Have you tried to trace the genealogy of your house? In this multi-part series, we will explore how to use local history resources at the library to write the genealogy of your house here in Westfield. In part one of this series, we’re going to focus on some of the best resources to consult first when you’re researching the history of your home.
The history of houses in Westfield is connected to the people who have lived in them, which is why we suggest starting your house genealogy journey by figuring out who has lived in your home over the years. There are several resources that are available at any time, and without an appointment. Two of the most basic, and most important, are our collection of city directories and our street and tax lists. These resources contain similar information organized in different ways.
City Directories are organized by the last names of residents and often offer information such as the profession of the resident. And because we have most city directories between the years 1871-1989, these analog resources can hold a wealth of information.
Other great resources to consult are our collections of street and tax lists, which are both organized by street name. The library holds tax lists, which gather information on individuals who paid taxes in Westfield, for the years 1894-1929. The tax lists are a great resource to consult to find out who lived and paid taxes in a certain location for a particular year. After 1929, street lists, which list all streets and their house numbers in Westfield, show the names and occupations of the inhabitants of each house.
There are many other helpful resources for house genealogists to consult, such as Sanborn Insurance Maps, historic house listings and more. Feel free to drop into the library anytime to access these resources and start (or continue) your house genealogy!
–Kim Pereira, Local History Librarian
Image credit: O.H. Bailey & Co. (1875). Westfield, Mass [Map]. Retrieved from https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/wd376474n
