After publishing a blog post based on a property history report I completed for a client living on the north edge of Garfield Park, a resident on the south side reached out, wanting to know more about their home. I was excited to dive into the history of their neighborhood—it offered another opportunity to explore a seemingly ordinary place. These are the places I’m drawn to most. Their stories are often scattered or forgotten, and I find a deep sense of purpose in bringing

This blog post came to be serendipitously after I stumbled across a few intriguing newspaper articles while researching a nearby, unrelated property. I kept pulling the proverbial thread until the full story began to take shape—one that I’ve outlined below. This kind of discovery is at the heart of my work. If you’re interested in uncovering the history of another property, you can learn more about my services here . -Mark Belloni Research Consulting If you’ve ever driven eas

North Salem Methodist Episcopal Church (Now United Methodist) c. 1923, shortly after its dedication. Photo courtesy of the Indiana Album, Riley Case Collection . I’m a sucker for old churches. Maybe it has something to do with being raised Catholic, but if I see an old church, I have to go inside. Hendricks County, Indiana, has been home to some magnificent churches, but unfortunately, many of them have been lost. I’m thinking of the red brick St. Malachy Church in Brownsburg

National Register of Historic Places recognition plaque If you love historic buildings, you’ve probably seen a plaque that reads: This property has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior. The National Register of Historic Places is the nation’s official list of properties significant to American history, at the local, state, or national level. But what exactly does National Register listing mean? How did this p

Whether you're researching a house, a community, a person, or an entire family, historic newspapers are an invaluable resource. Every...

Sanborn maps are incredibly valuable sources available to anyone researching historic homes. First printed in the 1860s and continuing well into the 20th century, the primary purpose of these maps was to help fire insurance companies assess risk in urban areas. No longer used for their original purpose, Sanborn maps today serve as unique historical records, offering details pertaining to property boundaries, building footprints, window and door layouts, construction materials

When researching house and family histories , one of my favorite things to do is discover the local placenames that were historically synchronous with the subjects of my research. Placenames often reveal hidden stories, forgotten landmarks , and deep connections to the people who shaped a community. They add a layer of depth that traditional historical sources sometimes lack. Hopkins Ford in Brown Township, Hendricks County, is one such placename. In the not-so-distant past,

As we drive through the places we call home, it's easy to take the landscape for granted, overlooking the layers of history hidden in plain

An easy trap to fall into when thinking about old homes is to only consider them important and worthy of preservation if they were owned by