This week, I’ve been doing research on a building or two and decided to add another addition to our “Dating Your House” series. After spending some time in the Crawford County Courthouse this week doing some sleuthing on a building or two I’m documenting, it occurred to me (after asking for help several times…haha!) that this could be a daunting chore for those not accustomed to public records. A few weeks ago we talked about how to determine the period and architectural style of your home. What we did not cover, however, was determining who actually built your house! This long overdue article will cover just that. Ladies and gentlemen, let’s track down an owner or two, shall we?

 

 

Well…ok, so this is not really a step per se, but there are a few things one must remember when going to the courthouse. There are metal detectors and security guards at the courthouse doors (and with good reason), so let’s talk common sense. The easiest method of entering the courthouse and saving time doing so is to only bring what you need, thus avoiding bag checks, setting off the metal detectors, etc. Your must have list should be as follows:

 

 

Avoid pockets full of miscellaneous items that are unneeded for this trip to save time.

 

 

The first stop you should make in the courthouse is at the Assessor’s Office. This is where current property records are maintained for tax and value purposes. This may not be where you would think to start, but I assure you it saves steps.

 

First, locate your home on the maps available on the left hand wall in the back of the office based on your location in Crawford County (borough, township, city, etc.). This will give you your lot’s identification number which can then be used to pull up the card for your property in the file drawers in the center of the room. These are organized alphabetically by townships or city/borough and can be searched through rather rapidly with the lot number and location name. Your card will have your home’s value, your information (if you own this property, but even more helpful these cards often have the last several owners listed on them including who owned the property, when it was transferred, and possibly even deed book numbers to look at. You may be able to go back several decades without much effort this way. If you don’t find the card…just ask! Often new transfers or lots do not have a card immediately. Now we have this information, let’s move on to the next step!

Now, let’s take a look at popular architectural styles common in Crawford County that are High Victorian, ending in the first half of the 20^th century.

 

The style known as “Second Empire” takes root in France around 1860 thanks to the historical era France was undergoing with the same name. Prince Louis Napoleon became emperor of France in 1852, beginning to reshape the look of Paris buildings soon after. Much of “historic Paris” was influenced by Napoleon III (Louis Napoleon’s name as emperor).

 

This style is known for its most prevalent feature – the mansard roof. Steep mansards, a plethora of windows, and imposing balconies created a high society look that is typical of the Second Empire Home. Several examples of this style are seen on Terrace and Chestnut streets in Meadville.

Queen Anne houses are, to many, the epitome of Victorian homes. These houses seem to use nearly every architectural feature imaginable and the crazier the design the better. These homes began to take hold in England in the 1870s and were soon in America.

 

Typical features of a Queen Anne home include: turrets, gingerbread trim, spindlework, and large wooden porches. Tinted and stained glass windows are common, sunburst and other wood pattern siding on gables are found, and the more interestingly colored houses create the better examples.

 

American architect, Henry Hobson Richardson, developed his own style combining French and Spanish Romanesque architecture using heavy stone construction in several interesting combinations of style, color, and texture. His signature building was the Trinity Church in Boston build between 1872 and 1877.

 

Beaux Arts was a return to Classical style, these buildings were once again known for columns, pilasters, tooth molding along the building’s cornice, and a formality to the structure often are signatures of Beaux Arts and its middle class NeoClassical cousin.

 

 

Tudor Revival is based on medieval England buildings, however using much more modern materials. This style can range from cottages to mansions and nearly everything in between and is classified by steeply pitched roofs, half timber facades, and tall windows separated by mullions (wood dividers between several panes as seen with “six over six” or other patterns). This style faded by World War II, but made a return in the 1970s and is still seen today in new construction.