Joe Darwin of Pittsfield runs a service that uncovers and tells real estate stories in Berkshire County and surrounding areas.
Darwin launched The Home Historian in late 2020, serving clients throughout Berkshire County and adjacent areas. Since then, he estimates he has conducted at least 400 investigations into the history of homes and other properties. “I describe what I do as a combination of research and private detective work,” Darwin says.
The nature of his customers and the reasons they retain his services vary. He estimates that about 60 percent of his work is with single-family home owners. He also conducts research on the commercial or organizational structure and assets of businesses, nonprofit organizations, and other entities. “Some people are simply interested in the history of their home,” he comments. “Some people do it as a gift, such as people who grew up in the home and want to tell their parents about its history. I also do it as a gift, for people who have bought a home and want to know about its past. Are working.”
People also have practical reasons. For example, when you're selling your home, you might want to explain its history as a way to make it more appealing to buyers. “We are also seeing an increase in real estate professionals being contacted to help market the properties they represent,” says Darwin.
Companies hire him to research the site's past records. For example, inns can build their brand and increase interest from potential guests, he says. “And connect businesses located in old buildings with the history of the area,” he added.
Some clients come to Darwin for more specific purposes, such as fulfilling legal requirements. He explains that historical information is typically required when reviewing permits to alter or demolish structures older than a certain age. Historical descriptions also help establish the chain of ownership for real estate. In some cases, you may need to document past ownership and transactions when drawing or changing property boundaries. In addition, knowing the physical history of a structure can help in making repairs, modifications, or other types of repairs, ensuring mechanical or structural compatibility, or ensuring historical accuracy of restorations. Help guide your work.
Darwin's business grew out of his lifelong interest in local history, with his family's roots in Berkshire dating back to 1760. “I've been interested in history since I was a child, and it's always been in me,” he recalls. He says he moved to Arizona in his 20s and returned to the Berkshires in 2008. Since then, he has been active in various issues and cultural initiatives, including the revitalization of Pittsfield's Springside Park.
He brings his experience reporting for local publications and websites to his current role, where he continues to write a regular column on the history of the Berkshire Eagle. “As a journalist, I became very aware of the importance of context,” Darwin said. “When covering the story, I did a lot of background research. It made me realize the connection between modern life and history. There is a symmetry between current events and what happened in the past. there is.”
Darwin's passion spills over into his personal life. He researches history as a hobby and in conjunction with other activities, giving presentations and leading history tours. Through his affiliated business “These Mysterious Hills,'' he offers lectures and tours about local scandals, crimes, and mysterious phenomena.
In late 2020, while working for an arts organization, Darwin decided to develop his own business researching historic properties. “When the coronavirus pandemic hit, the arts basically shut down and suddenly we had a lot of time on our hands,” he said. “I had previously done informal research on specific properties for friends and family, so I decided to offer historical research as a paid service and went from there.”
Darwin said his experience and local resources made the transition smooth. “The knowledge I already have about local history helps establish the historical context of the property,” he says. “We are fortunate in the Berkshires to have great sources of historical information in libraries like the Berkshire Library and organizations like the Berkshire County Historical Society in Arrowhead.”
Darwin said The Home Historian's fees depend on several factors, including the nature of the report, the age and complexity of the property's history, and the specific tasks and time required. In addition to printed factual and narrative reports, we also offer other presentation options such as books, brochures, and videos.
“It can take many forms, but when we first discuss work, I suggest two basic options,” he explains. “For people with specific technical objectives, we can do a ‘facts-only’ investigation that focuses solely on things like the age of the house and the year of ownership. A more comprehensive option fleshes out the story of the property and the human side in terms of the owner's life and what happened there. ”
Darwin says he will first provide a flat estimate of the final cost. “Based on my experience, I know roughly how many hours it will take before I start,” he comments. “If I quote it at $250, that's about it. If I get interested and decide to do more research on my own, that's on me.” He said the scope of the House report is Prices range from about $150 to as much as $900. Larger land parcels and commercial properties typically cost more. Prices also vary depending on the age of the property and location. (Click here to submit an online inquiry.)
As Darwin explains, his starting point is to gather information already known about the house. He then goes to public sources to trace deeds and find building permits and other records. He also looks at the map. This helps determine facts such as when a house or other structure was built and ownership at different times.
He points out that it is usually easier to assemble a basic chronology for houses built after the late 19th century, when officially recorded information is clear and complete. However, in other cases, gaps and questions can arise, especially if the property dates back to an earlier era when records were less clear and building permits were not required. “Then you have to start comparing deeds, maps and other sources back and forth to really get to the nitty-gritty and find out when that structure first appeared,” he says. . “It may be necessary to use a combination of multiple sources to extrapolate to a date.”
One way to narrow it down, he explains, is to compare two maps created at different times. For example, a structure may appear on a new map but not on an earlier version. “Another clue is if an appraisal showed that the value of the site was low, but a subsequent appraisal showed a significant increase,” he says, adding, “There were no structures on the site during that time. There is a good chance that it was constructed,” he added.
Darwin points out additional techniques, including identifying construction methods and styles, tracking the history of neighborhood development, and comparing the home to nearby structures. “Details such as the type of nails, for example, can help determine its age,” he says. “I love crawling in attics and basements. If necessary, I can also consult experts with technical knowledge.” It added that the construction date could be estimated within months.
Darwin said he uses a variety of techniques and sources, including newspaper archives and local history books, to create a more comprehensive narrative history. He also researches important statistics regarding births, deaths, marriages, and other life events for owners, occupiers, and their families. There is also the possibility of contacting former residents and their descendants to obtain information and memories.
“There are similarities in producing synthetic biographies and family histories,” he says. “I'm also looking at what happened to people who grew up in the home and what they did later in life. That can lead to interesting stories.”
In his words, Darwin goes beyond the facts of daily life in households in different eras by exploring notable events in the community. He cites a particularly unusual incident he discovered while researching an old house in Williamstown. “After World War I, around the time of the Treaty of Versailles, international conferences held at Williams College were attended by diplomats, prime ministers, and other prominent American and European leaders and thinkers,” he explains. “It turns out that a related social event was a tea and piano recital held in this house. I was surprised to learn that such a gathering of international leaders took place in the drawing room.”
He also investigated properties with dark chapters associated with scandals and unsolved crimes. Darwin concludes that the history of real estate is an interesting source of information on many levels. “People really appreciate learning about the past generations that lived in their homes and how that connects to their lives today.”
