HouseNovel

HouseNovel Your go-to resource for home history that combines home photos, information, & stories on a timeline!

03/25/2026

This is what this Victorian Saint Paul home looked like in 1910.

Built in 1890, it used to look completely different, especially the porch and entrance.

We found this for the homeowner, and it completely changes how you see the house.

Most people have no idea what their home used to look like…

but once you see it, you start wondering.

Comment HISTORY if you want to see what your home used to look like 👀

03/19/2026

What I think about when you tell me you have an old home...

All the people, moments, and memories it’s housed throughout its life. 🏡💛

👉 Comment ‘HISTORY’ if you want to uncover moments like this about your home

01/22/2026

Want to know who lived in your house before you? We just automated 100 years of previous homeowner information.

DM me “early access” if you’re a Minneapolis homeowner or realtor who wants to see previous homeowners back to 1960.

12/16/2025

Have you ever wanted to know who designed and built your home?

You actually can, with 2 records most homeowners don’t even realize exist.

Let me show you using a real example we uncovered for a Minneapolis homeowner researching her early-1900s home using our Premium Home History Research services. Identifying the original architect and builder was her primary goal:

1️⃣ Original Building Permit

This is the most important record.

The original building permit was issued when the house was first constructed. It’s the city’s official approval to build, and it’s created at the moment the home is born.

In this example, the permit told us:
• The exact year the home was built (1920)
• The architect who designed it
• The builder or contractor who physically constructed it
• The construction type
• The original cost, which showed this was a high-end home for its time

Why this matters:
•This is primary-source documentation created by the city in 1920.

For this homeowner, the permit finally answered the question: Who actually built my house?

2️⃣ Plan Index Card

This one is less obvious, but incredibly powerful.

Cities used plan index cards to track architectural drawings. Even if the drawings don’t survive, the index often does.

In her case, the plan index card showed:
• The architect’s name
• The original owner
• The number of stories
• The date the plans were filed
• A plan drawer number where drawings were once stored

There was also a note that said “plans removed.”

This means architectural drawings once existed and were officially filed, even if they’re no longer available today.

Want to see all we uncovered for her? Check out her home’s timeline! Got questions? DM us. 🏡💛

11/25/2025

HouseNovel got a facelift recently, have you had the chance to check it out?

Rebuilt from the ground up to make home history easier (and even more fun) to discover than ever.

If you love home history as much as we do, check it out for yourself at HouseNovel.com

💛💛💛

10/21/2025

We could do then and now’s all day 🏡😍

📍 304 W Bellevue St, Opelousas, LAIf this doesn’t scream haunted house, we don’t know what does...Can you make out what ...
03/11/2025

📍 304 W Bellevue St, Opelousas, LA

If this doesn’t scream haunted house, we don’t know what does...

Can you make out what the first word says before "Rooms" on the sign? Because this place looks like the perfect setting for a psychological thriller.

Opelousas, founded in 1720, is one of Louisiana’s oldest towns and has a rich history influenced by French, Spanish, and Creole cultures. Known for its historic buildings, deep-rooted traditions, and architectural landmarks, it has been home to everything from early trade routes to Civil War-era structures.

If this house inspired a thriller, what would you name it? We're thinking "Occupied" or "Whispering Rooms." Drop your ideas below!

In 1926, the Karl C. Wold home at 1157 Summit Ave in St. Paul caught fire, and this photo captures the aftermath. You ca...
02/28/2025

In 1926, the Karl C. Wold home at 1157 Summit Ave in St. Paul caught fire, and this photo captures the aftermath. You can even see someone inside assessing the damage from inside.

Did you know? 🎄✨Before electric Christmas lights became widespread, many families illuminated their trees with real cand...
02/27/2025

Did you know? 🎄✨

Before electric Christmas lights became widespread, many families illuminated their trees with real candles! 🕯 This early 1900s photo captures a rare and magical sight—a Christmas tree lit entirely by candlelight.

Back then, families carefully clipped small candles onto the branches, lighting them for only a short time to avoid fires (and yes, they kept a bucket of water nearby just in case!🔥).

🔎 How can we tell this tree is using candles, not electric lights?
✔ No visible wires (early electric lights had noticeable cords)
✔ The glow has a distinct flickering candle shape
✔ The whole room is lit only by candlelight—no electric lamps in sight

By the 1920s, electric Christmas lights started replacing candles, but this tradition lived on in some homes for decades.

What’s a holiday tradition you love that’s changed over time? Let’s reminisce in the comments!

It’s like a Google Street View, but in 1942, and in the backyard.Check out this snapshot in time of the family hanging o...
02/26/2025

It’s like a Google Street View, but in 1942, and in the backyard.

Check out this snapshot in time of the family hanging out behind their home at 2906 North Sheridan Ave, Minneapolis.

Swipe to see the modern day Google Street View of the same home from the front!

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