Bear in mind the great ol’ days when you might flip by the thick Sears Roebuck catalog and have any one of many over 100,000 gadgets delivered straight to the doorstep? Oh, the thrill of seeing that hefty four-pound catalog arriving within the mail! One of the vital fascinating gadgets out there for buy had been the Sears Package Properties. Are you able to consider it was as soon as doable to order a whole home by the mail?
The thought of promoting these package houses happened in 1906 when Frank Kushel urged the corporate promote kits for constructing homes as a substitute of simply constructing provides. So, in 1908, Sears took a leap of religion and launched their most daring product line ever: homes! The Sears Trendy Properties catalog was born, providing all of the supplies and blueprints wanted to construct a home. These kits had been shipped to anybody with the money and a catalog subscription – which, on the time, was about one-fifth of the nation!
Within the first yr, Sears offered only one mannequin, the 8-room bungalow type home aptly named Mannequin 125. By 1918, the corporate had expanded to tons of of fashions, transferring from a numbering system to named fashions, lots of which seemed like cozy small cities. A number of the in style fashions included the Argyle, Avondale, Ellsmore, Maplewood, and Magnolia. From pocket-sized English cottages to three-story, five-bedroom mansions, there was a house to suit any household’s wants and funds.
Now think about the anticipation when the package arrived by railroad on the native station! These kits contained every little thing wanted for a brand new dwelling – pre-cut lumber, siding and shingles, home windows and doorways, nails, paint, and even the constructing plans. Owners may additionally select so as to add a storage, plumbing, or electrical energy for a further charge. About 50% of those houses had been constructed by the householders themselves, with beneficiant assist from household, mates, and neighbors. The opposite half had been constructed professionally.
The Sears Package Dwelling program in the end resulted in 1940, however throughout its time, it offered round 100,000 customized houses. These homes proved that houses could possibly be standardized, reasonably priced, enticing, and well-built. It’s mentioned that many of those homes nonetheless survive in the present day in various circumstances and unique appearances.
So, if you happen to’re within the temper for a stroll down reminiscence lane, watch this video on constructing your personal Sears Package Dwelling. See if you happen to can spot one among these iconic houses in your personal neighborhood. And, after all, bear in mind to love and share the video with others as a result of it’s such a pleasant reminder of a less complicated time in American historical past.
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