What is YOUR house's story?
Every home has a story to tell. Understanding your home's past is a key to its present and even to its future.
We are often curious about the previous owners, or even why a house was built in a particular location.
Maybe a house is much older than the others on the block, or there is an unusual architectural detail that has piqued your interest.
It may benefit you to understand your house's quirks before you proceed with a remodel.
Whatever the impetus, most of your questions can be answered by using HouStories.
Watch this video to learn more about how Maureen Neeley uncovers the history of a property.
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| Three homes designed and constructed by Merton E. Cutting in 1916, on Molino north of 4th St. At the time, this street was named “Dakota Avenue.” |
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| Joe Jost's is located on East Anaheim St. in Zaferia, Long Beach |
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| The Many Styles of Long Beach Districts
Through her company, HouStories, Maureen Neeley, MLIS,
has conducted research for over 80 clients in the past five years. A
full house history was the most often-requested product, but she has
also consulted for realtors, developers, and designers to seek specific
information about a property's history.
She has worked in nearly
every neighborhood of Long Beach, including: Cal Heights, Bixby Knolls,
Country Club, Alamitos Heights, Belmont Shore, Naples, Belmont Heights,
Bluff Park, Bluff Heights, Rose Park, Alamitos Beach, Willmore City,
Wrigley, and Downtown.
Architecturally, the properties researched
have run the gamut from California Craftsman to Mid-Century Modern.
Tudor, Mediterranean Revival, Spanish Colonial Revival, Victorian,
French Normandy, Italian Revival, Swiss Chalet, and Shingle-Style are
just some of the fascinating design styles that can be found in Long
Beach.
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Multi-Family Properties Have Histories Too
Long
Beach is a city of numerous heritage and landmark buildings. Some of
these structures are apartment buildings, own-your-own condominiums,
flats and duplexes.
HouStories can help property owners and home
owners associations (HOAs) find original documents, blueprints,
architectural renderings, and even photographs which depict a building's
original design.
Newspaper articles often described our city's
larger apartments, hotels and courtyard bungalows when they first
opened. These can be key to unlocking a building's past, especially when
owners are seeking to preserve and restore the historic features of a
property.
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| This 1929 Spanish-Revival Duplex is actually the second structure on this lot. The first was a bungalow built in 1905. |
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| Finished in 1929, this beautiful 4-unit apartment house was modeled after popular French Normany hotels being erected in Los Angeles at the time |
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| Meeker-Baker Building on 7th & Pine. Shot of interior window and bas relief design |
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| Commercial Properties Seeking Status - Landmark or . . . Just Status
Many
of Long Beach's commerical buildings were designed by a stable of named
architects: Davies and Baume, Kenneth Wing, Piper and Kahrs, John
Halstead Roberts, to name only a very few. Non-residential property
owners might want to capitalize on the status of these architects and
their popular designs.
Knowing the architect, builder and
original use of a building is often a draw for local businesses. Clients
and employees are intrigued and justifiably proud when they can
demonstrate an understanding of the history of a structure and its place
in Long Beach history.
HouStories can produce a dossier or
brochure which speaks to all the components which makes YOUR business or
property historically unique.
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