So You Think You Have A Historic House?
One challenge in the preservation field is the lack of a universal understanding of what it means for a building to be “historic.” If you were to ask 10 average people “what does historic mean?,” you are likely to hear several different responses, and uncertainty. Responses may range from "George Washington slept there" to "anything 100+ years old," or “something on the National Register.” Even for those working professionally in preservation, it warrants an answer that is often far from clear and concise. Indeed, “historic” can mean all of the above and none of the above.
These homes are old. But are they historic?
So, when someone asks the question “Is my house historic?,” we might first look to the long-standing “50 year rule.” The National Register of Historic Places states: “properties that have achieved significance within the past 50 years shall not be considered eligible for the National Register” unless the property is of “exceptional importance.” This gives us a starting point to consider what might be historic…but of course the majority of our nation’s housing was built pre-1971, prompting us to dig deeper.
The National Register Criteria for Evaluation gives further guidance on their listing requirements, which include: association with events significant to the broad patterns of history; association with significant persons; distinctive characteristics of architecture; and have or are likely to yield important historical information. It should be noted however that historically the National Register has placed much emphasis on architectural integrity and has been slow to include sites of historic importance to many minority groups. All that to say, if your home is deemed ineligible for the National Register of Historic Places, that does not mean your house does not have historic importance. It may be eligible for your State Register of Historic Places, a Local Register of some kind, or it might just be a house of significant age, with interesting local history or important architecture/craftsmanship we do not see today. Are you looking to learn more about National Register Districts and how they differ from local (regulated) historic districts? Register for our virtual program on National Register Districts on February 22.
“That house isn’t historic, it’s just old.” This is a common phrase we hear not only from homeowners, but also in the pursuit of those seeking to demolish long-standing homes. Instances such as this can occur as a result of this misunderstanding about what it means to be historic, but also from a lack of research readily available on historic homes.
Lucky for us, the process of researching a home’s history can be fun! If you are unsure where to begin, join us on January 25 for our virtual program on Researching Your Historic House. In the meantime, here are some tips to get you started on unlocking the history of your home:
For basic information, you can reference tax assessment data in your municipality. In New York, many municipalities offer this through SDG Image Mate. Take this information with a grain of salt, as they are notoriously inaccurate and often note approximated build dates (“1900” being common) as well as vague building references like “old style.” But you can still sometimes find helpful data about a home.
Check with your State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to see if they have information about your house. Every state has one, and the NYSHPO has an online system where you can search by address to pull up any existing information including photos, nomination forms, and determinations of eligibility for listing on the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
The Library of Congress has documents and photos from the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) for previously documented homes.
Contact your local experts including County/Town/Village Historians to inquire if their files contain property history and photos. Most municipalities in New York have one, and they can be a good way to find local property information.
A Municipal Clerk’s office and/or a Hall of Records can help you trace back property deeds for additional property and ownership information. The municipal building department may also be able to provide information on past building permits pulled for a property (which can be helpful for dating additions, outbuildings, etc.).
Book Resources: Interested in learning about architectural styles and identifying your houses style? Check out A Field Guide to American Houses by Virginia Savage McAlester. Looking to restore your historic house or modernize while respecting its history? Take a look at Restoring Your Historic House by Scott Hanson.
Federal, state, and regional preservation nonprofits can often help point you in the right direction. You can find a list of organizations in New York State right here.
Happy Researching!