Thanks,

The asbestos has been removed already when we bought the place.



Before you go tearing down anything in the ceiling you might want to
make sure the heating pipes are not insulated with asbestos-based pipe
coverings. A place as old as yours is very likely to have them (my
1921 house does).

These things often deteriorate and flake off, especially at the
joints. You'd want to stabilize them first by painting them solidly
with exterior latex trim paint, or have them removed by an asbestos
abatement crew.