How to find older places in towns?

[JMac48]

Just need ideas on how I could find older places to hunt. Can you go to a court house for maps or what? Any help would be appreciated.

 

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[Back-of-the-boat]

Library

 

[villagenut]

Try local sanborn maps or use the historicariels.com. use the slide feature to see modern image over an older one.

 

[WaterScoop]

Awesome suggestions of Library and Sanborn maps by the fellas above.

Here is a supplement to what Back-of-the-boat and Villagenut already mentioned.

Social Distancing and a mask while doing research at a brick and mortar Library is a PITA

Sanborn Maps are AWESOME but not cheap if you try to buy them on eBay



Let a search engine an technology Help you out. It will be a lot faster.

Let the tax payer funded Online Library of Congress help you find your next treasure

https://www.loc.gov/collections/sanborn-maps/

You can clip a part of the map



You can enlarge in great detail without having to use a magnifying glass



Then you can download the enlarge clipped image to your computer For research


After you “mark up “ your location you can send it to your mobile phone for reference on site.

Good luck and let us know what you find we would all love to share your happiness when you unearth history.

Cheers

WaterScoop

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Library. Historical Society. County historian. Old postcards.

 

[fistfulladirt]

The web alone has been my best research tool for locating history.

 

[WaterScoop]

The web alone has been my best research tool for locating history.

Give us an example so we can learn from you . The web is a vast ocean . Thnx Fistfullofdirt

 

[WaterScoop]

Library. Historical Society. County historian. Old postcards.

I love old post cards! I get happy when I Come across them at estate sales.

 

[Mackaydon]

Can you be more specific: What kinds of 'places' are you looking for?
Don.....

 

[Xraywolf]

Since most old locations are now paved, street tearouts are one of the best options when they come along, almost guarenteed to find old coins and relics if your timing is right. Downside is they are active construction zones so of course you must go after workers are gone, even then they might be barricaded off to the public, and aslo they can be hazardous.

 

[JMac48]

The sandborn maps are a great help, thank you. I’m from sw Kansas so it’s hard finding good places to go. Thank everyone

 

[ArfieBoy]

JMac, go ahead and check with the courthouse also! I have used it both for historical research and copies of local maps and mining information and descriptions gong back into the 1870' in my area northeastern Oregon. It may cost you a little for copies, but is well worth checking out. Good Luck!

 

[fistfulladirt]

The web alone has been my best research tool for locating history.

I do a search on a city or county park. Then I might Google earth it.

Use free historical online maps.

Use city or county websites to determine street/sidewalk tear out dates.

 

[Aeds151]

Also, use zillow to see whats for sale in your town. Filter by AGE maximum. I use this to determine if the residence are occupied or not. If vacant, I do the curb strip out front.

 

[fistfulladirt]

Also, use zillow to see whats for sale in your town. Filter by AGE maximum. I use this to determine if the residence are occupied or not. If vacant, I do the curb strip out front.

Great idea, I like that.

 

[JMac48]

Thanks y’all. Zillow is a great idea.

 

[SlateBeltDigger]

This is a repeat but most areas have historical societies, and they usually have websites. I find that most of the websites have very little info, but you can stop in or email/call. These people LOVE to talk...when there's not a pandemic going on they also have meetings and events. Stop in and ask around. My tiny little town even has a museum with local history and artifacts, and I've learned a lot there. Also, find an old timer who has lived in the area their whole life...and just ask where the social hotspots used to be. By doing this I learned that a commercial property that my in-laws own used to have a dancehall onsite. I was able to find remnants of the old foundation in the overgrown area surrounding their business and found some cool relics (keys,locks, horse tack, old make-up compacts from the turn of the century) and of course COINS. Good luck, parks are fun because you find stuff every trip...but places like this are the prime spots we all look for.

 

[WaterScoop]

Also, use zillow to see whats for sale in your town. Filter by AGE maximum. I use this to determine if the residence are occupied or not. If vacant, I do the curb strip out front.

Don’t give away all the secrets..LOL. Joking aside I do the same.

Cheers

 

[bc5391]

I go to the most run down section of town.

 

[JMac48]

I go to the most run down section of town.

So true usually the old stuff it seems has been in the rough parts of towns.