While we are researching our ancestors, we frequently imagine where they lived and what it looked like. Of course, if we are lucky enough to find that particular site, it has changed greatly in the subsequent years.

In 1981, the federal government challenged local governments to survey the historical houses of their towns.Since then, many Historical Commissions have been charged with this task. In that process, the towns were given specific criteria that had to be entered into forms and submitted with proof of the criteria to the State Historic Commissions. Frequently, these houses were of enough historic significance that they were entered on the National Trust.