Sears Homes were kit homes that were sold right out of the pages of the Sears Roebuck catalog in the early 1900s. More than 370 designs of kit homes were offered – everything ranging from Arts and Crafts bungalows to foursquares to Colonial Revivals. These homes came in 30,000-piece kits and were shipped to all 48 states. Sears promised that a man of average abilities could have these homes assembled in about 90 days.
Today, the only way to find these kit homes is literally one by one. And that’s what I do. When I decided that Sears Homes would be my career, I endeavored to memorize each of those 370 designs of Sears Homes. Now I can drive the streets of small town America and find the Sears Homes – one by one.
Not surprisingly, the Midwest has an amazing collection of Sears Homes in particular and kit homes in general. Below are a few pictures of the kit homes I’ve found during my travels in the Midwest.
In addition to Sears, there were other companies that sold kit homes, including Aladdin, Gordon Van Tine, Montgomery Ward, Harris Brothers and more.
To read about the Sears Homes in Carlinville, click here.
To buy Rose’s book, click here.
If you’ve enjoyed the link, please give me a tweet, or share on Facebook! 🙂
The Sears Ivanhoe was one of their most magnificent homes.
And here it is, in Elmhurst, Illinois
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The Bandon was not a popular house for Sears.
The only "Bandon" I've ever seen was in Pulaski, Illinois (near Cairo, at the southern most end of Illinois). This Bandon is a perfect match to the catalog picture.
The Sears Sherburne was not a very popular house, but it was a beauty!
Close-up of the catalog image
Sears Sherburne in Decatur, IL
Sears Willard, as seen in a 1928 promotional ad
Sears Willard in Peoria, Illinois
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A pre-WW1 Sears Home: Modern Home #264P202
The Sears #264P202 in the flesh. This house is in Okawville, IL
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From the Sears Modern Homes catalog, here's the Sears Glendale
Sears Glendale in Cairo, Illinois
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Sears Gladstone from the Modern Homes catalog
A Sears Gladstone in Carbondale, Illinois
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Sears Fullerton
This Fullerton is in Aurora, Illinois
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The Alhambra was a very popular model for Sears
An Alhambra in Casey, Illinois
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The Sears Argyle was also a very popular house for Sears
Here's a Sears Argyle in New Baden, Illinois.
Below is a perfect little Crescent in Bloomington, Illinois. Every detail is perfect!
To buy Rose’s book, click here.
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handsonhistoryon August 14, 2010 at 6:07 AM
RT @rosethornil The Amazing Collection of Sears Homes in the Midwest http://bit.ly/b3HGCY #architecture #history
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Peckdrywallon August 15, 2010 at 11:06 AM
Wow!Those were the day’s RT @rosethornil The Amazing Collection of Sears Homes in the Midwest http://bit.ly/b3HGCY #architecture #history
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
studioloraineon August 15, 2010 at 11:20 AM
RT @PeckDrywall @rosethornil The Amazing Collection of Sears Homes in the Midwest http://bit.ly/b3HGCY #architecture #history
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
studioloraineon August 15, 2010 at 11:20 AM
RT @PeckDrywall @rosethornil The Amazing Collection of Sears Homes in the Midwest http://bit.ly/b3HGCY #architecture #history
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
RayBeckermanon August 15, 2010 at 1:15 PM
RT @studioloraine @PeckDrywall @rosethornil The Amazing Collection of Sears Homes in the Midwest http://bit.ly/b3HGCY #architecture #history
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Kate Jordanon August 27, 2010 at 8:57 AM
Hi,
The photo of first house on your list, the Sears Sherburne, is not in Peoria. It’s our house on Cobb Aveunue in Decatur, IL. It is fun to see the elevation & floorplan drawings, which are remarkably like our house. The upstairs layout is exactly the same. The downstairs has a tiny bathroom where the pantry was & the refrigerator blocks where the hallway enters the kitchen. When we bought the house 3 1/2 years ago, we thought it was too old to be a Sears home, but now we think it just may be one. We were told that it was built in 1908, which I was reading was the very beginning of Sears Homes? But we think it may be a bit newer than that. How can we tell for sure if it is a Sears home?
Kate Jordan
Jan H.on September 21, 2010 at 10:42 PM
@Kate Jordan
Kate,If you read one of Rose’s books she tells you in detail ways you can help identify if your home truly is a Sears kit home. Amazon also has some wonderful books on Sears homes that you can order. I must tell you that if that is your home in the picture, it probably is without a doubt a Sears kit home. Please investigate this further and confirm what you already suspect about your house. To me these homes are national treasures that need to be preserved. Good luck with your search!
Sears Homeson January 15, 2011 at 1:09 PM
@Kate Jordan
Thanks for your note!I’ve made the corrections to the caption. And Jan H. is right. Your house is most certainly a Sears Home. 🙂
Rose Thornton,
author, The Houses That Sears BuiltKeith Brandauon January 27, 2011 at 1:17 PM
There is an AMAZING number of Sears homes in Champaign, IL. My first home, and my current home, are both Fullertons, although they are mirror imaged.
Champaign is south of Chicago right on the railroad line, so it’s likely that it was an easy place to ship these beauties. I can walk through my neighborhood and lose count of the number and different styles of Sears homes.
If you haven’t been here to look, it would be a worthwhile trip for you.
Sears Homeson January 27, 2011 at 1:47 PM
Hi Keith,
My newest book “The Sears Homes of Illinois” features SEVERAL Sears Homes in Champaign, including the Sears Fullerton. Maybe your house is in my book? 🙂
Rose
doug uon February 21, 2011 at 9:36 PM
This is a terrific read. I am a charlotte nc remodeling contractor and really fell in love with the Sears bungalows as a kid. My company Room 2 Roof loves the challenge of an old foursquare or craftsman bungalow remodel. Its too bad so many of these homes are in Bad neighborhoods. On the bright-side Charlotte north Carolina is really coming up as a city and little by little I see these neighborhoods being revitalized and I always try to advertise in those areas to pick up more of these beautiful works of art to remodel them properly and return them to the period from whence they came.
Margaret Thurstonon February 24, 2011 at 4:50 PM
My grandparents, Lafayette and Eva LuElla Carpenter, built a Sears house in Crouse, NC (between Lincolnton and Cherryville) in early 1900s.
Henry Baxleyon September 28, 2011 at 5:00 PM
I think my Sears home is a”Excelsior”. Have you heard of that? It is a rambler , 4 bedrooms, 2 bath, large living room, large dining room and an eat in kitchen. It has 3 fireplaces. It was built in Hume, Virginia in 1938.
sarahon January 31, 2013 at 1:35 AM
Hi, we found the Avondale in Greeley Colorado. It has been abandoned, and is in bad shape. Would like to get some information on how to save it,any ideas?
Martia Grahamon February 14, 2013 at 2:11 AM
I was told that my mother-in-laws home that she grew up in was a Sears home. It is one story 3 bedrooms 1 bath front living room, kitchen and back porch. It has a circular porch that runs half way around the house.
I understood that it was supposed to have been in the back of the house and they didn’t like that so they put it on the front of it.
This house is north of Rigby, which is north of Idaho Falls, Idaho.
It has the old dark brown molding around the top of the ceiling and wooden floors. It is a grand old house and was built around 1910 or so.
Martia Graham
Brian Bartonon November 10, 2013 at 10:19 PM
I live in a Sears kit home in Missouri. It’s a “Castleton” (model 227).
Laura (So Ca)on November 14, 2013 at 6:56 PM
Brian,
Sears archives is a website you need to know about.
http://www.searsarchives.com/homes/enthusiasts.jspYou may want to register there. And congrats!
Julianon February 25, 2015 at 5:58 PM
My grandparents lived in the Casey, IL. home with 13 kids.
Kristion September 15, 2015 at 7:58 AM
In regards to the “Brandon” that you said was not popular as you had only seen one: They are very popular in the south.
I live in Alabama and there are probably 10-15 of them in this area alone.
Sears Homeson September 16, 2015 at 8:42 AM
Hi Kristi,
I’m sure that the housing style (“Craftsman Bungalow”) is ubiquitous in Alabama, but if you have a Bandon in that area, I’d be pretty well shocked!
Please send me photo or an address of one of your suspected Bandons. That particular model has a lot of distinctive features, so it’ll be easy to identify!
Rosemary
steveon July 13, 2017 at 7:26 PM
There’s a Bandon in Forest, Ohio, beside the park. It’s very cute.
Terryon September 7, 2018 at 10:11 PM
I grew up next door to a Sears house, my best friend lived there. In the attic you could see the marks showing where the ceiling rafters went. I don’t see it here. It’s in Philadelphia, Pa.
Angelaon January 30, 2019 at 9:26 AM
Hello Rosemary!
For years I have enjoyed your dedication to all things about Sears Homes. Some of our family worked at Sears and everything I had came from there, except, regrettably, our house.
If we could have had one at the time, I’m sure IT would have come from Sears. But it WAS a bungalow.
I would like to meet you if you are ever near the St. Charles, IL area.
I think we may have a friend in common, Tom Krebsbach. I also would like to know what you have planned for your next chapter. I’m sure it would be interesting!
My favorite house is the Ashmore, what I think is the absolute Cadillac of super bungalows.
I know not many were built; my husband and I saw the outside of the one in Minneapolis.
I sat on the stairs and my husband took a picture. One of the best days I have ever spent. If we become lottery winners, we vow to build one, original to the plan.
Thank you for all the info and Sears Home joy!
Angela C
