This Old House always seems to start with the Historical Society. Which is very good if you need zoning/planning board approval for anything.

Definitely go to the historical society. I am sure you will get a whole new appreciation for your whole neighborhood, as well as good resources for your home improvement. They'll be happy you asked, You'll be happy you asked. I'll be happy you asked. It will be one big happy-fest

Oh, and keep an eye out for companies that specialize in historical details. We found a good one in Millis I think when we were looking to fix up a beautiful but run down victorian in Upton.

poz & kevin - seems like the historical society is the way to go. Kev - I have a co-worker who has a house built in 1881 and her architect (and contractor) specialize in old houses. We will definitely have to find people who know about old houses instead of newer construction. We've got knob and tube wiring still for crying out loud!!!

kev - it's all about making you happy.

You might also want to look for local places that sell architectural salvage -- for whatever values of 'local' you are comfortable with. The kind of places that help with salvaging old house parts from demolition, by dismantling and keeping vintage radiators, light fixtures, mantels, doors, etc., etc., will probably be run by people who are really knowledgeable about what is period-appropriate for any given era, and will also be likely to be able to refer you to local architects and builders who have experience working with restorations and historical buildings generally.

Ulrika - That's a great idea!! Thanks.

I still think the cornerstone for this kind of project is Christopher Alexander's A Pattern Language. It's available as a hardback book, or... well, here I'm conflicted, because I know of an online version, but I don't want a tragedy of the commons thing to happen. Hm. I'll try this:

http://tinyurl.com/55pkeb

Anyway... Alexander's main idea is that architecture can be compared to a language. In the same way an infinite number of sentences can be made from a finite number of words, an infinite number of buildings may be made from a finite set of units he calls "patterns." He then spends the next 1200pp. spelling out 253 patterns for you.

Some of his partners on that project, led by Max Jacobson, have a more recent book, Patterns of Home: The Ten Essentials of Enduring Design. It's also good, and has a number of houses they themselves designed.

Sarah Susanka has her Not So Big House books. They're fairly solid, IMHO.

I'd also spend a lot of time watching Holmes on Homes on the Discovery Home channel. It's usually presented as uber-contractor Mike Holmes coming onto a site to "make it right," after the original contractor screwed up or deliberately tried to rip someone off, but that means you get to both a) see the many things that can go wrong, and b) see a fair amount of construction detail as he makes it right. No other show I've seen in the burgeoning home improvement genre gets so much into the nuts and bolts of current house construction.

Stewart Brand's How Buildings Learn might be useful, given the idea of renovation.

I'm at work, so can't see my shelves (a shame I don't remember you mentioning this during your visit -- I could show you some specific things), but this is what comes to mind.

Hal - thanks for the ton of information!!!