From 1908 through 1940, Sears, Roebuck and Co. sold complete house-building kits through its catalogs. Known as Sears Modern Homes, these kits included nearly everything needed to construct a house—from lumber, nails, flooring and roofing to bathroom fixtures and plumbing supplies.

The materials were shipped by railroad boxcar and then typically transported by truck to the building site. An average Sears Modern Home kit contained approximately 25 tons of materials and more than 30,000 individual parts, all accompanied by detailed construction instructions. The buyer was generally responsible for excavating and preparing the foundation.

The Villa Park Historical Society’s exhibit explores these fascinating catalog homes and the important role they played in the community’s development. It is believed that Villa Park may contain more than 70 Sears homes, although only 11 have been authenticated and awarded honorary “Sears Catalog Home” plaques by the VPHPC.

The exhibit also highlights the work of Rebecca L. Hunter, a nationally recognized Sears kit-home expert, author and researcher.

Visitors can discover how families once selected their dream homes from a catalog—and how pieces of this distinctive architectural history remain part of Villa Park today.

For more information https://www.villaparkhistoricalsociety.org/sears-homes/#