Have you ever wondered who lived in your home before you, when it was built, or what your street looked like 50 or 100 years ago? At our November neighborhood association meeting, a visit from Marc Gravitt, the Hamilton County Register of Deed, prompted some discussion about how much we'd love to know more about the history of the older homes in our neighborhood.
Fortunately, there are some wonderful local resources available to help us uncover those stories! The Chattanooga Public Library's Local History and Genealogy Department has created a helpful guide, Your Old House: A Guide to Researching House History. We've gathered some of its best tips and resources below to help neighbors get started researching their homes and our community.
1. Start With Your House
Your home itself can offer clues about its history. Look at architectural features and materials, including:
Foundations, roofs, chimneys, windows, and doorsHardware, closets, and construction materials
Outbuildings, sheds, detached garages, wells, and gardens
Consider how the property and surrounding land may have been used in the past. Was the area rural, agricultural, or urban? These details can help tell the story of your property.
2. Explore Historical Records
Several local resources can help you discover previous residents, property ownership, historic photographs, and neighborhood changes.
City Directories: Annual directories can identify former residents, property owners, occupations, and addresses.
Chattanooga City Directories, 1871–1960 (Ancestry Library) — Free access at Chattanooga Public Library branches.
Newspapers: Historic newspapers may include building permits, property sales, fires, neighborhood events, and stories about former residents.
Newspapers.com Southeast Edition — Free statewide access through the Tennessee Electronic Library.
The library also has newspaper clipping files and historic newspapers on microfilm.
Historic Photographs: The library has more than 10,000 historic photographs that can be searched by address, street, neighborhood, or former residents.
Architectural Survey Records: A survey conducted in the mid-1970s documented Hamilton County buildings that were at least 50 years old. Records include survey forms and black-and-white photographs.
Historic Maps: Maps can reveal how streets, neighborhoods, and properties have changed over time. Some even show building materials, porches, outbuildings, and the number of stories.
3. Research Property Ownership
Deeds and other county records can help trace a property's ownership and uncover additional details about the land.
Useful resources include:
Hamilton County Assessor's Office — Property information and sale data.
Hamilton County Register of Deeds — Deeds and other property records.
You can also explore historic mortgages, wills, probate records, and letters of administration through the library. Building permits, architectural plans, and original blueprints may provide additional information about a home's construction and renovations.
4. Put Together Your Home's Story
Once you've gathered information, organize your discoveries into a story! You might create:
A written history of the house and its previous residents.A timeline of important dates and ownership changes.
A collection of historic photographs, maps, and architectural details.
Be sure to keep track of your research sources so you can verify information and continue building your home's history.
For additional guidance, check out these resources:
Discovering the History of Your House and Your Neighborhood by Betsy J. Green.
House Histories: A Guide to Tracing the Genealogy of Your House by Sally Light.
National Register Bulletin 39: Researching an Historical Property.
Preserve Chattanooga — Offers house history workshops.
Your Best Local Resource: Chattanooga Public Library
The Local History and Genealogy Department can help you find photographs, maps, directories, deeds, and other historical materials.
Chattanooga Public Library – Local History and Genealogy Department
1001 Broad Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402
Phone: (423) 643-7725
Email: localhistory@lib.chattanooga.gov
Let's Discover Our Neighborhood's History Together!
Every older home has a story, and those stories help make our neighborhood special. As you begin researching your own home, you may discover connections to longtime residents, historic businesses, familiar landmarks, and events that shaped our community. If you uncover an interesting photograph, family story, or historical detail, consider sharing it with the neighborhood association. We'd love to see what everyone discovers! Happy researching! Let's uncover the stories our neighborhood has waiting to be told.
