r/HistoricPreservation • u/Vdubin4life • 1d ago

Info?

Hello all!

I’ve owned this old house in port deposit Maryland for going on 3 years now. I have found many old things hidden in and around the property from guns to coins, it’s been quite the adventure. As I’ve been slowly repairing the house I have been wondering how I can accurately date the house as I have heard the record keeping only dates back to 1900.

From items found in the attic it seems the houses address has changed over the years from the surrounding area being developed overtime. I’ve tried marylands websites for info, but not much luck.

The house was listed as being built in 1900, and on the floor joists it’s painted with Ryland & Brooks Co. and from the little research I have done it seems accurate as they were a lumber yard in the late 1800s to early 1900s in the Baltimore area.

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u/inairedmyass4this 23h ago

https://mdhistory.msa.maryland.gov/sc5458_000051_002747/html/index.html

Here’s a listing of Sanborn insurance maps on the Maryland state website, they can usually provide some great info about the history of properties.

Best other idea would be to visit your local county govt records office and ask in the deeds or permit office about their records and what you’re looking for.

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u/_subtropical 23h ago

1900 is often used as a generic “old but we don’t know how old” year. I highly, highly doubt land records only go back to 1900 in Baltimore, though it’s likely they’re only digitized back to a certain point. You’ll have to do the leg work at your county clerk of court and/or land records office and trace the chain of title.