There's a lot of interest in prefab houses lately, but they are nothing new. From 1908 until the Depression, Sears sold wood framed, prefab homes and shipped them all across the country. The houses were remarkably well built, many are still standing, and remarkably inexpensive.
Even adjusted for inflation, this one would cost just $35,000!
Doesn't a 2 car garage cost like 20 grand?
check out more at the Sears Archives.
14 comments:
1500, oh my goodness :)
And I am excited to hear you went to Tuebingen...I've never known anyone else who has! I would love to see it in the winter with snow :)
I adore those old Sears pre-fab homes-there are tons in my hometown and the little towns nearby, and they look as lovely as ever!
I love looking at the old kit house floorplans. I'm always in search of our twin house but still haven't found it. I have recognized a few of the Sears houses up in Marquette.
In Canada, we had Eaton's catalogue, which was just like Sears Roebuck. My parents live in an Eaton's prefab home, circa 1913.
It wasn't exactly prefab, though - they shipped the materials and plan via rail, and then you had to put it all together.
But it's a gorgeous old house. I absolutely love it.
This is too wierd! I was just looking into all the Sears pre-fab craftsman style homes they had yesterday. I was looking at some real estate here in Atlanta and wanted to know if this particualr home could have been pre-fab. I think it is soooo cool that you could buy these amazing homes like this!
How fascinating! I'd love to check out one of these prefab homes today to see how it's withstood the test of time. I actually would love to buy a plot of land and put a prefab house on it -- something comfortable but simple.
I would love to see one of those old homes today!
I saw one of these old timey Sears pre-fabs while driving out in the New Mexican desert! I can't believe how it still stood after all these years, given how cheap they seem in hindsight. Great ideas never die, I guess.
Okay, strange story but I have actually stayed in a Sears home. It was actually called the Sears Home because it was ordered from the catalog and sent to the very small town where it stands to this day. It is now a Bed and Breakfast and a little creepy actually. Historic, just creepy.
YES! I love pre-fabs because I can get a super-cool, well-designed, energy-efficient house for pretty cheap! When I am rich and famous someday, I will hire Steven to design a house for us. But until then, I'm pre-fab dreamin'! And I love these old ones, too. Gabe's mom's house in St. Paul might actually be a catalog house.
Wow, the prices are amazing too even with the inflation! The designs look pretty awesome as well. If only they built things like they used to.
I was just talking about this the other day. I wonder if Dwell has ever featured these in an issue.
I love this!!!
Gha! So funny you posted this, a pamphlet just came to my door of all the Sears prefabs in my neighborhood - apparently one of the highest concentrated areas in the nation for such - I was so eager to go out and walk past each an every one!
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