Well, I figure it's worth a shot...
When we bought our home a year ago, we were told it was built around 1925. Upon further investingation, I've found that the lot was first registered in '25, but back then this was cottage country, so it may have been built before that without having been on "titled" land.
From the get-go, I've thought the house was older than that, because the joists in the basement are hand-hewn. Then again, it may have been built using materials from an old barn. I also found that the space between the joists is filled in with large cedar planks, above which sawdust and plaster was poured. I assume this was a form of insulation.
Then this weekend, I was digging around down there, and noticed that the 2x4s that are nailed to the joists (holding up the cedar planks) are fastened with square nails. Are there any experts here that can help me date my home with these details? My understanding is that square nails were used until around the1890's.
