Hello, all! Have been browsing for a few days and have decided to join. My very first post is a question, of course.

My son & his wife are considering purchasing this home, but nobody seems to know the age. I was wondering if it is an A&C house and if anybody would have any idea approx. when it was built. The siding is cedar if that is any help in determining age. Hopefully, the picture shows up.

Thanks in advance for any help!

I realize nobody has replied yet, but I thought if I gave a description of the inside of the house, it might help determine the age.

It is a two story with three bedrooms and a full bath upstairs. The downstairs has a living room, a formal dining room, a kitchen, a fourth bedroom (possibly a library originally?) and a 1/2 bath (pretty sure that was added). Original woodwork and built-ins pretty much complete the pictue - oh, and a full basement.

Any help will be greatly appreciated - thanks again!!

The house is definitely a Bungalow. Quite a charming one at that. The exposed rafter tails, the deep porch, the built in cabinetry, and bands of double hung windows, all say Bungalow..

On the Craftsman issue, for me that means that the home has many fine details, possibly art glass, custom metalwork, art tiles, and the like.

I would bet that it was built between 1905 and 1920.

I for one would love to own such a distinguished little home. Craftsman or not.

Let us know if the deal goes through, we'd love to hear all about it.

Hello My Friend,
To find out how old the house is, you would need to go to the Auditors Office to find out what plat book it can be found in and also the page the last owner was when purchased by your family. Then its off to the records office to find the correct book. This method I use all the time to determine the age of a house as it will trace all the way back from owner to owner till you arrive at the point and date the house was built.

It is a time consuming job but if your patient enough you can find out all the detailed information you need to determine the age of the home. There will be times where an addition was constructed and this is why it take so long in finding the first owner of the house and who built it, as well as the date it was built.

Respectfully,

Ralph Jones

Thank you both for your replies and help!

I will certainly let you know if they decide on this one - it is one of two they are considering and a decision should be made sometime next week. This one happens to be MY personal favorite, but it isn't up to me - DARN (LOL)!

It will be fun, IMO, to do some research on the house should they decide to purchase it.

Again, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Hello Lion Mom,
Doing the research might help in the selling of the house if that is what you do, a you can tout that there is some history that goes with the house and be able to tell them a person or persons who have lived in the house.

In some of my researches I have found where some homes were underground railroads during slavery days. Now if that ain't history I'll eat my hat.

Respectfully,

Ralph Jones

Hi, Ralph!

Yes, that WOULD be really neat to discover something like that about a house - ESPECIALLY one you are involved with or live at!!

Just for fun, I am posting a picture of the other house they are considering. I THINK (but don't really know) it may be from the same era. It also is a nice house, but 130 sq. ft. smaller with 3 bedrooms vs. 4 and only 1 bath vs. 1 1/2. It also sits on a normal size city lot while the other one is on a half acre. This house is less expensive than the first one I told you about, but I honestly believe they would be happier in the bigger house since they have three little people.

The way this house is set up is the three bedrooms are all on the second floor while the one bathroom (a full bath) is on the main level. The first floor has a vestibule and then a long living room that has been divided into two rooms by the present owners, the kitchen and, as stated, the bathroom. Maybe the floor plan is a clue to the age?

Tell me what you think about this one as far as age, style, etc. Sorry for the yucky pic, but it's the only one I have.

Thanks!

The second house is a Dutch Colonial Revival style and was popular from about 1890 to 1920 more or less. They were a common kit house style but also built in place all over the US. While not an Arts & Crafts or Craftsman style, they are quite charming in their own way, and often very spacious as small-medium size houses go. As far as materials and craftsmanship are concerned, they are typical of most middle-class homes built at the time. (And even old and in disrepair, usually much better quality than today's houses IMNSHO.)

Thanks for the information, Rikki! It will be nice to be able to pass along the stuff I have already learned here to the kids about whichever house they choose. I wish they would hurry up already - LOL!

I find it interesting - and almost amazing - that these young people in their mid-twenties are so attracted to these old houses when I see so many young couples want new, new, new!

For my money an old house that has stood the test of time is the way to go. Heck, our house (where all my children have been raised) was built in 1930 and is as solid with it's wet plaster walls and hardwood floors as the day it was built.

Quick update. They have chosen the A&C house (the first one) and found out today that their offer has been accepted! They did have to pay a tad more than they had in mind, but since the house sits on half an acre, they felt it is worth it.

They went out for eats tonight to celebrate. I am SO excited for them!!!

Hello Lion Mom,
You might inform them that their purchase was a wise one as the value of the A&C style on a one half acre lot has nothing to do but grow in value. I feel they made a wise choice.

Respectfully,

Ralph Jones

Thanks, Ralph. I also feel they made the best choice of the houses they were looking at - not only for the immediate future with their children, but for the long term as well.

Something I didn't know about the house that they just recently told me (have not seen it in person yet) is that one of the bedrooms upstairs has a door to the outside with a porch (is that what you would call it?). How cool is THAT???!!!!

Also the dining room still has the built in china cabinet/hutch or whatever that is called!

One sad note, though, is that all of the downstairs woodwork and doors have been painted white. Oh well, that can always be changed in time if they don't like it.

As long as the house passes the home inspection, it's a done deal!!!

I've refinished an awful lot of furniture and woodwork in my day, so even though it's a lot of work, at least it's there! So many older homes have been seriously remuddled to death and the old built-ins removed. (I'm pretty much equal opportunity whether we're talking about a craftsman bungalow or a mid-century ranch.) Almost everything built before 1970 was better than what we've seen built since.