RESEARCHING A HISTORIC PROPERTY

Transcription

1 RESEARCHING A HISTORIC PROPERTY Dave Johnson, Assistant Planner Wally Wernimont, Assistant Planner Planning Services Department May 18, 2013

2 FIRST RULE - DON T REINVENT THE WHEEL Start your research by finding out if the information you seek has already been compiled.

3 1973/1974 Sommers Historic Sites Field Survey 1978/1979 Kriviskey Architectural Survey Jacobsen Architectural/Historic Survey

4 List of Historic Sites/Properties on File at the State Historical Society of Iowa Berry Bennett Historic Sites Inventory Manager

5 Material Sources Potential Information Yielded ABSTRACT OF TITLE ARCHITECTURAL/ CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS Owner Office of attorney who did title search Title company files Owner Architectural/ engineering firm Headquarters of organization or firm that built the structure Recent tax assessor s records Newspaper references Summary of relevant deeds, mortgages, wills, litigation, tax sales Names of owners Dates when property changed hands Description of legal boundaries Architect/builder Plans Materials Built dates and alterations General construction information

6 Original Blueprints 1545 Montrose Terrace Obtained by Property Owner

7 1545 Montrose Terrace Obtained by Property Owner

8 Material Sources Potential Information Yielded ARCHITECTURAL JOURNAL/REPORT S PERMITS Building Permits Water Taps Sewer Taps CEMETERY RECORDS Libraries Original architectural publications City Planning Dept. City Building Department City Water Department City Engineering Department Cemetery Administrators Cemetery offices Churches, rectories, and diocesan offices Architectural articles from historic period Architectural biographies Architectural drawings and photographs Architectural Styles Existence of Architectural Drawings Property Owner Contractor Cost and date of work Alteration Family Relationships Birth and Death Dates

9

10 Common Architectural Styles Found in Dubuque AMERICAN FOUR SQUARE c ITALIANATE c ART DECO c MISSION/SPANISH COLONIAL c BEAUX ARTS c NEO-CLASSICAL REVIVAL c BRICK FLATS/ROW HOUSES c OCTAGON MODE c BUNGALOW/CRAFTSMAN c QUEEN ANNE c CLASSIC REVIVAL c RENAISSANCE REVIVAL c DUBUQUE/BRICK VERNACULAR c RICHARDSONIAN ROMANESQUE c DUTCH COLONIAL c SECOND EMPIRE c EASTLAKE c SHINGLE c FEDERAL c STICK c FRONT GABLE VERNACULAR c TUDOR REVIVAL c GEORGIAN REVIVAL c VICTORIAN GOTHIC c GOTHIC REVIVAL c WORKERS COTTAGE c GREEK REVIVAL c

11

12

13

14 Material Sources Potential Information Yielded ARCHITECTURAL JOURNAL/REPORT S PERMITS Building Permits Water Taps Sewer Taps CEMETERY RECORDS Specialized fine arts libraries Original architectural publications City Building Department City Water Department City Engineering Department Cemetery Administrators Cemetery offices Churches, rectories, and diocesan offices Architectural articles from historic period Architectural biographies Architectural drawings and photographs Architectural Styles Existence of Architectural Drawings Property Owner Contractor Cost and date of work Alteration Family Relationships Birth and Death Dates

15 Building Permit Cards

16 Property Owner Property Address Date Permit Issued Description of Work Done Contractor Value of Work Done Building Permit Number

17 Water Tap Records

18 Material Sources Potential Information Yielded ARCHITECTURAL JOURNAL/REPORT S PERMITS Building Permits Water Taps Sewer Taps CEMETERY RECORDS Specialized fine arts libraries Original architectural publications City Building Department City Water Department City Engineering Department Cemetery Administrators Cemetery offices Churches, rectories, and diocesan offices Architectural articles from historic period Architectural biographies Architectural drawings and photographs Architectural Styles Existence of Architectural Drawings Property Owner Contractor Cost and date of work Alteration Family Relationships Birth and Death Dates

19 Material Sources Potential Information Yielded CHURCH RECORDS CITY COUNCIL OR COUNTY MINUTES, ORDINANCES, ETC. COMMERCIAL HISTORIES Parish Churches Diocesan Offices City Clerk County Courthouse Head offices of companies Local or regional libraries Historical Societies Corporate Records Birth Death Baptism Marriages Ordinances of resolution affecting a property, subdivision, etc. Dates Description Histories of local industries and businesses

20 Material Sources Potential Information Yielded COMMUNITY/ COUNTY HISTORIES Local/Regional Libraries Historical Societies Fraternal Organizations Information about structures, people, and events: pertinent dates, locations, activities, biographical sketches, etc. DEEDS County Recorder Ownership or title Property value (noticeable change in value could indicate construction, additions, change in makeup of neighborhood, and change in fortunes of the community) DIRECTORIES AND GAZETTEERS Local/Regional Libraries Historical Societies City directories: occupants of dwelling & occupation of occupants Business directories: lists of merchants, addresses and advertisements Gazetteers: information on rural areas, businesses, and towns

21 1918 City Directory

22

23

24 THANK YOU! Provided the City of Dubuque a Grant to Digitize the City Directories into Searchable PDF s. The City Directories will be available on the City s Website and at the Carnegie Stout Public Library.

25 ADDRESSES AND STREET NAMES HAVE CHANGED OVER TIME! Key Year 1921

26 STREET Central Avenue (1st - 18th Ave) Central Avenue (18th - City Limits Rhomberg Avenue Garlfield Avenue Lincoln Avenue Washington Street Plymouth Court Carter Road Kaufmann Avenue University Avenue Clarke Drive West 14th Street 32nd Street Rockdale Road ORIGINAL NAME Clay Street Couler Street High Street Lake Street Division Street Orange Street Grandview Heights Jefferson Avenue West Eagle Point Avenue Julien Avenue Seminary Street Loras Boulevard Millville Street Military Street Keyword Search : Streets

27 Material Sources Potential Information Yielded ESTATE RECORDS Wills Inventories & Appraisals Administration of Estates FAMILY/PERSONAL PAPERS Letters Diaries Ledger books, etc. Published family histories County Courthouse Private Records Historical Societies Present Owners Past Owners State Archives Descendants Genealogical libraries Local/Regional Libraries Historical Societies State/Federal Archives Value and apparent wealth and size of dwelling Property changes Ownership changes Rental Information Sales of land that may never been recorded by deeds Family relationships Ownership Descriptions Photographs Architectural Plans History/Events

28 Material Sources Potential Information Yielded GENEALOGICAL RECORDS INSURANCE RECORDS Genealogical Societies Historical Societies Local/Regional Libraries Biographical Publications Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter- Day Saints, Genealogical Society Owners (past and present) Insurance Company Offices (sometimes only main or regional offices) Biographies of individuals Family Histories Ownership changes Photographs and drawings of home and family members Floor Plans Dates of Construction Increases in premiums that may indicate when a change was made to the structure

29 Material Sources Potential Information Yielded INTERVIEWS AND ORAL HISTORIES LAND RECORDS MILITARY RECORDS Current or former owners, occupants, and observers Bureau of Land Management, Washington, DC (contact for general material and addresses of State offices. National Archives: Prior to World War I Federal Resources Center, St. Louis, MO From World War I Personal recollections about property: its original appearance, evolution, and uses. Information concerning properties and people, dates, locations, events, activities, and biographies associated with them Former General Land Office (GLO) holdings, including: - Homestead Patents - Mining district and patented claim records - GLO maps and plats Pension records, addresses, and status Various materials, including personal letters, family bibles, and marriage certificates

30 Material Sources Potential Information Yielded NEWSPAPERS/ SUNDAY SUPPLEMENTS Local/Regional Libraries State/Federal Archives Historical Societies Internet Advertisements, names of occupant/owner, address of property, and use of structure Society pages: gossip columns; articles pertaining to local social events, ceremonies, weddings, births, and meetings Obituaries: information about owners and architects Articles about local building efforts, architecture, etc. Birth, Death and Wedding Announcements Age of Structure

31 Annual Building & Construction Reviews for Dubuque, Iowa

32 Annual Building & Construction Reviews for Dubuque, Iowa The Dubuque Daily, January 1, 1969

33

34 Material Sources Potential Information Yielded MAPS AND PLATS Town Maps Property Plats Private and Family Maps Land Ownership Maps Bird s Eye View Maps Developer s Town Layouts Tourist Maps Landscaping Firm Layouts Sanborn or Baist Insurance Maps County Courthouse City Hall Printed Books Local/Regional Libraries University/College Collections Surveyor General Library of Congress Architect s/landscape architect s firm records Location Boundaries Uses Outbuildings Appearance Age of Structure

35

36

37

38

39 Birds Eye View of the City of Dubuque, Iowa, August Koch Engraver

40 Bird s Eye View of the City of Dubuque, Iowa, August Koch Engraver

41 Perspective map of the city of Dubuque, Ia H. Wellge, sk.

42 Material Sources Potential Information Yielded PHOTOGRAPHS AND POSTCARDS TAX RECORDS Owners Historical Societies Internet Local/Regional Libraries University/College Collections State Archives Library of Congress City/County Assessor State Archives City/County Clerk Architectural and landscape features Alterations Associated Structures Associated with persons and events Description of structures Dates Evolutions of property in relation to city limits or county development Drawings and plans Increases in valuation may suggest new improvements or construction

43 Postcards Internet Carnegie Stout Public Library Wish you were here : Dubuque historic postcards Vol I - II Telegraph Herald

44 Photography Internet Sites Encyclopedia Dubuque City of Dubuque Architectural/Historic Surveys Library of Congress American Memory Google

45 Photography Carnegie Stout Public Library Dubuque, Iowa : then & now / James L. Shaffer and John T. Tigges. Dubuque : the 20th century / James L. Shaffer and John T. Tigges. Dubuque, the birthplace of Iowa: Vols I V Telegraph Herald Dubuque and its neighborhood : a photographic reproduction of one hundred beautiful views of the most picturesque city in the West / collected and arranged by Harger & Blish. Greater Dubuque compiled and edited by H.W. Gardner Published by the Times Journal, 1911 Souvenir of Dubuque, Iowa, 1915 : views and history of her colleges, schools, churches, parks, banks, other items of interest / [M. L. Ryan].

46 Center for Dubuque History Michael Gibson, Director 1450 Alta Vista Street Loras College Dubuque, IA Phone: (563) *Call in Advance to Schedule an Appointment

47 Dubuque County Historical Society Archives & Captain William Bowell River Library 350 East 3rd Street National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium Dubuque, IA Phone: (563) or (800) Link:

48 Books and Periodical Photo Collections Newspapers County Government Records Birth, Death and Marriage Records Manuscript, Audio-Visual and Map Collections Census Materials

49 CASE STUDY: Washington Street

50 When was it built? What did it look like in the past? What was on the site before the building was constructed? What is the architectural style of the building (what period of construction does it suggest)? Who was the architect or contractor? What changes have occurred to the building since it was first constructed, and what other buildings have stood there? Who has owned or occupied the building since it was constructed?

51 Abstract

52

53 Date 1848 Ownership Notes United States of America by President, James K Polk, S. H. Laughlin, Recorder of the General Land Office to Edward Langworthy on February 25, 1848 Lots 1, 2 & 6 containing Acres etc Original plat filed July 8, 1853, sub. Of Lots 102 and 103. L. H. Langworthy's Addn Trustee Jacob Kurz sells to Gerhart Van Dillen April 21, 1863 (south half Lot 102) 1885 Railroad right-of-way sold off east end for Dub & NW Railroad by Van Dillen Henry J. and May Oser sell to Trustee N.J. Schrup October 15, 1900, Schrup sales back July 3, Oser sells to James L. Finley May 20, 1904 (Lot 1 of 103, 80 feet four inches frontage on Washington Street) $2, Finley Sells to Chris A. Voelker October 5, 1908, $2,500, Voelker sells to Adolph and Elizabeth Luckritz October 17, Adolf Luckritz is 37, married 7 years, born in Germany, to US in 1882, owns house, Elizabeth is 26, son Alonzo Born Adolf and Elizabeth have three children, Alonzo, Wilfred, Everard 1920 Trenz sells to John P. Schuster May 9, 1924, who sells June 4, 1924 to Lena Schuster (Allen), she dies January 9, Estate sells to James L. and Elizabeth R. Coohey May 18, Coohey's sell to John R and Sandra K, Ronek October 22, Ronek's sell to Thos. F. and Brenda Ann Hines October 15, 1991 on contract 1997 Ronek gives quick claim to David J. Kane who held mortgage to Hines Kane sells to the City of Dubuque

54 Plat

55 City & County Assessor Information Legal Description Owner Date Description

56 City & County Assessor Information Photograph Drawing with Dimensions

57 Old City & County Assessor Cards

58 Building Permit Cards

59 Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps 1891

60 1909

61

62 View Changes Over Time

63 1927 City Directory

64

65 Building & Construction Reviews Photograph Builder Year Built: 1909 Subject Property Vague Description Telegraph Herald, August 1, 1909

66 Photograph Greater Dubuque compiled and edited by H.W. Gardner Published by the Times Journal, 1911

67 When was it built? 1909 Primary Source - Telegraph Herald, August 1, 1909 Annual Building Review Building Permit Secondary Support - Property Abstract (Mortgage Date/Transaction) City Directory (Date When First Occupants Occupied the Structure) What did it look like in the past? Photography Primary Source - Telegraph Herald, August 1, 1909 Annual Building Review (Photo) Greater Dubuque (1911) compiled and edited by H.W. Gardner (Photo) City Assessor Record (Photo) Secondary Support Property Abstract Plat ((Footprint/Descriptive) Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps (Footprint/Descriptive) City Assessor Records (Footprint/Descriptive)

68 What was on the site before the building was constructed? Unknown Primary Source - Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps and building date help indicated that there was no structure on the site between 1891 and Secondary Support - Abstract Information What is the architectural style of the building (what period of construction does it suggest)? Two-Story Gable Front Duplex with Craftsman (windows and built form) and Classical Revival (Pedimented Front Gable Roof) features Primary Source Common Architectural Styles in Dubuque Photography Secondary Support Date of Construction

69 Who was the architect or contractor? Christian Voelker Primary Source - Telegraph Herald, August 1, 1909 Annual Building Review Greater Dubuque (1911) compiled and edited by H.W. Gardner (Photo) Secondary Support - Property Abstract (Mortgage Date/Transaction) What changes have occurred to the building since it was first constructed, and what other buildings have stood there? Numerous Changes Primary Source Building Permit Records, Water Tap Records, Sanitary Sewer Records, City Assessor Records, Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, Photography Who has owned or occupied the building since it was constructed? Various Original Owner was Adolph & Elizabeth Luckritz Primary Source Abstract (Owners), City Directories (Occupants), Building, Water, Sanitary Sewer Permits, City Assessor Records

70 Dave Johnson, Assistant Planner Wally Wernimont, Assistant Planner Planning Services Department City Hall - 50 W. 13 th Street Dubuque, IA Phone Fax