How to Research Your House History
From information provided by Historic Ithaca
Begin with the abstract of title
If you are lucky, it’s complete and you can assemble a condensed chain of title. If it’s not complete, you can track down the public records yourself at the county clerk’s office. For Tompkins County, the courthouse is on the corner of Court and Tioga Streets in Ithaca. You can also find the tax parcel number in the online search software of the Tompkins County Department of Assessment. (Click on “ImageMate Basic” on the assessment site.)
Work backward through the deeds
Each property usually gives information about the previous sale, for example “being the same property conveyed to John Q. Homeowner on 12 August 1921 and recorded on page 123 of book (or liber) 456…” Search back through the deed books or in the computer database (Tompkins County is in the process of digitizing all of its deeds). If you encounter a snag (for example, the deed you’re looking at doesn’t give information on the previous sale), try using the Grantor/Grantee indices, or ask one of the helpful staff.
Read deeds closely for clues. Although deeds seem to contain a great deal of legal jargon and excess verbiage, you can gather interesting and important facts from reading deeds closely. For example, when a property is sold by the heirs of a deceased owner, the deed may give the date of death. Family relationships are often noted in such deeds. If you’re lucky, the deed will mention something extra or unusual about the property. For example, recent research on an early nineteenth century barn yielded a deed that listed farm equipment included in the sale – valuable clues to what types of farm activities took place at that time.
In addition, sometimes an owner sells a portion of his/her property but retains a parcel for him/herself or heirs. Only through careful reading of the deed will you be able to use these details to assemble an accurate history.
You can also obtain survey maps at the clerk’s office – surveys are often undertaken before the sale of a property. They can indicate location of buildings, property boundaries, etc. Search by the street address or current or past owners’ names in the computer database. Many of these have been digitized as well.
Click "Reading and Understanding Deeds," written by Municipal Historian Bruce Brittain (Hamlet of Forest Home), to read a helpful introduction to the fine art of deciphering the information provided in property deeds.
Read deeds closely for clues. Although deeds seem to contain a great deal of legal jargon and excess verbiage, you can gather interesting and important facts from reading deeds closely. For example, when a property is sold by the heirs of a deceased owner, the deed may give the date of death. Family relationships are often noted in such deeds. If you’re lucky, the deed will mention something extra or unusual about the property. For example, recent research on an early nineteenth century barn yielded a deed that listed farm equipment included in the sale – valuable clues to what types of farm activities took place at that time.
In addition, sometimes an owner sells a portion of his/her property but retains a parcel for him/herself or heirs. Only through careful reading of the deed will you be able to use these details to assemble an accurate history.
You can also obtain survey maps at the clerk’s office – surveys are often undertaken before the sale of a property. They can indicate location of buildings, property boundaries, etc. Search by the street address or current or past owners’ names in the computer database. Many of these have been digitized as well.
Click "Reading and Understanding Deeds," written by Municipal Historian Bruce Brittain (Hamlet of Forest Home), to read a helpful introduction to the fine art of deciphering the information provided in property deeds.
Consult city directories
Armed with your new knowledge of the previous owners of your property, you can turn your search to the Ithaca City Directories, which go back to the late 1800s, available at the Tompkins County Public Library (including almost all online, which is very convenient), the History Center, and Historic Ithaca. These directories are extremely useful because they not only give the names of the persons (including renters) living at a particular address, but also often their occupations.
After 1898, the reverse directory, sometimes on pink pages at the back of each book, allows you to look up your property by street number in order to find the names of people living there. If the names in the directories match the owners, you can assume your house was owner-occupied. However, if there are names that don’t match the owners, your house was a rental. Even when the house is owner-occupied, these directories are essential in revealing the names of other family members living there. City directories also help you sleuth out old house numbers or street names. If the property is listed as vacant for a period, it may indicate an event such as a fire or the closing of a business. These facts can be corroborated with further research.
After 1898, the reverse directory, sometimes on pink pages at the back of each book, allows you to look up your property by street number in order to find the names of people living there. If the names in the directories match the owners, you can assume your house was owner-occupied. However, if there are names that don’t match the owners, your house was a rental. Even when the house is owner-occupied, these directories are essential in revealing the names of other family members living there. City directories also help you sleuth out old house numbers or street names. If the property is listed as vacant for a period, it may indicate an event such as a fire or the closing of a business. These facts can be corroborated with further research.
Browse Sanborn Fire Insurance maps
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps were produced for cities and towns across the United States from 1867 to 1970. Originals are held in the collection of the History Center in Tompkins County. Digital maps are available online; the "Digital Sanborn maps 1867-1970" database can be accessed through Cornell University’s Library catalog (you must have a Cornell Net ID to access them, or visit Cornell Libraries in person). The earliest Sanborn's map of Ithaca dates to 1888, but the first Sanborn map to include homes in the Village of Cayuga Heights dates to 1919. The maps give useful information on building materials, number of storeys, the shape of the building or the “footprint,” location of porches, and use. Comparing maps made in different years can be helpful in determining building sequence.
Check Historic Ithaca property files
Historic Ithaca maintains files on individual properties in Tompkins County. These can include newspaper clippings, correspondence, photographs, drawings, or “blueforms,” aka New York State Building-Structure Inventory Forms. When available, blueforms contain physical descriptions of buildings as well as historical information including chain of title.
Use The History Project's resources page
Submit your house history
Review The Cayuga Heights History Project's House History Template to get started. Once it's completed, you can submit your finished house history:
c/o Randi Kepecs
Marcham Hall
836 Hanshaw Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
- by email to [email protected]
- by mail to:
c/o Randi Kepecs
Marcham Hall
836 Hanshaw Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
- electronically by filling in the House History Electronic Submission Form.
