The Sears Homes Hidden Around Downers Grove: Could Your Neighbor's House Have Come From a Catalog?

Imagine ordering a house from a catalog, having it delivered by train and then putting it together piece by piece. It might sound unusual today, but more than a century ago, this was a real way to become a homeowner!

And believe it or not, Downers Grove has quite a collection of these homes hiding in plain sight.

Between 1908 and 1940, Sears, Roebuck and Company sold thousands of ready-to-build homes through its mail-order catalog. Known as Sears Modern Homes, these houses offered buyers an opportunity to purchase an entire home kit, with most of the materials needed to construct it included in the shipment.

According to the Downers Grove Museum, the Village has 68 confirmed Sears kit homes, with many approaching or exceeding 100 years old. That's quite a bit of history sitting right in our neighborhoods!

So, How Did Ordering a House From Sears Actually Work?

It was a little different from shopping online today!

Prospective homeowners could browse a Sears catalog, select a house design and order a complete building kit. Sears offered more than 370 different home designs throughout the program, ranging from modest cottages to larger, more elaborate homes.

The kits included thousands of precut pieces of lumber, windows, doors, flooring, roofing materials, hardware and detailed instructions.

Once ordered, the materials were shipped by railroad boxcar to the buyer's community. Homeowners could then hire a contractor or enlist family, friends and neighbors to help assemble their new home.

Sears even advertised that its homes could be assembled in approximately 90 days under favorable conditions.

The original prices are another fascinating detail. Some of the smaller models sold for just a few hundred dollars, while larger designs cost several thousand.

Why Does Downers Grove Have So Many?

Here's where local history gets especially interesting.

Downers Grove was a convenient location for receiving these home kits because of its railroad infrastructure. The Village had railroad sidings and switching facilities that allowed boxcars carrying home materials to remain in place for seven to ten days while they were unloaded.

That made it easier for residents to receive and transport the thousands of materials needed to construct their homes.

Today, Downers Grove is recognized as having one of Illinois' notable collections of Sears catalog homes.

Can You Recognize a Sears Home?

You might be surprised how many of these homes are easy to overlook.

Although many have been updated over the years, there are certain architectural details that can help identify a potential Sears home.

Look for:

• Distinctive rooflines: Some models feature clipped-gable roofs, dormers or unusual roof shapes.
• Decorative details: Half-moon arches, eyebrow-shaped trim beneath the eaves and unique chimney designs.
• Original windows: Certain models featured double-hung windows with different pane patterns on the upper and lower sections.
• Welcoming front porches: Many designs included wide porches that stretched across much of the front of the home.
• Classic architectural styles: Bungalows, Colonial Revival and other popular home styles of the early twentieth century.

Of course, these details alone don't confirm that a house came from Sears. Historical documentation, original plans and property records can help establish its true history.

Take a Self-Guided Sears Home Tour!

Here's the fun part: You don't have to travel far to see these homes for yourself!

The Village of Downers Grove has created a Sears Catalog Homes Walking/Driving Tour featuring homes throughout the community.

A few examples included in the Village's tour are:

• 1244 Gilbert Avenue: A bungalow-style home with a clipped-gable dormer and hipped roof.
• 744 Maple Avenue: A particularly interesting and well-documented Sears home, combining features of the Ivanhoe and Model 200 designs.

The tour provides information about individual homes, their architectural features and the original Sears models they represent.

It's a fun way to spend an afternoon discovering a little piece of Downers Grove history. Just remember to admire the homes from public sidewalks and respect the privacy of the residents.

Preserving a Little Piece of History

Many of Downers Grove's Sears homes have survived generations of homeowners, renovations and changing architectural trends.

The Downers Grove Historical Society recognizes several of these homes through its Historic Home Program, helping document their history and celebrate the people and families who have called them home.

The Downers Grove Museum has also featured a special exhibit dedicated to Sears kit homes, showcasing original advertisements, floor plans and historical materials.

It's a reminder that sometimes the most interesting history isn't found in a museum. It's right down the street!

Want to See These Homes for Yourself?

If you enjoy architecture, local history or simply looking at beautiful older homes, add this one to your list of things to explore around Downers Grove.

You can find the official Sears Catalog Homes Walking/Driving Tour through the Village of Downers Grove website.

A little history, a little architecture and a fun reason to explore the neighborhoods we call home!

At Wenzel Select Properties, we love discovering the stories, places and people that make our communities so special.