1916 Sears catalog home. They shipped the entire house to you by railroad car. Sears. Friends and family would come from all around to help the owner build it.
Most were built in New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Sears sold more than 70,000 mail-order homes between 1908 and 1940.
Some enthusiasts estimate that about 70% of Sears houses are still standing today. Sears provided building plans and specifications, along with the lumber and any other materials needed. The shipment included everything from nails, screws, and paint to prebuilt building parts, such as staircases and dining nooks.
