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April 3, 2008
House History
So, we have a few questions about our house - Does anyone know how to do real research on the history of a home - when it was built, what original details would look like, past owners, etc?
This home has lost all original details and we'd like to be historically correct as we slowly remodel / renovate. Also, would like to know what kitchens looked like at the time of its construction so that we can pick up some of those details in a modern kitchen.
Any advice??? Added a photo in case there are any history buffs out there who can provide some information just by looking - name of architectural style, period, etc.
THANKS! Trying to bring some charm back to a gut renovation.
I have a picture, but it won't let me upload - let me know if it will be helpful to you and i can forward it via email
Comments
Do your neighbors have similar houses? If so, tell them your house lost its details and you'd love to take a look at their place and take a few pictures of the details so you can replicate the original interior of your home.
Posted by: guest at April 3, 2008 11:31 AM
You can get a sense of who lived in your house and what they did by consulting the census records at the new york public library. That should also give you an opportunity to date the construction of your house, at least roughly. As for kitchens, most brownstones had what looks like a tallish fireplace there, which I gather acted as a flue -- the stoves were placed in there, jutting out from them. You can see this in old photos. Most of those ``fireplaces'' have been removed. Also keep in mind that most brownstone kitchens didn't have banks of built-in cabinets tacked on the walls. People used Hoosier cabinets and similar cupboards.
Posted by: cgguy at April 3, 2008 11:38 AM
City register down at Brooklyn muni building is where you can trace the deed exchanges back and see who owned the property at various times.
Posted by: slopefarm at April 3, 2008 11:53 AM
http://nyc.gov/html/dof/html/jump/acris.shtml
-above will give you some info quickly...
-also check propertyshark for your building.
Posted by: guest at April 3, 2008 12:44 PM
I just looked up my house and all the above helped me out... The census family tells me that the John Donovan a lawyer and family was in my home according to the 1900, 1910 and 1920 census. My house was built in 1889 according to the deed. You might have a copy the the deed in your mortgage papers and you see the names of the original owners. Also the tax photos on the late 1930s gives you a good sense of what the house looked like 70 years ago. I was lucky to have some kids about 5 years old on there tricycles playing in front of my house that day in 1937. If your house is on a landmarked block you can find easily the name of the architect and builder which also helped me out in the LM papers.
Posted by: guest at April 3, 2008 3:44 PM
The Brooklyn Eagle is researchable online from sometime in the late 1800's until mid 1900's. I believe that my house, in Bed Stuy, was built in the early 1880's based on articles I found. I searched by address and found an article about the original development of Hancock St from being fruit orchards. I also found classified ad's from the 1880's and 1890's where the owners were searching for household help on about three occasions.
Posted by: guest at April 3, 2008 4:02 PM
You can find a ca. 1940 of your building at the municipal archives (search nyc.gov - also look at your neighbors if they were/are the same).
NYPL has old property atlases in the map division, from which you can get a general idea of the date of construction. The census (see cgguy, above) can also help you tell when a building was built, as can property tax records (look for a increase in assessment). If you can post a current or historic photo, people might be able to date the building that way.
From these, you can probably bracket a date. Once you have that, look in Charles Lockwood's "Bricks & Brownstones" or Calloway & Cromley's "The Elements of Style" for examples of period details.
Posted by: WBer at April 3, 2008 4:07 PM
There is (or was) a map room on the top floor of Brooklyn Borough Hall that has the most amazing old maps of Brooklyn.
Also, you will still find most of the old deeds that are pre-ACRIS across the street at the Municipal Bldg.
Happy hunting.
Posted by: guest at April 3, 2008 6:26 PM
go search the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. it is the best resource. the earliest plan on file for my house at the DOB was 1940, but when i searched the Daily Eagle i found records of the house dating to 1860. there was a painter living in it in the 1860's. there are also appartment listings for the house from around that time. beyond that, google the heck out of your address and you will find something.
Posted by: guest at April 3, 2008 9:04 PM
yeah, check out nyc dept of buildings website...property shark is good too - you can look up six properties a day free
Posted by: guest at April 3, 2008 9:37 PM
The Department of Buildings at 210 Joralemon has original blueprints, and you can make photocopies. I found the prints for my house in Prospect Park South. They were fascinating, but it became clear that there had been substantial changes between plan and construction. My favorite part -- the front porch had a charming label. It was the "piazza."
Posted by: guest at April 4, 2008 8:15 AM
If you have a "standard" 4 story rowhouse, the floors were usually laid out as follows:
Ground floor, kitchen and dining room;
Parlor floor, front parlor for entertaining,
back parlor, family room,sometimes for formal dining room;
Next floor, Bedrooms for parents, maybe with a 1/2 bath with a sink & cabinets between the 2 bedrooms. "hall" room a study or converted to a bathroom;
Top floor, bedrooms for servants and children.
Most of these houses were built after the Civil War and before 1900, no matter what appraiser and propertyshark say. (They use 1920 as a catchall year.)
Lots of these houses were converted to apts during the depression.
Most of these houses were not built with bathrooms, they came later. That's when people built extensions on the back, usually for bathrooms and kitchens so you could cook on the main floor.
They usually had 2 stack of fireplaces which were built shallow for coal. Mantles were slate or marble. Interior trim was walnut or oak. Picture moldings are a must. Tin ceilings came in style in the 1880s and 1890s copying plaster ceilings in the fancy houses.
Hope this helps, Suzy Kline, Kline Realty
Posted by: guest at April 4, 2008 11:52 AM
Check out some of the shelter magazines that specialize in Victorian interiors. Every issue contains articles about recreating or restoring "authentic" rooms. There are a number of these -- just go to your local B&N to see the choices. While you're there, check out the Renovation/Home Design category for various books including the Dover series of reprints of 19th century house plans and interior details (lots of b&w drawings of moldings, fitted cabinetry, staircases etc). BRICKS AND BROWNSTONES (mentioned above) is the bible of brownstone students. The new edition has terrific color photos of interiors, btw.
You could also look at the website of Gavin Mahoney Young who advertises on the Forum front page. I've never dealt with him personally but I certainly admire the pics of the restorations he's done -- some of which have a wonderfully original feel to them.
Posted by: guest at April 4, 2008 12:10 PM
Anyone know anything about the architects (e.g names etc.) of the brownstones on Hancock betw. Bedford & Nostrand? It's a lovely block and I am considering a buying opportunity there.
Posted by: guest at April 5, 2008 3:18 PM
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