House Research Workshop
More than 70 history buffs got the inside scoop on where to look when tracing the background of a historic house on Thursday, Feb. 20 at the Museum of Old Newbury.
Longtime researcher Ellie Bailey, who researches old houses for the Newburyport Preservation Trust’s historic house plaque program, kicked off the presentation of “Researching Your Historic House – What the Pros Know!”
Ellie gave a walk-thru on how to use deeds, census records, birth and marriage records and probate court documents to trace the history of an old building or piece of land. Using the work she did on a Newburyport house she explained using the online database of the Essex County Registry of Deeds in Salem, as well as online probate records and paper documents as well.
Museum executive director Bethany Groff Dorau also guided those in attendance through the numerous paper resources – including hundreds of old photos of Newburyport streets and houses – available at the museum at the corner of High and Fruit streets.
For more information about the NPT’s historic plaque program and apply for a plaque, visit our Historic House Plaque Program page.
