ADORABLE Sears-kit home! The Aladdin Company, Bay City, Michigan. (kit cost) to larger homes costing $5000. Above is the original catalog Thank you Rus, that's helpful detail. Daniel Friedman, Rosemary Thornton. In the 19-teens, 1920s, and 1930s, American suburban neighborhoods were growing. However, we've boiled Sears history down to a short narrative and event timeline for you: Sears narrative history tells the story of the founding of Sears and the Sears chronology is an up-to-date primer of Sears milestones and events. it's a house whose blueprints and building supplies were ordered from a specialty Sears catalog, and all of these supplies were shipped, by rail (primarily), to the homeowner (who either chose to build the house himself, or use a contractor to arrange the construction). WHEN AND WHERE WERE SEARS CATALOG HOUSES BUILT? "It's the most perfect Sears Magnolia . For nearly 100 years the home has been meticulously cared for and features hardwood flooring, enclosed front porch, and renovated kitchen. In addition to trying the Sears Kit Home catalogs and identification resources we give here, you're welcome to post photos (one per comment - as many comments and thus photos as you need) of your home and to give what background you can about it (location, history etc) to see if other interested readers can offer suggestions. For this weeks listing of the week, we decided to find seven charming Sears Catalog homes you can actually buy today. 112 S. Broadway, St. John, KS, 67576 PropertyShark 3. Any help would be appreciated! In the early 1900s, the address for Sears' Chicago headquarters was 975 Homan Ave., Chicago, Illinois, and should be on the shipping label. Well, what did you think of our picks of the best Sears Catalog Homes on the market? Sears, Roebuck and Company, Chicago, Illinois. We pinpointed nine models from across the country that still stand tall as a testament to American ingenuity. Any ASHI, NAHI, or other serious home inspector who has been working in the Hudson Valley of New York or for that matter in many other U.S. cities and towns for a decade or more has probably inspected several Sears Catalog homes, even if s/he did not recognize it at the time. we own a sears home..We are interested in saleing..it and land surrounding it its in the beautiful mountains of eastern Tennessee. THE HOME DEPOT - 38 Photos & 69 Reviews - Bowie, Maryland - Nurseries One of sears original models. as we describe above on this page. The Aladdin Company, Bay City, Michigan. Do You Live in a Mail-Order Sears Kit Home? These House Hunters Will Homes offers a wide variety of energy efficient homes ranging in size from 950 to over 2300 square feet with prices starting as low as fifty dollars per square foot depending on style & size. 240 Best Sears kit homes ideas | sears kit homes, kit homes, sears Sears kit homes 248 Pins 1y A Collection by Alanagh Macdougall Similar ideas popular now Architecture Sears Kit Homes Build Your Own The Creator America Building Youtube Life Diy Buildings Build your own Sears Kit Home - Life in America - YouTube Interesting History Sweet Home Cabin 217 Dutchess Turnpike, in Poughkeepsie, NY, a (1917) 7-room cape which used a basement cistern for its water supply and a fieldstone fireplace. More than 70,000 Sears Modern Homes were sold between 1908 and 1940. This Sears Sunbeam is a lovely example and in original condition. In 1915 Sears kit homes included fiberboard panels used for ceilings and walls. We have a Sears Craftsman home that was built in 1910-1912 and would love to identify the style off home. It has always been used as a seasonal summer cottage and is uninsulated. in the Kit House Identification article above we cite Thornton's books describing Sears kit homes, but you may want to step through the definitive list of key Sears Kit Home identification points given in the article above right here; Unless you have developed a really good eye for recognizing the several-hundred models offered by Sears, for example, youd never know what house on a block with a kit house mixed in with other 1920s or 30s houses, was from a kit from Sears. Please do take a look. 1910. We know that there are two purported Sears kit homes on Route 302 in Bridgton, a Sears house in Saco, and there are likely more kit homes that have not yet been surveyed and identified in subdivisions from the 20s, 30s, and 40s in our communities. Rock lath plaster systems like the Goodwall sheet plaster product are detailed. Number18. Between 1908 and 1940, more than 70,000 of these Sears Kit Homes were built across America. For readers whose Sears Kit home used Sears Goodwall plasterboard as a plaster base (in stead of wood or wire lath) you might be able to find a "Goodwall Sheet Plaster" stamped on the wall-cavity side of the rock lath and you might notice that the rock-lath sections were usually 4' x 4' - unlike modern drywall and fiberboard products that were and are more-often 4' x 8' or longer. The Close has a policy of fierce editorial independence. The American Foursquare house, defined by its distinctive cube shape and hip roof, was popular in the 1890-1930s, especially for its affordability. The Truth About DIY Sears Kit Homes - Grunge.com catalog homes in Dutchess County, NY. Sears promised that this sheet plaster was superior to lath and plaster for many reasons, including its fire resistant qualities. - Keystone house plans (modern prefab construction) from Nelson Homes - https://nelson-homes.com/home-plans/keystone/ , that's just not really part of the equation. That includes both finding specific stamps, lumber marks, or hardware in your particular house that confirm it as a Sears kit home and also paging through the Sears kit home catalogs we list to match that hipped gable roof design and entry porch. It also has a daydream-worthy covered porch with three exposures; a perfect spot for a late summer dinner. by Inspectapedia Com Moderator. Another uber charming craftsmen with a tasteful renovation and original details, 1315 9th Street had us lingering on our open Zillow tabs for a few more minutes than a team under deadline should. How To Find Sears Modern Homes | Old House Web 1936. It's a duplex with a floorplan similar to model number 154 (1908-1914 cataloge). Any ideas? Im looking for information pertaining to Robinsons Kits. Sears Goodwall was touted as more fire-resistant than alternative plant-based fiberboard sheathing products. Located in NYS Adirondack region. On 2022-03-07 at $500. Montgomery Ward sold Van Tine homes under their own name. Price: $334,000. These are listed here. Period. One of the most fascinating parts of the story, is that the framing lumber was (in most cases) pre-cut and labeled, allowing the homebuilder to follow an instruction booklet to help in the organized construction process. More than 30 readers responded, with stories about how much they loved their Sears homes. Wagon loads of house materials were brought wagon-by-wagon in the proper order for construction while the boxcar sat on a siding. Sears Catalog Homes How to Identify a Sears Kit House - InspectAPedia I've searched many catalogs with no luck. 12 Shocking Real Estate Facts: FREE Social Media Posts [Download]. I should have known. Rosemary Thornton, whose work is referenced in this document, is a leading expert on Sears catalog homes. We also had help - the home Please use the add image button to post a photo or two of the home - one per comment. My neighbors grandfather helped build my home. I'm in search of the floor plan that goes with this old house that we believe is an old Sears Kit house. 61 proven lead gen ideas from coaches & top-producing agents to help you close more deals. (order #51300) by George and Gorgianna Hasbrook in honor of their golden wedding anniversary. Continue to look for the kit house identification clues discussed above on this page and in this article series. Sears Roebuck company began selling buildings or components of buildings in 1895. So it's probably true that most of these Sears is estimated to have sold about 70,000 of their home building kits from 1908-1940 and it's currently estimated that about 70% of the original Sears homes built from kits are still standing today. That year, the Aladdin Company of Bay City, Michigan, offered the first kit homes through mail order. The following excerpt is from Rosemary Thornton's book cited on this page: In 1915, Sears offered Wood Fiber Wall Board, an early sheetrock-type alternative to lath and plaster. For some of these items, there were options (type of wiring, heating, plumbing fixtures, for example, or upgrades for flooring and trim wood), and any masonry items were purchased through Sears, but obtained through a local supplier, rather than being shipped by Sears. Easily identified by its hanging bay window on the side (which extends up to the roof line) and its distinctive Castleton dormer with 3 windows. On 2022-09-16 If My House Is Not A Kit, Then Where Did It Come From?? two boxcars were needed to ship all of the parts to build a complete home) were brought by wagon to this site in the village of Wappingers Falls, NY. Sears Modern Homes typically arrived with a detailed instruction manual and two boxcars worth of building materials. the trains didn't stop at the homeowner's lot, and let them unload, there, just because their lot happened to have rail lines near it, or behind it. description of this home at 15 N. Remsen, Wappingers Falls, NY. We settled on Vallonia, because of the awning, but the porch and columns are all wrong. @Sara, we'll look through our references to see what we can add to the Sears kit home notes above for those earlier models and will follow up here. However other companies may have both purchased remaining Sears kit house stock or copied Sears designs and continued to sell kit homes While it's absolutely true that Sears Modern Homes house kits were shipped by train, in several box-car loads, by rail, I think that the whole concept of the railroad being part of the story, has been greatly misunderstood. 870,000. 1918. NTL Stacks TH4819.P7M66 1924, Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the. Price: $374,900 Burlington beauty:According to the listing, this catalog home is the Vallonig model. 35 Point St., New Hamburg, NY, a 936 sq.ft. Gunnison pre-fab kit homes. had become more complex, detailed, and demanding, including stricter requirements for electrical wiring and plumbing, and Sears abandoned would a S&R house have had bead board on all walls and ceilings?? We are proud to carry Dutch Housing manufactured & modular homes. Rosemary Thornton's two books Becky Bracken covers celebrity and other notable real estate for Realtor.com. What About The Train's Role In All Of This? Any ideas about the model of this home? Real Estate. The Keystone name has come up before in searching for kit house history and plans, but searching is confounded by current companies using that name. Sears prefab homes still standing in region, across the country In addition to the four-bedroom home, the purchase price includes a workshop, a covered, outdoor entertaining area, an 1894 restored barn with attached two-car garage, a clubhouse, and a horse barn. Thanks. 8/9. 61 proven lead gen ideas from coaches & top-producing agents. Sears Kit Homes: A History - Cotswold-Homes In short, it's a house whose blueprints and building supplies were ordered from a specialty Sears catalog, and all of these supplies were shipped, by rail (primarily), to the homeowner (who either chose to build the house himself, or use a contractor to arrange the construction). That last house in Boulder, Colorado is a perfect example of the 1920s version of the Sears Oakdale, not the Clyde. As I live in this part of St. Louis, I have been inside some of these houses, have spoken to owners of some of these houses, and have been able to notice details, from the exterior, that show elements on the house that are from other companies. In . Beginning in 1929, and not by coincidence, the volume of Sears Catalog houses sold dropped dramatically. For example, Sears sold only, Rose and I have communicated recently about these houses, and she very graciously agreed to update her blog post to reflect that we now know that these are not actually Sears houses, as she is a strong believer in the importance of the accuracy of historic records (. A Sears catalog home fan website, searshomes.org discusses the plaster systems used in older homes, including Sears kit homes. Located on a tree-lined street in a lovely, mature neighborhood, the property has had the same owner for 25 years. The original 1926 Sears & Roebuck label identifying the house at 115 Belleclaire Avenue in Longmeadow as a Sears kit house. These type of details in addition to what we've noted in our earlier response may help with identification. The Ohio bungalow as it looks today. Year Built: 1902 Listing Agent: Wally Kerr Listing Brokerage: Kerr Team Real Estate, Admittedly, this next listing gave us a fun puzzle to solve while we were trying to figure out its provenance. Apartment in Munich, Upper Bavaria. Michael bungalow ordered in 1926 for $1000. ). Because kit homes made wide use of already-popular house styles you cannot be sure of a kit status from the photo alone. After 1940: However some homes could have been purchased around 1939 or 1940 but not completed until several years later, depending A highly modified Sunbeam model Sears Modern (we think) this house also had a tasteful, adult hip renovation that looks like a Southern Home spread brought to life. Possibly built in 1923. Built in 1930, and the grandson of the original owner/builder told us it was a Sears house. Number 29. I have included an image of it. @George, Description. The materials were reportedly shipped in via railroad as a package. A Sears house is: every Craftsman, bungalow, or Dutch Colonial style house you come across (though Sears did offer many Craftsman, bungalow, English cottage, Dutch Colonial, and Colonial style houses as did every other house company), a house built after 1942 (or before 1908), the only brand of kit house that existed (other companies include Gordon-Van Tine, Aladdin Homes, Bennett Homes, Wardway homes, and others), The answer to this question can be found on. Lake Worth, Florida. Asking: $2,395,000 Sears Modern Homes Model: Wabash Year Built: 1913 Listing Agent: Hartman Cole Real Estate Listing Brokerage: Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Venice, In the non-conformist boomer paradise of Venice, California, we stumbled across this jaw dropping and lovingly renovated Wabash model Sears Catalog home. Small Prefab Homes: 'The Best-Kept Secret in America'? Download Our Free E-book. Also note how the large shed dormer comes off the ridge of the roof. On 2022-01-23 The oiled wood mouldings and built-ins look like they were designed yesterday and probably look even nicer in person. Thornton also suggests that inspectors check for identifying marks at plumbing access panels where you may find marks on wall studs in the bath wall cavity. Outdoors, a large deck in the backyard offers an ideal spot for warm-weather entertaining. Take a look at the kit house identification clues discussed above on this page and in this article series. Edith, 74, told the newspaper: I do have the original receipt, but it does not list the name of the company. Examples have also been found in Alaska. While Sears no longer has records of where each of the nearly 75,000. In 1908, when Sears began selling homes by mail, one-fifth of the country subscribed, according to a 99 Percent Invisible podcast about the program. the identification of Sears Catalog or Kit homes and including references to other expert books and resources on Both sections span from 1886 to today. NTL Stacks TH4819.P7R42 1915, Robinson's Money-Saving Mill-Made Cut-To-Fit Houses. NTL Stacks: NA8480.N6, Aladdin Houses. The clues you already have seem to indicate that it may very well be the Elsmore model - age, interior and exterior designs, and 'provenance' confirmation from previous owner. Stamps on millwork or labels from "Norwood Sash and Door" (maybe) indicate Sears suppliers. Realtors love to include Sears in their listing of old houses but many of those are incorrectly identified including the others that are on your list. Here are some tips for how to make this career choice work for you. Ohio and Illinois are still leading, though, with 2700+ and 2300+, respectively. Do look carefully for a stencil marks and do look at some of the hardware details that we give in the articles that I recommended to you. No matter where the depot was, to which the kit was delivered, homeowners found a way to haul the materials to their lot. Each house has a link that you can click on, that takes you to a resource to see the house (blog post, real estate listing, or Google map). Great finda Sears "Magnolia" in Canton, Ohio, and its catalog listing. The homes were sold through the Sears Roebuck catalog from 1908 to 1940. It was also built in 1902, and Sears didnt start selling homes from their catalog until 1908. What seems likely here is that the original structure might have been modified after 1908 with heavily modified plans from a Sears Modern. Greater Portland Landmarks - Blog There are two truths to understand about Sears kit houses: 1) They are actually pretty rare, making up only about 2% of the homes constructed during their era, So, if you come upon a neighborhood full of wonderful bungalows, or full of Craftsman-style houses, or full of Dutch Colonials, dont jump to the conclusion that they are Sears houses (some people, weve noticed, confuse the name of the Sears tool line , with the architectural style by that name, and think that a Craftsman style house is what we mean when we say. Thank you for the resources. Scroll down to the section with that title, to learn more about plans-only companies. Fiberboard could be used as a plaster base or painted, or simply left in its tan-brown color. As you've indicated, you already have some helpful information from your home. Are there old catalogs we can view to know whether this is a Sears Kit home? Their best wall product was Goodwall Sheet Plaster, which was plaster encased in layers of heavy cardboard. Price: $179,900 Historic house:Built in 1911, this Sears home sits on a large, corner lot in a historic district, surrounded by antebellum homes. now, this woman was the head of facilities for the company and knew her stuff, but looking at the . You will want to look for additional key details such as those given above on this page. match, interior hardware, and stencil marks make the identification of this home as a Sears catalog house quite clear. There . by Sears & Roebuck in 1908, and eventually Sears offered 370 different models of residential homes, ranging from small bungalows 1917. Kit and Plan Homes by Bungalow Man. Sears Catalog Homes - Then & Now | The Michels Group List of kit home catalogs available at National Trust Library: Log Cabins. A consummate salesman, Ford even joked that the Model T was available in any color his customers wanted, as long as it was black. Sears, Roebuck and Co. sold about 100,000 kit houses from catalogs between 1908 and 1942. As you've indicated, you already have some helpful information from your home. Located in the desirable Converse Heights neighborhood, the home greets visitors with a large front porch. 2 Additions later and its still standing. Other details can include finding specific stamps, lumber marks, or hardware in your particular house that confirm it as a particular company's kit home and also paging through the kit home catalogs we list to match that roof design and entry porch, for example. It helps to narrow that search through Sears home catalogs if you can find the year that your home was constructed. Build a house from a Sears kit? Longmeadow is home to early 20th Sears estimated that the average carpenter would charge $450 to . It helps to narrow that search through Sears home catalogs if you can find the year that your home was constructed. 2. That's because, unfortunately, just finding a house in a catalog that looks like your home does not mean yours is a Sears kit. Located in Cairo Illinois, the largest of these mills covered nearly 40 acres, and the sheer variety of homes it shipped out was staggering. Many original featuresincluding built-in cabinets and hardwood floorshave been maintained and add heaps of character to the four-bedroom home. In Alabama, dozens of historic homes are rumored to be kit houses but only a small percentage have been certified as . by Adrian McCullough, @Inspectapedia Com Moderator, Look for additional clues besides lumber stamping, such as hardware, windows, etc. Thank you so much. after 1940. The Sears Modern Homes catalog from 1930. Sears Houses In the U.S. Sears kit homes were popular in the earlier part of the 20th century. Are you able to tell me the model name is of the kit? Aladdin Homes. The best place to start would be see Sears Catalog Homes We Love - Bob Vila Price: $629,000 Charming cottage:Sitting smack dab in the historic district of Pinehurst, this home was assembled from a Sears kit in 1929 on one of the largest lots in the area. a complete school or office building. The best place to start would be see That was the way our American towns were built. They put out a catalog offering dozens of styles of homes you could have delivered right to your future doorstep.. When most people think of Sears catalog homes, they imagine Cape Cods or Craftsman style bungalows with columned porches. Ready Built House Company, Portland, Oregon. 1931. Details on the first floor indicate original to 1925 as the deed says. A handful of Sears homes have been identified in Canada. Included in the overall purchase, were all elements needed for the house, from lumber to roofing; wiring and plumbing; windows and door knobs, and hinges and nails and screws; staircases and all of their parts, pre-mitered; flooring, bath tubs and sinks and faucets; kitchen cabinets and ironing boards; window screens, window shades, and light fixtures. Post a photo of what you find. The Aladdin Company, Bay City, Michigan. The backyard is great for entertaining, and the Florida climate allows for the space to be . She explains that often a specific @inspectapedia.com.moderator, Let us know in the comments! St. Louis is home to a small neighborhood of pre-fab kit homes made by the Gunnison homes company, in 1949. @Dee, and of course cited at "References" below. Do you know the city and state? Since 1971 Sears Mfg. Kit Houses from Sears, Roebuck - Old House Journal Magazine NTL FOLIO TH4819.P7S435 1920, A Plan Book of Harris Homes. The Crescent in Des Plaines is correctly identified. - Stacey Vairo et als, HISTORIC AND ARCHITECTURAL RESOURCES INVENTORY FOR THE TOWN OF WILTON, CONNECTICUT [PDF] (2018) Wilton Historical Society, http://wiltonhistorical.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/2018-Survey-Narrative.pdf also available at 1935. If the house at 35 Point St., New Hamburg, NY, was "shipped by Gordon Van Tine" It is more likely a Montgomery Ward "Wardway" structure, or perhaps one of the Van Tine company's own. Sears Homes 1908-1914 Sears kit homes were shipped via boxcar and came with a 75-page instruction book. Thanks!! I would love to get more information about the Sears Roebuck Home I have recently purchased in Fresno, CA. Sears Modern Homes were purchased primarily by customers in East Coast and Midwest states, but have been located as far south as Florida, as far west as .