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The Clarion Ledger

New Web site collecting 'old home' stories

By Nancianne Parkes Suber
Special to The Clarion-Ledger

Where did your ancestors spend the days of their lives? What was the proverbial "old homestead" like? You can study land records for just so long before the urge to see actual places overcomes you!

Many of us have actually made the pilgrimage to find that old family home. Some of us are lucky enough to have lived in the houses our grandfathers built and personally know the stories passed down about the generations that went before. Others have only pictures to carry the cherished memories and family lore for them. All of us are busy making history in the houses we call "home" today and every house - be it old or new - has a story to tell.

A new Web site devoted to this idea has been created by Pamela Ravenwood, a former executive director of a historical society.

ThatsMyOldHouse.com is designed to be a repository for the memories of lives lived within a house and offers a means to preserve and share those stories. Only a few months old, the site grows daily with more than 1,700 entries and hundreds of registered users.

As you would expect, a number of the homes listed are on the National Register which certainly gives the site potential as a research tool. But entries are encouraged for every type house.

If you are not a natural storyteller, worry not. Users are given a series of questions to answer to help guide them through the process. Questions include such things as the location of the property, the names of family members who lived there, the fondest memories of life there, your family's employment, the history of the community and changes that were made to the home by your family. Before you know it, your story is told. Users are encouraged to upload pictures with their stories.

A section for Life Stories is provided to allow you to record special stories or events that were important to you or your family. Hometown stories that revolve around places are encouraged .

The potential for preserving and recording your own history is delightful. With a society as mobile as ours has become, this is also a great way to share your family home information with family members who now live elsewhere.

Visitors to the site can sign up for a free newsletter. There is no charge for entering your stories or researching the stories stored there.

According to Ravenwood, people of all ages are recounting the stories of their childhood, whether that was in the 1930s or 1960s. Did you have unforgettable slumber parties in the basement or learn to ride your bike on the sidewalk out front? What was your favorite gathering place in the house and why? What was a typical day or week like growing up? Tidbits such as these can bring a house to life.

So if you have ever driven by your old place and said "That's my old house," drop by http://thatsmyoldhouse.com and become inspired to make a little history of your own.

This is a great way to record your family history and a slice of life in your own community. Your old house - and your family - will thank you!

EASTMAN'S ONLINE GENEALOGY NEWSLETTER

July 26, 2007

Who Lived in My House Before Me?

Have you asked yourself, "who was the original owner of my house, when was my house built, what is the history of my house?" A new web site plans to help.

ThatsMyOldHouse.com where such stories can be shared or searched. The site is looking for stories about all houses, whether historic or not. Quoting the web site:

Think of your childhood home... Did you have unforgettable slumber parties in the basement or maybe you learned to ride your bike on the sidewalk out front? Do you still drive by your old place and say That's My Old House?

What about the house you are in now? Are you starting a family or adding on to the house? Are you restoring it back to its original era? How many members of your family reside there, what is your favorite gathering place in the house and why?

Yes, you have a story to tell and we want to hear it.

The founder of the site, Pamela Ravenwood, is a former Executive Director of a historical society recognizes that people both want to share the information about the home they grew up and in turn, want others to find such information.

"Every old house has a story to tell," says Ravenwood. "What gives a home such great value is its history, and what I mean by history is not necessarily the age of the building but the stories that come with it. The reason most people like historic buildings isn’t just because of its architecture, which can be replicated. It’s the knowing that another preceded you and lifetimes occurred within that home’s walls. Our website was designed to collect those stories and memories."

The site is new but already has close to 1600 entries and hundreds of registered users. Many of the homes on the site are houses that have been listed on the National Register, which makes the site a great resource for researchers.

To guide users through the story-telling process of their house memories, there are twelve questions asked. Such questions include, what is your family name, what is your fondest memory of your old house, and what kind of work was your family involved with. There is also a place where one can upload historic photos.

"People of all ages are recounting the stories of their childhood, whether that childhood was in the 60s or the 30s," Ravenwood said. "Some are telling the story of the home they are currently in, which is also valuable, as we are all making history in the moment. Many stories are already gone with those who held them. That is why we feel now is the time to start telling your story, whatever story that might be."

In addition to providing a forum for folks to share their memories of their home, there is also a segment called Life Stories. Here people are asked to submit their favorite hometown story. These stories revolve around place.

The site, can be said, can potentially serve as a genealogy that evolves around the home and hometown. Many visitors are searching out their family connections and are seeking those family roots that stem from a building that still could be standing.

ThatsMyOldHouse.com is a free service. You can learn more at http://thatsmyoldhouse.com.

Posted by Dick Eastman on July 26, 2007 | Permalink

Comments

I did a search on the address of my husband's father and grandparents that I had found on the 1910 census in New York. I hoped to find information on the local area and perhaps the businesses, schools etc. Imagine my delight to find the actual house was for sale at that very moment. There wasn't a photo so I emailed the realtor and explained my situation. We live in western Canada and would never be going there to take photos. He ever so kindly went to the home and took a picture to post on his site. What are the chances of that?

Posted by: Lori | July 27, 2007 at 12:33 PM

July 2, 2007

Brag about your old house!

OK, I have to admit I haven't really played with this site (basically because I'm not a big fan of sites that make you register to do just about anything -- which this one does), but this press release caught my eye:

Homeowners encouraged to share house history through new website

If you'd like to tell the world about the old house you live in, you now have a vehicle at That's My Old House. Sort of puts me in mind of If Walls Could Talk on HGTV. It looks very basic, but the site claims to have over 1,400 "house entries" in just its first month, so maybe there's something interesting brewing here. I definitely like the idea of house histories, so I'll keep an eye on this site.