Can anyone tell me the *general* age of two homes with the following
characteristics.

#1
1) Wavy individual "decorative" parging on each foundation block
BEFORE mortaring.

2) No knob-and-tube but only fuse box.

3) Profuse arbor vitaes, "sculptable" bushes (Northeast
Pennsylvania).

4) Push-button and lighted, back-and-forth light switches.

5) Crumbling red brick chimney on fireplace-less house.

6) Hidden bevelled glass French doors at entrance to living room.

7) Single-paned huge front window bookended by unopenable panes.

8) Intensive use of terra cotta tiles as terrace material.

#2
1) Logs and railroad ties used as floor beams; several floor jacks.

2) Extremely low ceilings, railings, banisters; very uneven door
lintels.

3) Evidence of knob-and-tube in basement.

4) Second floor bathroom dangling over sloping kitchen roof like it
didn't
exist on the original structure.

5) Painted asbestos shingles.

6) Double-hung windows WITHOUT weights.

7) Claw-legged sink in washroom.

8) Extremely large kitchen.

Thanks for reading. If you know of a good website where you can
become a "house detective," I'd appreciate knowing.

On 11/22/2004 7:39 AM US(ET), tioga 0630 took fingers to keys, and typed
the following:

Can anyone tell me the *general* age of two homes with the following
characteristics.

#1
1) Wavy individual "decorative" parging on each foundation block
BEFORE mortaring.

2) No knob-and-tube but only fuse box.

3) Profuse arbor vitaes, "sculptable" bushes (Northeast
Pennsylvania).

4) Push-button and lighted, back-and-forth light switches.

5) Crumbling red brick chimney on fireplace-less house.

6) Hidden bevelled glass French doors at entrance to living room.

7) Single-paned huge front window bookended by unopenable panes.

8) Intensive use of terra cotta tiles as terrace material.

#2
1) Logs and railroad ties used as floor beams; several floor jacks.

2) Extremely low ceilings, railings, banisters; very uneven door
lintels.

3) Evidence of knob-and-tube in basement.

4) Second floor bathroom dangling over sloping kitchen roof like it
didn't
exist on the original structure.

5) Painted asbestos shingles.

6) Double-hung windows WITHOUT weights.

7) Claw-legged sink in washroom.

8) Extremely large kitchen.

Thanks for reading. If you know of a good website where you can
become a "house detective," I'd appreciate knowing.


Perhaps checking with your local building department and/or tax
department, will give you a more accurate time of original construction
and additions made.

(tioga 0630) wrote:

Can anyone tell me the *general* age of two homes with the following
characteristics.

-snip-

Wild guess-- 1900-1920s.

Check deed & tax rolls. If it is urban & there is a street address
you can check census records, but be sure to check with the historical
society to see about street renaming or renumbering. [They might even
have a photo of it in the 30's-- part of the WPA projects]

I had always guessed my current house at 1860-1880, but discovered
this summer that it was 1891. Found a 'brand new' Indian Head penny
in the laid stone foundation while doing some foundation work.

Jim

"tioga 0630" wrote

Can anyone tell me the *general* age of two homes with the following
characteristics.


SNIP

The best way to do it is to take a chain saw and cut it right across the
middle and then count the rings.....

It could be 1 yr or 300yr from what you say, look at the wood.

(tioga 0630) wrote in message . com...
Can anyone tell me the *general* age of two homes with the following
characteristics.

#1
1) Wavy individual "decorative" parging on each foundation block
BEFORE mortaring.

2) No knob-and-tube but only fuse box.

3) Profuse arbor vitaes, "sculptable" bushes (Northeast
Pennsylvania).

4) Push-button and lighted, back-and-forth light switches.

5) Crumbling red brick chimney on fireplace-less house.

6) Hidden bevelled glass French doors at entrance to living room.

7) Single-paned huge front window bookended by unopenable panes.

8) Intensive use of terra cotta tiles as terrace material.

#2
1) Logs and railroad ties used as floor beams; several floor jacks.

2) Extremely low ceilings, railings, banisters; very uneven door
lintels.

3) Evidence of knob-and-tube in basement.

4) Second floor bathroom dangling over sloping kitchen roof like it
didn't
exist on the original structure.

5) Painted asbestos shingles.

6) Double-hung windows WITHOUT weights.

7) Claw-legged sink in washroom.

8) Extremely large kitchen.

Thanks for reading. If you know of a good website where you can
become a "house detective," I'd appreciate knowing.

**************************************************

If it has the original toilet, there should be a date inside its lid.

Lewis.

**************************************

Your local tax department should be able to tell you in moments when the
home was built, as its normally on your tax records for the property.



"tioga 0630" wrote in message
om...
Can anyone tell me the *general* age of two homes with the following
characteristics.

#1
1) Wavy individual "decorative" parging on each foundation block
BEFORE mortaring.

2) No knob-and-tube but only fuse box.

3) Profuse arbor vitaes, "sculptable" bushes (Northeast
Pennsylvania).

4) Push-button and lighted, back-and-forth light switches.

5) Crumbling red brick chimney on fireplace-less house.

6) Hidden bevelled glass French doors at entrance to living room.

7) Single-paned huge front window bookended by unopenable panes.

8) Intensive use of terra cotta tiles as terrace material.

#2
1) Logs and railroad ties used as floor beams; several floor jacks.

2) Extremely low ceilings, railings, banisters; very uneven door
lintels.

3) Evidence of knob-and-tube in basement.

4) Second floor bathroom dangling over sloping kitchen roof like it
didn't
exist on the original structure.

5) Painted asbestos shingles.

6) Double-hung windows WITHOUT weights.

7) Claw-legged sink in washroom.

8) Extremely large kitchen.

Thanks for reading. If you know of a good website where you can
become a "house detective," I'd appreciate knowing.

Or perhaps the folks who did the title search last time it changed
hands.

LB
"Steve@carolinabreezehvac" wrote:

Your local tax department should be able to tell you in moments when the
home was built, as its normally on your tax records for the property.

"tioga 0630" wrote in message
om...
Can anyone tell me the *general* age of two homes with the following
characteristics.

#1
1) Wavy individual "decorative" parging on each foundation block
BEFORE mortaring.

2) No knob-and-tube but only fuse box.

3) Profuse arbor vitaes, "sculptable" bushes (Northeast
Pennsylvania).

4) Push-button and lighted, back-and-forth light switches.

5) Crumbling red brick chimney on fireplace-less house.

6) Hidden bevelled glass French doors at entrance to living room.

7) Single-paned huge front window bookended by unopenable panes.

8) Intensive use of terra cotta tiles as terrace material.

#2
1) Logs and railroad ties used as floor beams; several floor jacks.

2) Extremely low ceilings, railings, banisters; very uneven door
lintels.

3) Evidence of knob-and-tube in basement.

4) Second floor bathroom dangling over sloping kitchen roof like it
didn't
exist on the original structure.

5) Painted asbestos shingles.

6) Double-hung windows WITHOUT weights.

7) Claw-legged sink in washroom.

8) Extremely large kitchen.

Thanks for reading. If you know of a good website where you can
become a "house detective," I'd appreciate knowing.