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Instead of a traditional dormer, it has a peak-a-boo look to it. Perhaps this was the pre-curser to the distinctive Alhambra model that I believe came out in the early 1920s. This largest defining characteristic of this specious Foursquare Sears house kit is the indented porch at the rear of the house. This is reportedly one of the Sears Homes built in the country! Built by Dr. Malone in Capleville, Tennessee, who wrote a glowing review to Sears and enclosed a few old photos of the house you can view here.
thoughts on “The History of Sears Kit Homes”
However, this Sears Foursquare house plan had a few more bells, with a triple-paned dormer, double-windows on the second floor front bedrooms, and a triple-window in the livingroom. Based on research by various kit house hunters, the Cornell was one of the most popular Sears kit, especially for those customers who wanted value for their dollar. Perhaps it was popular due to the two options given for the second floor. The Alhambra was a very distinctive Sears Foursquare kit house with its exterior mission-style details. It seemed to be a very popular style and found in several years of catalogs.
Riverside’s old Sears should not be demolished, residents urge - The Press-Enterprise
Riverside’s old Sears should not be demolished, residents urge.
Posted: Sun, 04 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Architectural Styles
As might be expected, there is a hope among many old house owners that theirs could be a Sears kit. According to the information on Aladdin kit houses, it's estimated that between 1908 and 1981, there were 70,000 Aladdin homes manufactured. Sears, in the kit house business for just over 30 years, sold 70-75,000 according to the Sears Archives.
Top 5 Green Building Trends for Real Estate
Precut framing timbers, an innovation pioneered by Aladdin, were first offered by Sears in 1916. Precut lumber was cut to the appropriate lengths and angles based on where the framing timber would be used in the house. The ability to mass-produce the materials used in Sears homes reduced manufacturing costs, which allowed Sears to pass along the savings in lower prices for customers. Many included the latest technology available to house buyers in the early part of the twentieth century, such as central heating, indoor plumbing, and electricity. I am very pleased to have, this year, several photos of Sears houses all decorated and lighted up for Christmas time.
All house plans and images on The House Designers® websites are protected under Federal and International Copyright Law. Reproductions of the illustrations or working drawings by any means is strictly prohibited. No part of this electronic publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form by any means without prior written permission of The House Designers®, LLC. Old Portland Style, the Sears Family Plan has modern amenities, energy code and construction techniques.
Bed & Bath Options
This spacious and desirable house plan has all the class and comfort you could ever ask for in an infill lot. The Woodland was shown in the 1916 Sears Modern Home catalog as Modern Home No. 264B179. It's a very handsome "artistic" foursquare with its clustered columns and distinctive windows that flank both sides of the front door. For interior shots of this plan, check out one owner's collection on Flickr. The Rockford house plan called for a brick exterior, including a “porch trellis for climbing plants”.
The stylish design of Sears Catalog House Plans was one of the reasons for their success. Homeowners could choose from a variety of different styles and plans, so they could find a home that fit their taste and needs. The quality construction of Sears Catalog House Plans is one of the reasons why so many of these homes are still standing today. These homes are a testament to the skill and craftsmanship of the people who built them. Owning a home where you can unwind and relax can be one of life’s most rewarding experiences.
Vintage Mail Order Houses That Came from Sears Catalogs, 1910s-1940s
I didn’t find The Albion in too many catalogs, so I assume it had a short run and wasn’t overly popular. This Sears Foursquare is a bit plainer than the last one, with no dormer, and single windows. But still charming with the overhang over the side door and moon-detailed shutters on the front windows. Other highlights of this Sears house plain include a red or greenish-gray slate roof with a 15-year warranty with shingles that “never need stain or preservative of any kind”.
Further reading
Personally, I think this Foursquare Sears kit house is a beauty. I love the unique staircase window that juts out between the first and second floors. The chair-rail style that divides the first and second floors. If interested in more information about kit houses, check out the Additional Resources section at the end of this post.
But homeownership can also be challenging and stressful, especially with old houses. If you want to get into the nitty-gritty, read this amazing post from Sears House Seeker that dives deep into the differences between these two models and even provides photos of a model in McKeesport, PA. The Langston and Gladstone were two of Sears most popular models, according to Kit House Hunters. The Langston was offered first, from the late 1910s to the early 1920s. Then switched to Gladstone from the 1920s through at least the late 1930s. This fancy Foursquare has a different take on the attic dormer window.
However, the floor plan on the first floor documents a combining of the hall and parlor into one large living room. At first glance, this house doesn’t appear to have the distinct American Foursquare look. BUT I decided to include it anyway because it possesses some of the defining characteristics of a Foursquare – the box-shape, hip-shaped roof, and four-room over four-room floor plan. In the late 1910s this model was modified (note the change in the dormer windows) and renamed to The Hamilton. Sears Modern Homes built in the 1930s may have a small circled “SR” cast into the bathtub in the lower corner (furthest from the tub spout and near the floor) and on the underside of the kitchen or bathroom sink.