The Mr. Local History Project received a request and we love the idea. We’re going to try to find as many Sears Roebuck houses we can help authenticate in the Somerset Hills and Somerset County, New Jersey. Don’t know what a Sears Roebuck house is? Join us as we begin cataloging Sears Roebuck houses, also known as “kit homes” in the Somerset Hills. If you have a Sears Roebuck home, we’d like to hear from you!
Have a House to Share on the Map?
Do you live in a Sears Roebuck house? Drop us a quick note with your information and we’ll see if we can get you added to the map.
Get on the map! If you have a Sears kit house or think you do, get on the New Jersey list. Send in your name.
Background
Sears houses are celebrated and sought out as models of the early 20th century American home, and for good reason. Between 1908 and 1939, Sears sold 70-75,000 houses in 447 different styles all over the country. “From Craftsman to Cape Cods, they offered a custom home at budgets and sizes that could accommodate any size family,” writes Popular Mechanics.
What’s even more extraordinary is that 50% of these were built by the homeowners themselves, usually, as in a barn-raising, with the generous help of family, friends, and neighbors. The other half sold were built professionally. “Often,” writes Messy Nessy, “local builders and carpentry companies purchased homes from Sears to build as model homes and market their services to potential customers.”
The Kit Home Continues Today
Kit homes are growing AGAIN in popularity. Take a look at a few ideas to drop down a prebuilt home quickly and inexpensively. See how they’ve evolved.
Thinking of a backyard “she-shed” or home for the folks? This model is called the “Container Home”.
Additional Information
- Sears catalog homes over the years
- Kit House Hunters Blog
- Do you live in a Sears Roebuck house? Find out how to tell.
- The Sears Archive (abandoned)
