3 Tips to Extract Details from a City Directory
When using City Directories to locate information about previous home owners, it’s important to extract all the details that can be found. Here are 3…
18th Century | Dover | House History | Video
The Benjamin Caryl House c. 1774
One of my most favorite activities is discovering old houses that I never knew existed. Unexpectedly coming across an historic house is like getting an…
Random Thoughts from a Docent
In February of this year I started my journey as a docent at the Fairbanks House in Dedham, Massachusetts. My tenure this year will soon…
Parking Options at the Norfolk Registry of Deeds
Before I’ll take a trip anywhere I want to know my parking options. That comes after years of living around Boston and having to fight…
Find Old Massachusetts House Photos in the Forbes Collection
Harriette Merrifield Forbes (1856-1951) is better known by taphophiles for her photographic documentation of gravestone carvings than she is for her interest in architecture. Imagine…
The Fairbanks House, Dedham, MA
Today I got my first look at the Fairbanks House in Dedham, Massachusetts just before the snow started settling in. The Fairbanks House is thought…
Finding Deeds In Suffolk County, Massachusetts – Part 2, Deed Books
If you thought finding online Deeds for Suffolk County, Massachusetts was difficult, wait until you try to find the deed books. I’m going to presume…
Finding Deeds In Suffolk County, Massachusetts – Part 1, Online Deeds
Suffolk County, Massachusetts deeds can be a challenge because they are spread across three different locations in Boston. Only two of the locations have indexes…
Historical Societies: An Easy Way to Strike Gold in Your House History Research
Need a little motivation to re-energize your house history research? Visit your local historical society. If you are lucky, your local society will have file…