1. Researching Your Riverton Home A Presentation for the Historical Society of Riverton February 23, 2016 Research by Patricia Smith Solin PowerPoint Layout by John McCormick

2. Outline Purpose of Presentation Brief Early History of Riverton Suggested Protocol How to Apply for a HSR Plaque

3. Purpose of PresentationPurpose of Presentation  To introduce basic researching techniques and local resources that can help reveal the history and ancestors of their Riverton home.

4. Brief Early History of RivertonBrief Early History of Riverton

5. Early Historic DatesEarly Historic Dates 1880-1910: 1880: oil streetlamps installed 1886: The Lyceum 1890: Riverton Free Library, Porch Club, Fire Company 1892: First public sewage system initiated on Main St. 1893: Riverton withdraws from Cinnaminson Twp. to become a municipality 1894: Riverton elects first mayor 1900: Street names and house numbers standardized; Riverton Country Club 1907: Cinnaminson Bank & Trust 1908: First Welsbach gas streetlamp 1910: First brick school building ~1910: Development extends to land on other side of the railroad track, and widens throughout town

6. Suggested ProtocolSuggested Protocol  Start with the Deed to Your Property.

7. Deeds  Definition: a legal document that is signed and delivered, especially one regarding the ownership of property or legal rights. See also title deed. Oxford Dictionary of English, 2010  Do you already have access to the deed of the property? You can trace ownership for a limited number of previous owners through the deed.

8. What Information Do I Need?What Information Do I Need?  Names of the Grantors, or giving up property  Names of the Grantees, or those receiving property  Date of the Deed  Sale Price  Property lines can change from owner-to- owner, so documenting that information can important, too.  Instrument number (if available)  Date Deed is registered(most likely different from the date of sale)  Book/Page  Block/Lot  More than a few Riverton homes have been moved to new locations, creating a special challenge for the researcher

9. No Deed?No Deed?

10. Sample Search ResultSample Search Result

11. Searching Further BackSearching Further Back  Exhausted the PRESS online site?  Go to the old, original deed books!

12. Finding Your House’s RootsFinding Your House’s Roots  Architectural Style  Maps  United States Census  Historic Newspapers & Other Resources

13. Queen Anne House Features Italianate House Details Architectural StyleArchitectural Style

14.  See if your home is listed in Bill Washington’s book: Historic Riverton: Notable Architecture, People and Events, 1776-1930 available at the Library or for sale by the Society More ResourcesMore Resources

15. Details of Two Early MapsDetails of Two Early Maps 1859 1860 New Map of Burlington County: Parry, Sykes and Earl. R. K. Kuhn & J. D. Janney, Publishers, 1859 Detail of Map of Vicinity Philadelphia 1860. Stone & Pomeroy, Philadelphia. 1860

16. “Gold Standard” 1890 Bird’s Eye View

17. Sanborn Insurance MapsSanborn Insurance Maps

18. 1895 Sanborn Map1895 Sanborn Map

19. 1896 Sheet 2/2 1896 Sanborn Map Detail1896 Sanborn Map Detail 1983

20. 1900 Sanborn Map Detail1900 Sanborn Map Detail 1900 Sheet 4/4 1991

21. 1919 Sanborn Map Detail1919 Sanborn Map Detail X 1919 Sheet 6/14 Dr. Alexander Marcy, Jr. & Mary Ann Mecray Marcy Home & Physician’s Office 1868 Dr. Alexander Marcy, Jr. & Mary Ann Mecray Marcy Home & Physician’s Office 1868 2013

22. 1900 Sanborn Map Detail1900 Sanborn Map Detail 1900 Sheet 3/4

23. 1911 Sanborn Map Detail1911 Sanborn Map Detail 1911 Sheet 3/13

24. United States CensusUnited States Census

25. Historic NewspapersHistoric Newspapers 1912- New Era 1921-New Era

26. Two More SourcesTwo More Sources 1926 The Romance of Riverton 1929 Manning’s Riverton Classified Business Directory

27. Resources

28. Resources

29. HSR PlaqueHSR Plaque Once you have completed the research on your home, you can submit an application to the HSR Board. Contact Bill Brown or Bill McDermott for further information.

30. The EndThe End