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Historic Archived Catalogs & Brochures

This is one of the greatest resources you can possibly have!  There are catalogs of builders materials like doors and light bulb fixtures, house styles and house plans popular during that year, interior decoration and wallpaper, plumbing supplies, fashionable clothing, etc. etc. If you want to see what your house looked like when it was [...]

The Metal Porch Roof

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Do you have a metal porch roof or asphalt? Is your porch roof the original design? You may have a very authentic vintage home but there is a good chance that your porch roof has been not only replaced but changed over the years. What looks original may not be. Some porch roofs were not [...]

Decorative Concrete Block

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Decorative concrete blocks were the rage in house building from about 1890's to the 1930's.  These decorative concrete blocks came in an assortment of styles and sizes. They could be purchased from a local building supplier but most likely made right on the construction site. A concrete block machine could be ordered from the Sears [...]

Death of a Cottage

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The cottage. A Bungalow, a Cape Cod, just any modest cosy dwelling in a traditional design. After house shopping for a long time you finally find the house of your dreams. It's the cutest cottage you have ever seen. Just like something out of a story book. At one time there were many cottages like this. [...]