At Jim's final Rachminoff concert yesterday, I was walking around the library checking out the various historical pictures on the wall since I'm a big fan of history.
In one of the seminar rooms, I found the title history of the property, traced all the way back to the King of Spain in 1760. This was by far the most extensive "title report" I had ever seen. Following are the pictures of the "title certificate."
How far back have you traced your property's ownership?
Pretty cool. Here in Florida most of the deeds originate in the late 1880's. I used to be a title searcher, so I always found it fascinating to look through the old documents.
In the early 1970's I bought a house in Mission Woods Kansas (in the greater Kansas City area) and received an abstract of the property. It, too, was fascinating reading. Although I don't recall the earliest year in the document it was probably in the early 1800's. I do remember that the land had been owned by various Indian tribes and Indians following an initial grant from the U.S. Government. It also contained a clause prohibiting sale to one of the currently protected classes.
It's unfortunate, from one point of view, that we don't still have this wealth of information available for homebuyers. Perhaps it would help enhance pride of ownership.
Very cool. I don't know the origins of any of my family's property, but my great grandmother in upstate NY lived in a house that was over 100 yrs old. It would be interesting to know who the property traced back to. She used to tell us how they would go to parties in the winter and take a horse-drawn sleigh a few miles up the hudson river (which was frozen) and they were always watchful for a party of unfriendly indians. I also found it interesting that the Living room windows were placed above eye level outside, so Indians couldn't peek inside.
I think historical documents or anything that is old is great. Love to learn of the past. When I lived in Cincinnati I worked for a company that rehabed the Mt. Adams area overlooking the Ohio River. The row houses began as apts. 4 stories and basement with the stone foundations laid in the late 1700's. You could almost feel the history.
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I never tend to look at that but I am sure what I have sold dates back to the King of France I would guess.