fans of history and architecture. Selling a beloved childhood home? Family members can cherish the memories in a coffee table history of the house. And the home's buyers will get a sense of their new home's "roots."
Houses are microcosms of their communities. Here are two house histories I researched:
A house in North Winton Village, built in the 1920s, illustrated perfectly Rochester's booming economy at the time. The first owner was a carpenter from Canada, likely drawn for the plentiful work opportunities. His sons went into optics, dental supplies and photography, all clear Rochester strengths.
A house across the street was built by the homeowner and his German father-in-law. The craftsmanship in the home's details is typical of the 1920s and earlier. Also typical, unfortunately, is a deed restriction preventing African-Americans from living there - part of a practice that led to the rise of concentrated poverty in other parts of the city.
Contact me for a range of services and price options. Here are some of the things I provide, if available:
Year the house was built
Developer/builder/architect
Architectural style
What the neighborhood was like when the house was built
List of owners
For older homes, a list of residents (this may differ from owner) and years of residence
Light genealogy research
Photos of the house and/or neighborhood
Ever wonder who lived in your house when it was built? What was the neighborhood like back then? How did the house itself change over time with different owners?
Find out what makes your home unique - and maybe solve a few of those quirky house mysteries - with a professionally researched and written history. I dig into public records and genealogy resources to uncover your home's story.
You never know what you'll find: Researching the history of a house I lived in revealed a long-forgotten family who were good friends with Frederick Douglass, Susan B. Anthony and their families. I ended up finding copies of letters they'd all written to each other, letters that told me about their kids, vacations, thoughts about current events - all kinds of stuff. I'm still writing about them.
You may even find relatives! A friend of mine moved into an apartment that she later learned her great-grandmother had lived in years earlier.
House histories make great gifts for new home owners and fans of history and architecture. Selling a beloved childhood home? Family members can cherish the memories in a coffee table history of the house. And the home's buyers will get a sense of their new home's "roots."
Houses are microcosms of their communities. Here are two house histories I researched:
A house in North Winton Village, built in the 1920s, illustrated perfectly Rochester's booming economy at the time. The first owner was a carpenter from Canada, likely drawn for the plentiful work opportunities. His sons went into optics, dental supplies and photography, all clear Rochester strengths.
A house across the street was built by the homeowner and his German father-in-law. The craftsmanship in the home's details is typical of the 1920s and earlier. Also typical, unfortunately, is a deed restriction preventing African-Americans from living there - part of a practice that led to the rise of concentrated poverty in other parts of the city.
Contact me for a range of services and price options. Here are some of the things I provide, if available:
Year the house was built
Developer/builder/architect
Architectural style
What the neighborhood was like when the house was built
List of owners
For older homes, a list of residents (this may differ from owner) and years of residence
Light genealogy research
Photos of the house and/or neighborhood