Here is a forward of Paul's suggestion. Thank you, Paul..! ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Redden" <paulredden@hotmail.com> To: <VAFAUQUI-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2004 8:07 PM Subject: [VAFAUQUI] using free on-line sattelite images to locate old property lines >I was just reminded of a technique I've used effectively to match old deeds >and surveys to current maps to help find our ancestors property in rural >areas. Many people understand that the names of the roads change over time >but don't realize that the location of the streets change also as do >property lines when adjacent properties are consolidated or subdivided. >Years ago Microsoft put together a free prototype web site called >terraserver at http://terraserver.microsoft.com (not terraserver.com which >is a pay for service knock-off). > > This site has sattelite or aerial photography of most of the United States > that is correlated to topographical maps which have current streets and > buildings, etc. marked on them. You can pan or zoom in on either map and > then click a button and switch to the other. If you know what to look > for the photographs will clearly show both the old and new boundaries. > The clues to look for are shadows and lines of trees and other vegetation > that grow along fences. Roads that have been removed also show clearly > since the ground was often leveled with ditches along the sides that will > show up as shadows and continuous indentations along the ground. I have > seen instances where you could not tell a road had been there when you > were at the actual site but when looking from above it is very clear and > lines up perfectly with the early surveys. > > Paul Redden > www.yesterbooks.com