The "Leader"--Harris Home No. J-6

One of Harris Brothers's best selling houses was the No. J-6. Harris Brothers (originally known as the Chicago House Wrecking Company) began selling house plans and building materials in 1907, and this model was an instant hit with customers all over the country.

The No. J-6 (then House Design No. 6) in the 1909 Book of Plans from the Chicago House Wrecking Company. "This is our own design--Economical and modern." I wonder who they hired as the architect. 

Despite its popularity, the J-6 design is polarizing. When my mother saw this house she said, "It's not the most attractive house."

Interestingly, I have seen only one of these in the Chicago area. You would think that Harris Brothers, based on 35th Street in Chicago, would have sold a large number of J-6's in the city and suburbs. Perhaps they did but most were torn down over the next 100 years... who knows?

Newspaper ad from 1911 that claims that over 300 No. 6 models were sold "in all sections of the country from Maine to Utah, Canada to Texas". So where are they? Less than 40 have been located nationwide to date.

Ad from the Chicago Tribune in 1912. "Here is a house that has been built about 400 times. It is our Leader." Harris Brothers often referred to this model as the "Leader" in its advertising

The No. J-6 was built one thousand times by the time the 1916 catalog came out.  "Our Home No. 6 has been copied and imitated. The design and plan stolen outright by many would-be competitors, but our low prices have never been equalled." Montgomery Ward began selling a near copy of this house a few years earlier.  By the way, if that count of one thousand is accurate, that would make the No. J-6 the most purchased kit house model of all time.

Harris sold this house in two floor plans. The No. J-16 was two feet longer and two feet wider than the No. J-6 but the room layouts were the same.

But housing styles change, and despite the fact that over a thousand J-6's were built, Harris Brothers stopped selling the house by 1920.

There's a No.  J-6 in Glen Ellyn.

410 Prospect, Glen Ellyn.

The Harris Brothers No. J-6.

This is the only No. J-6 I've ever seen in person. I shouted "There it is!" when I was walking down the street in Glen Ellyn, attracting the attention of passersby. It's an easy house to spot with that unusual turret.

Photo from Realtor site.

Photo from Realtor site.

Photo from Realtor site.

Photo from Realtor site.

Photo from Realtor site.

Photo from Realtor site.

The No. J-6 was built in 1909 by Charles and Hattie Wimpress.  The Wimpresses never lived in the house, but rather on their 233 acre farm in Glen Ellyn (the Chicago Tribune called Charles a "well to do farmer").

They sold the house around 1912 to the Whitcomb family.