Circa 1894

Historic properties allow a Surveyor to unlock mysteries of the past. In many cases, we are required to act as detectives to unearth the series of events that created lots, easements, and rights of way. My last survey offered just this sort of opportunity.

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A late 1890's deed recorded in the Courthouse describes a property much larger than what is in the current deed. Over time the property is divided into smaller lots, but the original deed description remains the same. Until the 1960's, when a family transfer finally describes the lot we see today.

Home and property ownership of the past was not like today. Families often kept homes and handed them down over time. This leads to many references to will's and deceased family members. At times, tracking down the chain of title can get difficult.

There are many specific laws and court cases that a Land Surveyor must be aware of when following the description in the deed and the possession lines in the field. We take careful measurements and apply a series of rules to develop the points on the ground that best represent the lot today based on all the information gathered.

It is always a great honor to have the opportunity to survey someone's property and discover the past and peculiarities of how the property came to be over time.