Architectural History

Every owner of an historic property should have a record of their home or building's past on hand. It makes a wonderful conversation piece for guests, and can increase resale value and marketability of the property. In addition, details on the architectural style, construction methods, and former additions or outbuildings can play a key role in any future restoration or remodeling projects. Detailed information on the style, owners, and events associated with a historic house plays a key role in the process of nominating the property for the State or National Registers at a later time.

On certain projects, a multidisciplinary team of professionals can be assembled to conduct sophisticated research on a property. This team might include archaeologists to conduct investigations regarding outbuildings, house sites, roads, or other landscape features, or dendrochronologists to help provide dates of construction for buildings by interpreting tree growth ring data in framing members.

However, most building history reports are much simpler, and consist of some or all of the following elements:

  • A deed lineage (not a legal document) tracing the ownership of the property
  • Maps that correspond to the deed lineage
  • Data on the families that owned or (if known), resided on the property
  • Historic maps and photographs, if available

 

Completed building histories are presented to the client in an attractive report (either in a folder or spiral bound, depending on the size of the report and wishes of the client), that includes images of any photos or related maps that may have been discovered in the research process. The report is completely footnoted, and is printed on archival-quality paper. Contemporary digital images of your property are also included in the report and disk.

City of Lynchburg House & Building Histories

Because of the extensive public and private record holdings held in Lynchburg, HistoryTech has, over the years, become familiar enough with the availability of these resources to be able to offer House and Building History Report Packages for structures within the City of Lynchburg. By "package," we mean that we are able to offer a pre-defined grouping of historical facts for a fixed price.

Our Standard Package includes the following information:

  • Chain of Title for property (spanning from just before the building's construction to the present day). A chain of title is a chronological listing of all property transfers (deeds of trust, liens, easements, etc. are typically omitted) that includes the grantee, grantor, date, consideration (sale amount), deed or will book reference, and any other notable information.
  • Chronological Listing of Occupants of the property. While a chain of title certainly defines the ownership of a property over time, it will likely not yield information on rental tenants, either residential or commercial. Depending on the area of Lynchburg, this information may be available as early as 1873.
  • Occupations and Family Composition of occupants and owners. Using U.S. Census data for 1810 through 19301, HistoryTech can obtain vital information on the owners and occupants of the subject property, including names, ages, and occupations of household members.
  • Real Estate Tax Record Documentation. While fairly dry and uninteresting at first glance, real estate tax records are one of the key tools used by architectural historians to determine the date of construction of a building or major additions.3
  • Other Useful and Interesting Information may be available, including architectural plans2, photographs2, historical maps, and biographical briefs on notable owners or tenants.

Our Standard House and Building History Reports typically cost between $250 and $1,000, depending on the age and complexity of the property. Most reports fall into the $250-$600 range. Once a fee is agreed upon, it is considered a "cost not to exceed" fee, meaning that the client will not be billed if the estimated time is not fully used.

Enhanced Packages can include the following additional information:

  • Architectural descriptions of the building's exterior (and interior, if requested)
  • Extended historical and genealogical research on families associated with the property, if residential
  • Extended historical research on businesses associated with the property, if commercial

Please contact us for a custom quote for an Enhanced Package.

Similar reports are available for areas surrounding Lynchburg (Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, and Campbell counties) as well as other areas of Virginia. If interested, please contact us and we will work with you to develop a scope and price that suits your needs.

 

1 Census data for 1890 not available. Based on the U.S. Census Bureau's 72-year privacy rule, the 1940 Census will become available for public viewing in April of 2012. However, an index will not be immediately available. Information derived from the Census varies from decade to decade. For example, heads of households only are listed through 1840 (family members are listed by quantity and age range). Households begin to be listed in geographic, rather than alphabetical, order in 1830. Individual family members as well as occupations are listed beginning in 1850.
2 Reproduction or acquisition costs for photographs and architectural plans not included in quote. The availability and location of these resources will be noted. If the client wishes, HistoryTech can acquire copies of the media for an additional fee.
3 For houses and buildings outside of Lynchburg's core that were built prior to the property's annexation into the city, real estate tax information for the years roughly spanning from 1850-1930 may not be available as part of the Standard Package (this information is not locally available, and must be obtained from the Library of Virginia or a similar archive).

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