THE HISTORY OF SEARS HOUSES
Sears houses could be ordered through Sears catalogs from 1908 to 1940. According to Sears Archives, 70,000 to 75,000 homes were built in the United States in that period with more than 445 different designs. Heating equipment, plumbing and lighting fixtures could be ordered separately.
They were called Sears Modern Homes and came in three lines:
• Honor Bilt: Sturdy homes made for four-season living, they had cypress siding, knotfree flooring and complete inside trim.
• Standard Built: Meant for warmer climates, these homes did not retain heat well.
• Simplex: Designed primarily as summer cottages, they came with a basic plan that buyers could customize.
Sears houses were also known as kit houses because they arrived as 10,000 to 30,000 pieces with a 75-page assembly book. The parts of the average house weighed about 25 tons and came in a boxcar. The invention of plasterboard and asphalt shingles allowed customers to do much of the work themselves, and some homes were built with the help of neighbors “barn-raising” style.
Designs ranged from simple to elaborate, and styles included Colonial, American Foursquare, Mission, Tudor, ranch and stone or shingle cottages. “The Magnolia” was a 10-room plantation-style Colonial home that sold from 1918 to 1922 for $6,500, which equals about $110,000 today. There are only six still standing, and several have been listed as historic landmarks.
Most Sears houses ranged in price from several hundred dollars to $3,500. Sears also provided financing, if needed.
To learn more, go to www.searsarchives.com.