Arlene - I'm from Connecticut and have a couple of thoughts.  I also own
a home built in 1905 which was a 3 family home at one point.  In
Connecticut, the deeds filed in the land records (Town Clerks office)
would indicate if the building was indeed zoned as a multi-family
residence.  Another thought is the Electric or Telephone company.  We
had a terrible time trying to figure out exactly which phone lines we
were using as there were 3 sets running through the house.  Along with
that, we still get our electric bill addressed to "Unit A" at our
address.

I think in Massachusetts they might be County Clerks instead of Town
Clerks, but I'd suggest your friend start there and follow the chain of
title. Back.

Cindi LeMay


-----Original Message-----
From: Records Management Program [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Arlene Bronstein
Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2005 12:31 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Real Estate problem


        To help a friend I am turning to all of you on this list for
ideas. She needs to find proof that her house, located in Cambridge
Mass., was zoned as a two family home back in 1930-1944. The town of
Cambridge is saying it wasn't (they changed their mind from what they
had previously told her) so selling is a problem.

        She is trying to access census records and real estate records,
but census records do not prove it was zoned for two families. Does
anyone have any ideas what city/state records she could look for, or
archives she could go to, to try and prove that there were two separate
domains in the house back then? Thank you all.

        Arlene Bronstein
        Record Center Manager
        Davis Polk & Wardwell

List archives at http://lists.ufl.edu/archives/recmgmt-l.html
Contact [log in to unmask] for assistance

List archives at http://lists.ufl.edu/archives/recmgmt-l.html
Contact [log in to unmask] for assistance