Reading the House for Clues
Reading the House
Information can be gleaned from the building itself, the surrounding context, and the physical records of the building's change over time.
Examine the Context
Look at the house in relation to the other buildings on the block. Are all the homes the same architectural style? How does your home relate to adjacent homes in size and setback? Are the lots equal or different sizes?
Answers to questions like these can help point your research in the right direction.
Determine the architectural style
The home's architectural style can help date the original construction. Some online and print resources include:
- A Field Guide to American Houses by Virginia McAlester and Lee McAlester (1984)
- “Architectural Styles of America” (web page) at http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~twp/architecture
- Identifying American Architecture: A Pictorial Guide for Styles and Terms, 1600-1945 by John Blumenson (1981)
Architectural Clues
The house itself is an excellent historical record. Your initial work should include a detailed examination of the house for physical clues.
- Additions/demo – Are there any obvious additions or portions removed?
- Trim – Different trim profiles may indicate renovations
- Windows and doors – Look for openings that have been closed up or created
- Foundation – Examining the foundation may indicate additions to the house
Polk County Assessor Web Site
The Assessor's web site is not particularly accurate but can be a good start. You can find a current floor plan, an estimate of the year built, recent ownership, and recent building permits.
http://www.assess.co.polk.ia.us/
To look up a house, click on "Property Search" then "Homeowner Query" and type in the address and street name. Note that the historical address of the house may not be the same as the current address.
Sanborn Maps
Sanborn fire insurance maps are a record of buildings between 1884-1950. Sanborn maps show the historic building footprint, accessory structures, lot lines, construction type, exterior cladding, streets, and alleys. Sanborn maps are available online through the DM Public Library or State Library of Iowa.
http://www.pldminfo.org/search/databases.html
Look Up a Historic Address Using Online Sanborn Maps
The Sanborn maps were created to aid in setting fire insurance policies. Today they serve as one of the best historical records of physical development in many cities and towns. Some of the information shown on the Sanborn maps includes:
- Street addresses and street names
- Building footprints
- Porches
- Construction type
- Accessory buildings
- Alleys
- Lot lines
In Des Moines, the main Sanborn updates available online are 1884, 1891 1901, and 1920 (with updates through 1950). The maps chart the city's development over time – as new areas incorporated they were added to the maps, so earlier versions may not show all areas. The 1901 map, for example, only shows a small portion of today's Drake neighborhood.
How to Look Up an Address
Online access to the Sanborn maps is available through the Des Moines Public Library (library card required) and the State Library of Iowa (free library card required).
To look up an address using the Des Moines Public Library site:
- Open http://www.pldminfo.org/search/databases.html in your web browser
- Click on “Digital Sanborn Maps of Iowa (use outside the library)”
- Enter your Des Moines Library Card Number and PIN (last 4 digits of your phone number)
- Select State (IA), City (Des Moines), and Year (start with the earliest for your neighborhood)
- Click on the “Index” page thumbnail to locate your address of interest (can zoom in and pan)
- Note the page number of the address range that contains your property and go back the the main Sanborn thumbnail window (you can close the window with the index page if you want).
- Click on the appropriate page thumbnail (opens in a new window).
- Pan and zoom until you find your house.
Click HERE or on the link below to download a PDF file with illustrations of the process.