Submitted by flirtyturtles t3_yxv77d in rva
Hi all. I live in an old house that was renovated into apartments on West Franklin. I want to learn more about the property, and I was wondering where I can find more information out there [if it exists]. I’ve done a pretty thorough Google search, but I’ve only really found a few things. Are there places [local] that I can go to in order to find more information, maybe photos? Online resources would be helpful too! Thanks!
Don't forget to blindfold yourself.
The Main Library on Franklin has old catalogs (sort of like census info meets telephone books) that lists info by address. You have to ask at the desk and they'll dig them out for you.
They have a specific name, which escapes me at the moment, but I'll edit this comment when my brain unlocks, or hopefully someone else will chime in with that info.
Edit:. The Hill Directories is what I was referring to:
https://chpnarchive.net/2009/11/29/who-lived-in-your-house/index.html
The Valentine Museum will pull together anything they have in their archives on your house. I lived in an old house in Jackson Ward one year and they put together an impressive folder of previous owners and historical photos for me
This is awesome, thanks! I’ve been meaning to visit there but always make the excuse of no time. Maybe this will finally get me there.
How much did it cost?
It was free. This was 2016 or 2017
Did you check the ownership records? Search by address. https://apps.richmondgov.com/applications/PropertySearch/Search.aspx
library of Virginia, and HABS building survey
Library of Virginia was where I found information on previous owners. Then I used Ancestry.com to get more info on their lives.
when you go to the richmond parcel search, go to the image tab and click next...next...next. you may find an old photograph clipped to the old tax record
Also, look at the sanborn Fire insurance maps. This may give you a sense of what was around at the time of construction.
I found some neat stuff searching through old newspapers online. I can't remember what site, but it was free. Apparently a former owner married a pitcher for the Richmond Colts baseball team here.
edit: The site I used was from the library of congress - https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/
Wow thank you for this, I found some really neat info!
https://www.dhr.virginia.gov/historic-registers/127-0228/
Look through these and if your building is talked about DHR might have more information on it. You can send an archives request to https://www.dhr.virginia.gov/archive/
You can PM me your address my wife works at DHR.
If the building was constructed prior to 1922, look it up on Chronicling America. The database has the T-D and the Planet (https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/#tab=tab_advanced_search).
The Library of Virginia put together Virginia Chronicle (https://virginiachronicle.com/), which includes the News Leader (through 1925) and the Evening Journal (through 1920) among many other papers.
Historical society
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I take it the prior owners are uninvited guests 👻
Unfortunately, no. I wish my place was that cool! I’m just a history nerd, lol.
Coyote-Foxtrot t1_iwqqnqw wrote
Pull out a Ouija board and ask the ghosts.