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What Happened to Sears Catalog Houses?

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
  • Go to www.hometitlel... and use promo code itshistory to get a 30-day FREE trial of Triple Lock Protection and a FREE title history report! #hometitlelock #triplelockprotection #titletheft #titlefraud #deedfraud #mortgagefraud #housestealing #preventhousestealing
    Sears Catalog Homes, sold between 1908 and 1940, were revolutionary in American homebuilding. These kit homes were ordered from the Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalog and shipped by train to buyers across the U.S., complete with pre-cut materials and instructions. Offering over 400 designs at affordable prices, they allowed middle-class families to achieve homeownership during a time of rapid urbanization and economic growth. However, the Great Depression and World War II eventually led to their decline, as Sears exited the home-building business. Today, these homes are nostalgic symbols of early 20th-century innovation, though many have deteriorated or disappeared over time.
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ความคิดเห็น • 811

  • @ITSHISTORY
    @ITSHISTORY  22 วันที่ผ่านมา +20

    Go to www.hometitlelock.com/itshistory and use promo code itshistory to get a 30-day FREE trial of Triple Lock Protection and a FREE title history report! #hometitlelock #triplelockprotection #titletheft #titlefraud #deedfraud #mortgagefraud #housestealing #preventhousestealing

    • @tupidcrashtestdummy
      @tupidcrashtestdummy 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +4

      @@ITSHISTORY your videos would be a lot better if you didn't have infomercial breaks every 15 seconds

    • @pseudokowski
      @pseudokowski 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      @itshistory You are full of SHIT! Sears houses are sought after and people pay alot for them. The materials were superior quality and will still outlast any crap house built nowadays.

    • @CAROLDDISCOVER-2025
      @CAROLDDISCOVER-2025 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

      I've seen many Sears houses that are standing over 100 years later

    • @ryanhays4326
      @ryanhays4326 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

      @ITSHISTORY
      I have a original sears catalog from 1909. Been in my family since my great grandmother came to Florida to homestead!

    • @dgonthehill
      @dgonthehill 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      wow I remember those catalog wish books or for christmas lists

  • @Helenahandbasket1971
    @Helenahandbasket1971 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +708

    My grandparents bought one in the early 1920s, my dad was born there in 1925, he was 4th out of 9. My cousin still lives in it. She had to redo the plumbing and electrical but the building is on perfect condition. It's on the list of authentic catalog homes. My grandmother saved the catalog she chose it from, and all the paperwork in her filing cabinet. It's a cool piece of our family history.

    • @pseudokowski
      @pseudokowski 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +42

      This channel is clueless Sears catalog homes are above and beyond the quality you'll ever find in any new build.

    • @davidcenteau-depina6192
      @davidcenteau-depina6192 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +42

      @@pseudokowski One of our regular customers has a Sears home. It's built like a fall out shelter. The framing is massive. The roof and ceiling structure were built with 4x4 lumber. Not sure if that was normal but that house is rock solid.

    • @KellyMay-b9b
      @KellyMay-b9b 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +10

      @@Helenahandbasket1971 that would be cool to get a large frame and have all that put in it and display it.
      Seriously, I love history like you shared. Generational homelands...

    • @peggypasson8794
      @peggypasson8794 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +4

      Neat ! ❤

    • @Helenahandbasket1971
      @Helenahandbasket1971 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +7

      @@KellyMay-b9b oh that's a great idea. I'll tell my cousin.

  • @raymond_sycamore
    @raymond_sycamore 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +626

    Many of those Sears houses are still standing today! Depending on location some worth as much as a million. Good, long lasting sturdy construction and techniques by well trained lifelong tradesmen artisans. I love Sears Homes!

    • @ExtendedJet8
      @ExtendedJet8 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +27

      @@raymond_sycamore I don't think mine is a Sears house (though there are several of those in my neighborhood) but I've definitely got a Sears staircase, rail, and newel.

    • @Black_Wolf_XY
      @Black_Wolf_XY 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      @@raymond_sycamore Nice to see you here. Looks like the algo fed this one to both of us.

    • @raymond_sycamore
      @raymond_sycamore 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      @ Oh yeah I've been subscribed for many years to this channel. Good to see you.

    • @michaelstanick
      @michaelstanick 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +7

      Half of Akron Ohio is sears homes

    • @gregpendrey6711
      @gregpendrey6711 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      They are all standing sans normal catastrophe.

  • @monwell27
    @monwell27 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +430

    Sitting in a sears home currently. I remember sitting in my American architecture class looking at my floor plan when I realized I live in a sears home.

    • @jeffplunkett7994
      @jeffplunkett7994 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +16

      @@monwell27 you should do a video would like to see what it looks like

    • @jdwyer4851
      @jdwyer4851 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +21

      I worked in one in West Hampton back in the early 90's. Other than being converted into an office, it seemed really nice. I don't see why kit homes wouldn't work today other than crazy building codes and permitting. The fact we have become a nation of Door Dash customers who are too lazy to even make our own dinner might explain a lot too.

    • @mkultra2393
      @mkultra2393 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +6

      @@monwell27 do you know which one you have? I live in a Saratoga.

    • @monwell27
      @monwell27 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +4

      I live in a modified Fullerton. They flipped the plans so my stairs are on the left as you enter the front door instead of the right. At least according to the plans I found at least.

    • @DanlowMusic
      @DanlowMusic 19 วันที่ผ่านมา

      ​@@monwell27I worked in a development as an electrical apprentice, in 08', and the floor plans were only 4 different ones, they just flipped them to make them look different.

  • @FoulOwl2112
    @FoulOwl2112 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +252

    I currently live in a 1930s Sears house. Of course it's been fully renovated and remodeled over the years. But the core of it is still good old Sears and Roebuck.
    It's a wonderful home. I love it.

    • @twillison8824
      @twillison8824 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +7

      My kit home is from 1905 and nearly all original. I hope they didn't mess it up too much with the renovations.

    • @tammygrant5198
      @tammygrant5198 20 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Dcq

    • @ralphnewcomejr
      @ralphnewcomejr 18 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      @@FoulOwl2112 Back when a business made QUALITY products for customers they CARED about...👍

  • @melissawriglesworth7123
    @melissawriglesworth7123 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +81

    My husband and I own a Sears house. We didn't know it at the time. The neighbor lady across the street told me her dad had it delivered by train. They used it as a summer home. Her twin brothers were born in the house. I had never heard about kit houses before. I enjoyed hearing about the history of our first home.

  • @Lulu_7x0
    @Lulu_7x0 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +61

    My parents live in a Sears catalog house from 1918. It is very well-built and still has most of the original moulding, fixtures, and hardware. They plan to downsize in a few years, and my hope is that the next owners leave these details untouched!

  • @Tiffaniisme
    @Tiffaniisme 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +43

    I have a friend who owns one of these homes!! She remodeled it but turned it back as close to “original” as possible. Even the sinks, furniture, etc is very much age appropriate to the home. It’s absolutely beautiful

  • @paulcondie2520
    @paulcondie2520 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +136

    My first house was right out of the Sears catalog! I bought after the original owner had passed. I bought it in 1991 from what I was told she bought it in 1930, a cape cod. Before I remodeled the kitchen, you opened up a cupboard and out popped an ironing board! Was pretty cool, should of left it there! Lol

    • @Helladamnleet
      @Helladamnleet 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +13

      It's kind of wild to think about how many renovations done over the years have been looked back on with regret when the people realized the history was more interesting than the modern look.

    • @paulcondie2520
      @paulcondie2520 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      @@Helladamnleet absolutely. For me it was a space issue, I removed a wall to make an open living space and the fold out ironing board was in the wall to be moved. I guess I could've reinstalled it

    • @wandapease-gi8yo
      @wandapease-gi8yo 11 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

      Yes! You should have left it! I use mine for a quick ironing job, or as an extra flat surface for big cooking events like Thanksgiving.

    • @paulcondie2520
      @paulcondie2520 11 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @wandapease-gi8yo 😁

  • @jonwhisler6967
    @jonwhisler6967 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +78

    i used to love getting the christmas wish book . we used to circle everything we wanted so our parents could shop for us

    • @thisisit5150
      @thisisit5150 19 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@jonwhisler6967 this year's Christmas catalogs in the 70s 80s and 90s we're amazing. Great memories. I used to circle everything I wanted too

  • @SuperMickey57
    @SuperMickey57 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +96

    I always enjoy your presentations!
    My great-grandparents built a small Sears kit home on their rural farm, my grandma remembers the guy they hired to deliver it from the railroad depot only had a flatbed truck, and would drop off a load, have lunch with the family, and drive back every day for a week.

    • @emilyr3451
      @emilyr3451 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +6

      Wonderful story!

    • @cmaden78
      @cmaden78 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +4

      More ppl should be hospitable to those visiting your home. Some still are. It just makes everyone's day better. It's a relationship you have to be in( those who service your home) why not make it a good one. The world can be a good place. We just all have to do our part.❤😊

    • @SuperMickey57
      @SuperMickey57 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

      @@cmaden78 I agree, I guess I carry on her tradition as I always offer refreshments to the people I hire to work on my house, show up with a box of kolaches when I drop my car off for service, etc. People in general need to be nicer these days, too much me, me, me in our society, when the truth is, it's all about all of Us.

  • @monav4062
    @monav4062 18 วันที่ผ่านมา +29

    I grew up in the south (Texas being my home state) and a lot of these houses still exist. My aunt owns two of them! These were bought by the dozens all across the South and towns people would come together to help put them up.
    Whenever I travel in the South, I've gotten pretty good at recognizing them -- they are the gems of America and were a part of the American dream of becoming a 'homeowner'.

  • @Rebeccas_penmanship
    @Rebeccas_penmanship 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +81

    I grew up in one of these, my grandfather put it together 100% on his own. That was 60 years ago, my mother still lives there, and it's fine! He built the house next door the same way, even earlier, and it still looks beautiful too! He was a special man❤

  • @WhiteTrashMotorsports
    @WhiteTrashMotorsports 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +124

    If Sears would have only digitized the catalog at the birth of the internet they would be what Amazon is today. What a tragedy they already had the distribution set up for online retail.

    • @williamhaynes7089
      @williamhaynes7089 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +25

      they dropped the catalog about 9 years before amazon was starting to make it work .. they should have jumped back in to mail/internet sales

    • @catpaladin1
      @catpaladin1 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +24

      I believe the biggest downfall for Sears was the Eddie Lambert years. He jumped the shark and wrecked it and KMart at the same time.

    • @wtmayhew
      @wtmayhew 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +13

      The downfall of a Sears really is an epic business stumble. It was the Sears / K-mart merger, too much debt, inability to modernize and leadership which emphasized profit taking over long term stability which did Sears in. I shrill miss them and there is a ton of Sears merchandise in my home, but not the home itself.

    • @Dr.Robuttnik
      @Dr.Robuttnik 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +4

      And now we have Amazon kit homes!

    • @DanlowMusic
      @DanlowMusic 19 วันที่ผ่านมา

      ​@@catpaladin1yep two great companies (better than the Walmarts, targets and Amazons of today by far) in a long line of great companies that have gone under in the last 15-20 years. Radio Shack, Toys R Us, countless music, entertainment specialty stores, clothing like Mervyn's, Lamont's, and even JC Penny's (not gone yet but has said they were going under), Bed Bath and Beyond and so many other great companies. It's sad.

  • @o0oTyPow
    @o0oTyPow 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +73

    Laura Ingalls Wilder's daughter, Rose, had one built for Laura and her husband here in Missouri. You can tour it and see where she wrote her books! So double history!

  • @johnbecker2151
    @johnbecker2151 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +23

    I own a Sears roebuck home. It was completed in 1915. It is all cement block and oak throughout. it has a original tin roof and dual porches. I love it.

  • @antonioperez2623
    @antonioperez2623 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +69

    These affordable homes offered an architectural charm that is still admired today. A truly American home.

  • @chestnu1
    @chestnu1 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +64

    Man if there was ever a time for this business idea to come back it would be now.

    • @taylornewell-je1zr
      @taylornewell-je1zr 19 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @chestnu1 They don't want people living in affordable housing. They want us all struggling and paying mortgages for the rest of our lives. The more we struggle the more control they have over us. They could be throwing up these houses left and right with the technology we have.

    • @cjb2749
      @cjb2749 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +9

      Good luck finding land to build it on. It seems every available spot- at least where I live- has had apartments crammed into it, no matter how small the area. I miss the open space 😭

    • @4wayStopEnforcement
      @4wayStopEnforcement 13 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      It has, in a way. It’s becoming more and more common for people to buy tiny home kits that on the internet.

    • @zenlife321
      @zenlife321 9 วันที่ผ่านมา

      They wouldn’t be those prices though.

    • @Robyn-by6qt
      @Robyn-by6qt 3 วันที่ผ่านมา

      It's called temu 😂!

  • @rabrophy
    @rabrophy 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +53

    I was a carpenter in southern Minnesota and worked remodeling some of these Sears homes. In my area of Minnesota many of these were farm homes and the farmers left the front porches off because they only use the back kitchen door., that is a way you can pick out a Sears home on rural Minnesota farms today.
    The quality of the carpentry was very varied and I ran into some truly unique adaptations. Ya shure ya betca!

    • @nedludd7622
      @nedludd7622 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +4

      They were pretty good houses.

    • @gregpendrey6711
      @gregpendrey6711 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      😂seattle here. So ya.

  • @ramonacapps5071
    @ramonacapps5071 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +30

    I lived in a sears catalog house in North Dakota and loved it. It was delivered via railroad in 1933. Solid wood interior doors & woodwork- its beautiful and still standing. We put a metal roof on it before we sold it and our careers moved us back south.

    • @rogerfunk7315
      @rogerfunk7315 21 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@ramonacapps5071 I hope you visit back home one day

  • @benjaminroberson1967
    @benjaminroberson1967 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +47

    When my grandpa retired (from JC Penneys) he began making model buildings to 1:48 scale. The second model he made was a Sears Catalog house.

  • @heidibaer4409
    @heidibaer4409 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +8

    I grew up in the Winona. I adored it. The hard wood floors, high ceilings, glass door knobs.... The list goes on and on. The builders daughters came to visit the house. We didn't know it was a kit house. We were able to find the numbers on the joists. ❤ that old place!

  • @LovingShadow-e3k
    @LovingShadow-e3k 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +29

    Considering most of those homes are still standing says something about the quality of Sears and Roebuck merchandise back then.

  • @AngryIrishman0007
    @AngryIrishman0007 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +37

    624 Locust Ave Zanesille, Ohio and Most of Locust Ave is all Craftsman or Sears catalog houses still standing. I never realized I used to own one! Very solid house!

    • @ridethecurve55
      @ridethecurve55 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +5

      I would LOVE to see the plans for these Craftsman-style homes! Arts & Crafts and Art Deco were great stylistic genres, and often, homes had features of both. I pity the newly-minted generation of young people getting out of school nowadays. They usually could only purchase an outhouse kit, if that were a thing, much less a catalog home. Soon, home prices will come back down, as boomers die off and their homes flood the market. Hold on, youngins'! Your time will come.

  • @camorrisiii
    @camorrisiii 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +32

    It would be really cool if this or something similar was brought back, I’m talking about the extent of how big of operation that Sears had.

    • @wtmayhew
      @wtmayhew 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +11

      Sears was kind of the Amazon of its day. Sears had basically everything you could think of in the store or ready to order. The thing about Sears is that they vetted the quality of what they sold, most of then merchandise was somewhere between OK and excellent. Every time I order from Amazon, I wish Sears was still a thing. Sears could have had the brass ring because they had the distribution system, the service organization and the brick and mortar locations. Sadly, Sears was not nimble enough to make it in modern e-commerce.

  • @captainkhakis9826
    @captainkhakis9826 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +9

    I live in one on a lake in north Central Arkansas. My great great grandfather ordered it and put it together by himself in 1959. Was a summer home for my family for 5 generations, girlfriend and i remodled it completely, plan is to keep it in the family for another 5 generations

  • @dawnesampson981
    @dawnesampson981 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +8

    My daughter and son in law own a Sears home in Buffalo NY.Actually the home next door to them is also another Sears home. The home has been up graded many times over the years. The homes are so well built, and really beautiful! Living history.

  • @DonaldMark-ne7se
    @DonaldMark-ne7se 11 วันที่ผ่านมา +79

    Our economy struggling with uncertainties, housing issues, foreclosures, global fluctuations, and pandemic aftermath, causing instability. Rising inflation, sluggish growth, and trade disruptions need urgent attention from all sectors to restore stability and stimulate growth.

    • @kevinmarten
      @kevinmarten 11 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      Things are strange right now. The US dollar is becoming less valuable because of inflation, and other powerful nations waking up to trade in their own currencies. Good thing is, a lot of people still turn to the Dollar because of the safety is somehow assures. I'm worried about my retirement savings of about $420,000 losing value because of these factors and more. Where else can we keep our money?

    • @JacquelinePerrira
      @JacquelinePerrira 11 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      It's a delicate season now, so you can do little or nothing on your own. Hence I’ll suggest you get yourself a financial expert that can provide you with valuable financial information and assistance

    • @Jamessmith-12
      @Jamessmith-12 11 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

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    • @kevinmarten
      @kevinmarten 11 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      This is definitely considerable! think you could suggest any professional/advisors i can get on the phone with? i'm in dire need of proper portfolio allocation.

    • @Jamessmith-12
      @Jamessmith-12 11 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      When ‘Carol Vivian Constable’ is trading, there's no nonsense and no excuses. She wins the trade and you win. Take the loss, I promise she'll take one with you.

  • @101hamilton
    @101hamilton 13 วันที่ผ่านมา +4

    Great video!
    I get overwhelmed assembling a piece of IKEA furniture. I admire the people who were able to assemble an entire house!

  • @Beek88
    @Beek88 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +12

    I have remodeled two and they were impressive. Each wall had a special build sheet and the workers name. Quality checks...down to the nail all still stapled inside each wall

  • @themlj1
    @themlj1 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +20

    It’s absolutely amazing to me that they could just send all the materials to build a HOUSE essentially in the mail.

    • @jeffbybee5207
      @jeffbybee5207 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +5

      The brick bank in vernal UT was built with bricks mailed from salt lake City as it was cheaper even though the same wagons carried the freight and mail. The post office latter changed how they charged for parcel post

    • @geneticdisorder1900
      @geneticdisorder1900 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      Just like mailing babies too.

    • @jf8188
      @jf8188 19 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@jeffbybee5207 I lived in Vernal Utah for 10+ years. GO UTES!

    • @Name-kd5jj
      @Name-kd5jj 18 วันที่ผ่านมา

      I would feel sorry for the FedEx guy that has to deliver all that lumber.

  • @carymui3143
    @carymui3143 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +6

    My grandparents’ SEARS home from the 1920s is still looking great today

  • @kevinschick7866
    @kevinschick7866 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +9

    My 1st home was a model called The Whitehall from 1919.
    Really neat all the part numbers on the lumber that was visible in the basement.

  • @cathymc8365
    @cathymc8365 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +6

    My grandparents had a very small one from Sears- only 4 rooms (bathroom was still outside) It was put together in Windsor Ontario (canada) and delivered by horse and wagon(s) an hour away(in today's drive times) it still stands with an addition on the back and an indoor bathroom! I always laughed when my Dad said they bought it from the Sears catalogue.

  • @tinypanther
    @tinypanther 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +6

    I worked with a woman that lived in a Sears home. How she found out was because the local library had an exhibit on all the Sears homes in the area and she saw a picture of her house 😊 This is in Deerfield IL and her home was delivered by the train that goes though town.

  • @TinyTexasHousesPSO
    @TinyTexasHousesPSO 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +7

    I am in central Texas and I have hundreds, actually tens of thousands of the parts from the Sears and Montgomery Wards houses stashed away in warehouses. I suspect a few hundred of the houses that I have taken down were catalog and near the rail roads as towns developed using these houses in Luling, Gonzales, and Seguin alone having a hundred or more. I am a bit of an expert in the pieces as I have a hundred thousand square foot of warehouses full of them and other architectural rarities. Glad to see you put a clip of their incredible works together. Great houses still being lived in and remodeled to be good for another hundred years. Amazing quality of wood and design compared to the junk built today. I also have a big stash of new old parts from the JF Smith and Bro catalog business out of Galvaston that closed in 1963.

    • @johncarlson7955
      @johncarlson7955 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@TinyTexasHousesPSO
      I’m in Yoakum and really enjoy looking at older homes. They have such great style you don’t see today.

    • @jbridges9574
      @jbridges9574 6 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@TinyTexasHousesPSO I’ve heard there are 1 or 2 kit homes in Bertram and Burnet. It wouldn’t shock me if there were some in Georgetown.

  • @HUNGUSind
    @HUNGUSind 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +15

    I grew up in a Sears kit home. It was built in 1945, in the middle of San Fernando Valley, Ca. My parents purchased it in 1957 for $10,500. It was only 900 sq ft, but extremely strong. Basically it was a dump and should have been demolished 10 minutes after it was built. I looked at it on the internet the other day. It’s still the same dump, just a different color…$800,000.

  • @Melanie-fz3uz
    @Melanie-fz3uz 4 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    I lived in one of those in Upstate NY and absolutely loved it! It was so efficient in it's design.

  • @GodzHammer
    @GodzHammer 10 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    I bought and live in one of these! It's a 1928 and we constantly get remarks about how "cute" and nice it is. It's way more durable and stronger than our old house that was built in the 00's. "They don't make them like they used to" is so true. We enjoy it.

  • @allenwiddows7631
    @allenwiddows7631 18 วันที่ผ่านมา +5

    One of the most renowned Sears home is located at the Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda, California; the house in which Richard Nixon was born is preserved on the grounds and is in excellent condition.

  • @JazzDogTraveler
    @JazzDogTraveler 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +20

    The last city I live in had several neighborhoods of Sears and Roebuck homes. One of the neighborhood is called "Roebuck" for that reasaon. I rented a Sears home built in 1929. You can see Sears and Roebuck catalog numbers on some of the original door hinges and mortise locks (the ones with the glass door knobs). Currently, in my hometown, in Florida, there is a huge two story craftsman home that is known locally as "The Sears House." It was clad in brick and stone about 50 years ago, but otherwise it still has the original bones and windows.

    • @RobSchellinger
      @RobSchellinger 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      Looking at some of the models here, it reminded me of several homes in Lakeland, FL particularly around Lake Morton. For all I know, they're probably knock-offs. I don't recall seeing or hearing about Sears homes when I lived there.

  • @majikglustik9704
    @majikglustik9704 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +22

    Good choice, Ryan. I live in a town in Florida that is full of sears homes. Everything from the 3 story barns to the Hollywood bungalows can be found in Lakeland, Florida. Should you wish to view them, the town has an annual Parade of Homes when some can be toured by appointment. Contact their Chamber of Commerce for more info. As a side note, these relics of our era gone by are well maintained; though these homes are located all over town along with a generous smattering of Frank Lloyd Wrights homes (& Fla. Southern College), a large number of bungalows are located in an area south central of downtown called, "Dixieland". Check them out, it's worth a look.
    ✌️🙏😎

    • @cwctlh
      @cwctlh 22 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@majikglustik9704 I had no idea! I grew up in Miami Beach and have lived in Tallahassee for decades, but didn't have a clue.

    • @majikglustik9704
      @majikglustik9704 22 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @cwctlh oh yeah. Many different homes to choose from. If you cruise around Lakeland, you might just find one for sale, too

    • @debbiesdeathpile
      @debbiesdeathpile 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      @@majikglustik9704 I live in Plant City and suspect we have some in our Historic District. I love to drive around Lakeland and look at these homes and dream about one day owning one. P.S. my Mom worked for Sears in South Florida for 23 years

  • @gingerl2995
    @gingerl2995 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +7

    Roanoke city Va had a Sears corp building and many houses look identical to these. Still standing and charming as ever! How cool. Thanks for the video.

  • @KRich408
    @KRich408 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +30

    If only Sears went full out online they might have resited Amazon. They had everything going for them a very established name , sold everything they could have expanded on the name

    • @russellhltn1396
      @russellhltn1396 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +8

      Sears was the Amazon of their day, taking advantage of the mail system to send catalogs, collect funds, and send products.

    • @catpaladin1
      @catpaladin1 20 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@KRich408 the major problem with the later CEO(s) and Hedge Fund involvement. Still makes me mad. It was a great company until then.

  • @taracriste1
    @taracriste1 3 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา

    My husband bought our current house and started renovating it room by room. One day, some people stopped by in the driveway and said their grandparents used to own this house and they purchased the material from a catalog. They were happy to see it being renovated and restored.

  • @nco_gets_it
    @nco_gets_it 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +7

    I lived in one that was built back in 1912 or 13. Very nice place with wood work inside you could only envy.

  • @tonymoore2100
    @tonymoore2100 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +23

    I'm pretty sure my house is one of these. Built in 1927. It's a great house!

    • @FoulOwl2112
      @FoulOwl2112 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +5

      Mine was built in 33-34. They're wonderful homes.

  • @jamesritacco1693
    @jamesritacco1693 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +5

    I grew up in a Sears catalog 3 bedroom 1 and a half bath ranch style home with a brick fireplace and single garage. My parents built it themselves.

  • @rebeccamayers2056
    @rebeccamayers2056 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +4

    I grew up in a Sears, Roebuck house. My Dad made some floorplan changes that suited a better safer place. I still have the booklet that came with the kit.

  • @colechecketts8888
    @colechecketts8888 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

    I own a sears kit home and it is pretty cool! Its been a lot fun working on it and fixing it up.
    Thanks for the very informational video!

  • @GrnArrow092
    @GrnArrow092 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +10

    We have a few of these Sears homes here in my hometown of Bangor, Maine. I also hear that there were quite a few of these Sears homes located in Bucksport, Maine as well. The Belfast model was the most common.

  • @Pr0toPoTaT0
    @Pr0toPoTaT0 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +21

    Video starts at 2:40

    • @BruceWNY
      @BruceWNY 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      @@Pr0toPoTaT0 thank you

    • @Pr0toPoTaT0
      @Pr0toPoTaT0 19 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @BruceWNY I'm here to serve and he's here to make sure your home title doesn't get stolen

    • @emilykay115
      @emilykay115 19 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@Pr0toPoTaT0 thank you!

  • @badzbradzgoodyz6477
    @badzbradzgoodyz6477 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +9

    I happen to have a Sears house.
    I don't remember what year it was built.
    I had a sale bill of house, but don't remember where I put it.
    The house is located in North Dakota.
    I lived in it for 31 years, raised my two children there.
    The people that owned prior to me where very good musicians.
    One of the brothers made a radio station in the up stairs, and on Sunday's they would get together and play their music on the air.
    Someone driving a Cadillac car drove into the driveway, the brother smashed all the components, thinking it was the Feds.
    He didn't have a license to to be broadcasting.
    Found out the the person driving the Cadillac was just asking for directions.
    I also had a newspaper article about the radio station, but don't recall where I put it.

  • @timlight8446
    @timlight8446 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +8

    My father started a housing business in 1982 called General Housing Corporation, in Bay City Michigan. I have a desk in my son’s room from one of the secretaries at Aladdin Homes.

  • @KMCKLL
    @KMCKLL 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    I grew up in a Sears kit home (all the ones on my block were and were used and servants/factory workers homes in the town), it was really cool to see which homes had had different upgrades added over the years or selected at the time of building - for example my house had an extra kitchen in it, as well as an addition that was later turned into a bathroom before my parents bought it, where is my best friend‘s house only had the base model and would have been exactly what would’ve been built originally

  • @alexclement7221
    @alexclement7221 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +22

    0:46: There it is, my maternal Grandmother's house. I always suspected it was a Sears kit....Hers was on Walnut St. in Lamar, MO and Google street view shows it is still there....

    • @VvDiverDownvV
      @VvDiverDownvV 20 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@alexclement7221 That's so cool to see one in reality and not just in an advertisement setting. When they built your grandmother's house they didn't do it exactly the same... maybe by choice and they had some wiggle room, or maybe there's been some big modifications since then.. but I'm almost 100% I found it lol in a very beautiful neighborhood with a schools and Walmart near by. I'd be happy every day out of the year there 😊

    • @alexclement7221
      @alexclement7221 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

      @@VvDiverDownvV Actually, that model was about 85% the same as the model my Grandmother had; I once found the exact model in a catalogue, which is based on the same footprint, but just turned the porch part into living space and put a smaller porch up front. There were many choices back then. You could nearly choose options like in buying a car.

    • @VvDiverDownvV
      @VvDiverDownvV 20 วันที่ผ่านมา

      ​@@alexclement7221 Oh!!!! That's wicked I see that now. I'm definitely gonna find some more videos to watch I couldn't do this one and all the pauses he takes

    • @straykitten4998
      @straykitten4998 19 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@alexclement7221 this comment should be pinned

  • @denniss5505
    @denniss5505 10 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    I lived in a 1909 Sears Catalog house, quality built miles from town at the time. It was sent by train to Grand Rapids Michigan, then transfered to three wagons pulled by horses, and delivered to its site in rural Cannon Twp. It is a farm house style built with great solid materials, the quality is still evident today when walking in the attic.

  • @patleith6915
    @patleith6915 13 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    I often wondered about the history of Sears homes. I lived in the Mountainview section of Hellertown, PA for about 15 years. Everyone told me most of the houses there were Sears houses. I found an article that said over 60 Sears houses were build with over 370 planned. At the time ,the Bethlehem Steel was within 5 miles of most of these homes and most owners worked at the Bethlehem Steel. Great history lesson.

  • @Lori-et9bx
    @Lori-et9bx 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    My grandparents owned one of these homes. Grandparents are gone, but the house is still standing.

  • @stevenwilgus5422
    @stevenwilgus5422 2 วันที่ผ่านมา

    My maternal grandfather built one, and my mother grew up in it. I remember every detail about it. It's still standing strong.

  • @robertcasey7312
    @robertcasey7312 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +19

    My great Grandparents lived in a Sears house.

  • @wenditraub609
    @wenditraub609 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    Friends of mine live in a Sears kit home in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada. Yes, these homes made it all the way up there!

  • @dhutch457
    @dhutch457 15 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    A friend of mine, Rosemary Thornton, is perhaps the foremost authority on Sears Catalog Homes. She has written books on the subject and her extensive knowledge is jaw dropping. You'd almost think she built the houses herself. Over the years, her interests have changed but she's always willing to answer questions about the Sears Catalog Homes.

  • @waynemiller6156
    @waynemiller6156 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Awesome video I used to own and live in a Sears house 🏠

  • @summerwindcharters1326
    @summerwindcharters1326 2 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I'm a tour boat captain in Stony Creek Connecticut. On cut in two Island, there's a 1928 Sears catalog home that I point out on the tour as it survived the hurricane of 1938 that devastated much of the Connecticut Shoreline. A testament to the build quality as it's still used as a summer home in 2024!

  • @Hektormydog
    @Hektormydog 10 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Don’t know why this came up on my TH-cam algorithm, but a very interesting video for me. My Grandfather bought/built a Sears home for his new family on Main Street in Ann Arbor Michigan in the early 1900s. From what I remember and only seeing the house lastly in my teens (it was torn down in the 1970s) it was a two story, full covered front porch, 4-bedrooms, central steam heated from a coal fired furnace, and I was told my grandfather made the cement blocks (textured facing surface, which we had saved an example of) with a mold. It was also interesting, reminding me with the watch beginnings of Sears, our family still has a German made beautiful hand carved cuckoo-clock that was purchased from Sears.

  • @SunnnyDay
    @SunnnyDay 3 วันที่ผ่านมา

    My best friend lives in a Sears home built in the early 1920's. It's a small "Cape" style home, built in a rural community at that time. About 100 yards away is the railroad tracks and the story is that the kit was delivered right there on the right of way and carried or dragged to the building site. With a few upgrades this is still a very nice home !!

  • @skull8ranger463
    @skull8ranger463 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +71

    Use of AI pictures is interesting, not every day you see a clock with a 13 on it...

    • @gregpendrey6711
      @gregpendrey6711 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      Hmm

    • @SocialistDistancing
      @SocialistDistancing 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      A twilight zone clock. LoL

    • @pcno2832
      @pcno2832 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      "military time"?

    • @spacebadger21
      @spacebadger21 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      I can't even make out numbers on them, just squiggles.

    • @saksonsoaps7000
      @saksonsoaps7000 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      Must be one of those metric clocks or something..😂

  • @jamiebarley4098
    @jamiebarley4098 18 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    I lived in a victorian style kit house. It was lovely! I miss it everyday!

  • @curtiseva1
    @curtiseva1 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

    I live in a sears house as of 27 years ago. The house (in pieces) was shipped to a village by train 10 miles from the location it was to be built. 2 house drawn wagons and a stake body truck hauled it up here. I have done remodeling in it, and I gotta say it's some of the hardest wood I ever came across. Bending nails was inevitable! The grand children of original owner told us the story on how the house came to be. Back then it was heated with a coal stove. The grand children said you froze one minute then sweat your butt off the next. The house is still solid as a rock. Now while I was working on the house I saw a marking that I don't remember where I seen it . I looked several times over the years but just can't find it. Maybe I covered it up. I do remember sr with numbers.

  • @user-bu3je3wf6r
    @user-bu3je3wf6r 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    09:46 finally talks about Sears houses (after the usual paid promotion and exhausting history of the formation of the company
    14:51 concludes the title
    Never shows any example of one now
    Distill this video into a 5-minute segment and Ryan can finally take a breath.

  • @americanpatriot9865
    @americanpatriot9865 18 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    There are two Sears homes on the street where I used to live. They are still there and beautiful.

  • @mattskustomkreations
    @mattskustomkreations 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +6

    We have the dining room set perfect for one of these homes - 1940 Sears & Roebuck Art Deco table & chairs, credenza, and china cabinet, all stenciled with the model # and “West Coast Brown” under them.

  • @MillerMeteor74
    @MillerMeteor74 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +5

    Hopewell, Virginia's Crescent Hills neighborhood has 44 Sears homes. I was able to get a brochure on them from the local tourist welcome center, and then photographed many of them. The home at 17:26 in this video is one of them, I'm quite sure. Someone on Flickr has an album of Sears homes in Hopewell that he has photographed.

  • @davidtaylor6772
    @davidtaylor6772 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

    1:24 My parents got their home stolen like this back in the late 80’s. They didn’t know until they tried to get a mortgage 5 years later. It was a massive issue that took years to clear up. Obviously, it was easier to commit those crimes before the internet.

    • @cindyscarlett707
      @cindyscarlett707 19 วันที่ผ่านมา

      IT all gets proven fraud and taken off the property and the true owners ... Very quick now

  • @paulleiby2901
    @paulleiby2901 18 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    If interested in the Sears catalog homes, skip to 9:30. If interested in the question posed by the title (What happened to Sears Catalog Houses), skip to 14:00

  • @FigaroHey
    @FigaroHey 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    10:43 he finally starts talking about what you came here for: houses.

  • @bigheadfred
    @bigheadfred 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +4

    My parents have a circa 1920 Sears house that was kept on the land they purchased when they built their other house in the 1970s in New Jersey.

  • @1946luke
    @1946luke 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +11

    Back when, from Sears you could buy a mail order handgun right out of their catalog. Yep, the mail man brought it. I think 1967 was the last year for that.

  • @neils5539
    @neils5539 17 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    There's a whole neighborhood of them in Carlinville, IL. They were built as housing for workers by (I believe) Standard Oil. They're all still standing and in use.

  • @neilmarsh1904
    @neilmarsh1904 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    My great great grandfather built one in Goodland IN in the early 20th Century. A cousin and I went there doing a little genealogical research a few years ago. It's still standing and was being restored.

  • @jasonphillips468
    @jasonphillips468 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +5

    We have a 1928 sears catalog home
    Found the # on the floor joists in the cellar
    Verify in a bathroom remodel
    Well built house

  • @carriecece1
    @carriecece1 2 วันที่ผ่านมา

    My grandmother had one of these built on the outskirts of Willow Grove PA. It’s still standing but with a lot of additions.

  • @philliptownsend2829
    @philliptownsend2829 19 วันที่ผ่านมา

    This House did a video on this a few months back and a few years ago but this goes WAY more in depth. Kudos, a great watch

  • @Susa1
    @Susa1 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    I grew up in a Sears home. My daughter's family lives there now.

  • @markevanger4791
    @markevanger4791 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    I am currently living in one! 1923 model! We love it!

  • @AMO_604
    @AMO_604 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +71

    funny story, i was always a little skeptical about all these books on manifestation until a friend kept bringing up vibrations of manifestation by alex lane. at first, i thought it was just another one of those books where people say “think positive and everything will fall into place,” but the more i heard about it, the more intrigued i got. it wasn’t just about wishful thinking; it was about understanding the energy you’re putting out and how that shapes your reality. a lot of people i know who read it seem to have found a new kind of focus, and they’re attracting opportunities and relationships they’ve been hoping for. not saying it works like a magic trick, but there’s something about it that really clicked for them. maybe it’ll click for you too.

    • @Neverwinter1984
      @Neverwinter1984 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +5

      @@AMO_604 I don't know if you're a person or a bit, but either way I hope someone finds you and "fixes" you, "permanently"

  • @danielhathaway8042
    @danielhathaway8042 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

    A friend had one that his grandfather built. It’s across from south Salem high school in Oregon. It’s still in use.

  • @4wayStopEnforcement
    @4wayStopEnforcement 13 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Kansas City, MO is still full of Sears homes. I’ve lived in one that I could confirm to be a Sears home, and I believe another one may have been as well. The styles seen here are what I consider typical of Kansas City’s most typical style of homes.
    They really are excellent quality! Beautiful inside and out.

  • @geneticdisorder1900
    @geneticdisorder1900 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    I’m currently working on one of these houses. Friends of mine buy and rehab places, this house was a cape cod type plan. Unfortunately over the years, multiple additions were poorly glued on at different angles. There was evidence of three different fires, probably due to electrical issues. The fun part I get to deal with is redoing all the plumbing and trying to cram new small bathrooms into these warped boxes.

  • @EGSBiographies-om1wb
    @EGSBiographies-om1wb 8 วันที่ผ่านมา

    This vid was well worth my time to watch. I was under the impression that the golden age of the mail order house was just after World war 2. As a truck driver,I have always read that the start of the trucking industry was after WW1. I wonder if the mail order housing market help fuel that growth.

  • @2pugman
    @2pugman 2 วันที่ผ่านมา

    My home was built in apx 1925 and an addition was added to the rear of the home pre 1960. The added room is 12' X 20'. We purchased the home in 1977 and as I remodeled the room with new windows, I noticed everything was marked Sears.

  • @tuggboat4
    @tuggboat4 18 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    We have a few Sears homes in our town. They are being lived in. They still look pretty good.

  • @freetolook3727
    @freetolook3727 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

    There are a couple of books on Sears kit houses. If you look through the book then cruise around your neighborhood, you can easily spot them.

  • @Rainingpatchouli311
    @Rainingpatchouli311 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I live near st. Augustine Florida and they have many on display . I also suspect my aunts home in Missouri was a sears home . As a kid it looked like a mansion to me . I was raised buying all my school clothes and Christmas toys via sears - that catalog was a staple in our homes. ❤

  • @horse4you
    @horse4you 18 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I had a Sears kit house in Northern Virginia. Built in 1910-1917. The originals owned flat land in that part of the county and all of the settlers owned part of the mountain that was to the west. They pulled the stone for the foundation off the mountain. It was a beautiful home. Interestingly now that I'm in Upstate SC, there is a prime example of one not 4 mi from my current house. Still standing and beautiful.

  • @QueenSuperJ
    @QueenSuperJ 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

    These houses are all over Chicago, I absolutely love them! I’m obsessed with owning one one day!

  • @empress_ariana
    @empress_ariana 17 วันที่ผ่านมา

    My dad’s childhood home and the one right next door are both Sears houses. Apparently they were originally bought and built by a pair of brothers for their families between 1900 and 1910. My aunt who owns it now has an old photo of the two houses with hitching posts for horses out in front!

  • @JosephStegeman
    @JosephStegeman 13 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I live in one and enjoyed restoring it. It was built in 1910 two story and all wood floors that are still nice.

  • @chincemagnet
    @chincemagnet 18 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I was checking out some of the old catalogs from around the time my home was built. I didn’t see my exact house, but I did see homes I recognized as identical to what’s in the catalog.