Sears Kit Homes in Chicagoland-- Part 1: The Legacy

From the December 2, 2019, Chicago Tribune "Cataloging History" by Darcel Rocket.

"Once upon a time, you could purchase a home for less than $5,000.  The Barrington. The Lexington.  The Sheridan.  The Hazleton.  The Malden."

Sears, Roebuck and Co., well, Sears, sold thousands of mail-order kit houses from the early 1900s to 1942.  All you had to do was pick the model you wanted from the catalog and as long as you had the money and rail connections, you were good to go.

Joe and Mary Beth Turek have a Barrington kit home in Downers Grove, which back then cost $2,606 and came with everything from trim, windows, millwork and flooring and some 30,000.  Some assembly required.  Actually, lots of assembly.  You could either build it yourself or hire someone to do it.

The Hoffman Estates-based company has filed for bankruptcy and its days, sadly, are numbered.  But many of their kit homes still stand.

Probably the Legacy of Sears.  --Cooter