VISITING OLD HOMESTEADS

Finding the Family's Old Homestead

To find a family's old home, the patron needs to check family records, family memories and family attics. Then she needs tocompare what she is discovers with historical maps, atlases and gazateers. She needs to know the history of the particular locality. Usually the public library for the area surrounding the home of her ancestors will have a local history collection. The county courthouse, and especially the local historical and genealogical societies should have some record of the area's history.

Visiting A Family's Old Homestead

Once the location of the old home is found, prepare to spend as much time as possible exploring the site. Take along a camera and a list of questions to ask the current owner. If access is granted to the premises, take pictures of the outside of tall buildings, around the property and even the inside if the owner agrees. If a video camera is used, the visit can be relived over and over to help remember important details. Sometimes the current owner will want to be interviewed or give a tour. If the current owner is a relative, the patron might even receive important family documents to look at or keep. Grandparents and great-grandparents usually enjoy talking about the past, and handing down history: so if they still live on the old family homestead, a wealth of information can often be acquired.

Sometimes when the site of the family homestead is found, it is no longer used for the same purpose as used by the ancestor. Old houses are often torn down to make room for progress. It is then important to find someone who knows what was previously on the property. If relatives don't know, then one needs to check with the title records kept at the local courthouse. The local historical society may also have a collection of pictures of old properties that can be viewed and perhaps even copied.

Often if you go back to visit a family home, it might not be there. It might have been removed in the name of "progress". If the demolition is recent, you may be able to find bits and pieces of the house on the property. We found a piece clapboard and a piece of an electrical fixture at my husband's boyhood home after a recent demolition.

Family Homesteads Online

Some libraries and historical socieities are now placing old photos and records of historic interest on the web. In Florida, the Florida State Archives has a site at Florida State University developed by the University' Archival department. Their website displays photos and descriptions of historic manuscripts in Florida.

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  Return to: Visiting Localities Cemeteries Churches Courthouses

  Old Homesteads Family Reunions Migration Trails of Family

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  This website written and designed by:
  Sharon Marie Centanne,
  Genealogy Research Instructor and Internet Trainer
  Please direct any questions to:
  Sharon.
  

  This page updated April 11, 2008

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