Mail-Order Homes
Sears Homes and Other Kit Houses
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About this book
The rapid westward expansion of the United States in the early twentieth century set the stage for a new industry: mail-order homes. Sold by such companies as Sears, Roebuck & Co., Aladdin, and Montgomery Ward, these kit homes were shipped by train to their purchasers in boxcars containing everything required for their construction, whether a vacation cottage, modest bungalow, or two-and-a-half story home. Rebecca Hunter brings to life the history of these charming homes, tens of thousands of which were sold throughout the United States in the early 1900s, and many of which still exist. Fully illustrated and including numerous images from period catalogs, this book describes the customers who bought and built mail-order houses, the various styles and designs, and the boom and bust of the industry.
Contents
- ?The House that Came on the Train
- Evolution of the Mail-order Home Concept
- Manufacturers of Mail-order Homes
- Styles and Designs
- The Builder of Modest Means
- Marketing the Mail-order Home
- Boom and Bust
- The Demise of the Mail-order Home
- Places to Visit
- Additional Resources
- Further Reading
- Index
Paperback; March 2012; 64 pages; ISBN: 9780747810483