The Sears Ivanhoe

The Sears Ivanhoe, sold from 1911 to 1918, was a big, expensive house "designed by one of Chicago's leading architects", according to the catalog. 

Sears did not sell the Ivanhoe with lumber pre-cut at the factory. They often did this for the more elaborate homes in an effort to keep the prices down. 

The Sears Ivanhoe Model No. 264P230, which had a shed dormer and side porches.

The Ivanhoe came with multiple exteriors, but the same interior floor plans. Some Ivanhoes had two-story sun porches on the side. Some had a simple shed dormer above the front door. Some had a full front porch; some had a partial front porch.

The Sears Ivanhoe Model No. 264P200. The house had no side porch, but a full-width front porch.

Elmhurst 

440 S. Kenilworth, Elmhurst. Photo courtesy of Realtor site.

The Elmhurst Ivanhoe has both side and full front porches.  You can see interior photos in the real estate listing.

The county says the Ivanhoe was built in 1915. The original owners were Francis Oscar Stevens and his wife, Esther. Francis was a buyer and manager for the carpet and rug division of Marshall Field & Company. By 1922 the Stevens had sold the house.

Francis Oscar Stevens in January 1916.

Downers Grove 

744 Maple, Downers Grove, Illinois. Photo courtesy of Sue Smith.

 

The authenticated Ivanhoe in Downers Grove has a side porch (enclosed) and a partial front porch. The exterior is stucco and brick.

The house was built in 1915 by Frederick B. Towsley, and the current homeowners have the original Sears construction documents and receipts, which show that Frederick paid $2,756 for the house. Supposedly the blueprints still exist for this house, but I have yet to learn who the architect was.

Frederick was co-owner of the Owen & Towsley Co., a manufacturer of neckwear in Chicago.

Fred and May Towsley in 1920. That animal around your neck is just divine, Mrs. Towsley.

Fred died in 1957 and his wife died in 1974. The Towsley family owned the house until 1990.

Oak Park and Glencoe?
The 1918 Modern Homes catalog included a blurb about where Ivanhoes were built.

At some point there were Sears Ivanhoes in Oak Park and Glencoe. I have not found these houses but maybe you can!

A Tiny Cottage Purchased from the Gordon-Van Tine Catalog

340 Prospect Ave., Glen Ellyn. Photo courtesy of Realtor site.

No. 588 from Gordon-Van Tine.

The former owners believed this tiny bungalow is from Sears Roebuck. It is a kit house; however, it is from Gordon-Van Tine. The No. 588 was a small two-bedroom house, about 900 square feet. (Gordon-Van Tine produced an identical house for Montgomery Ward called the Claremont.)

The former homeowners put their front patio to use as additional living space. Photo courtesy of Realtor site.

Photo courtesy of Realtor site.

 

The homeowners knocked down the wall separating the dining room from the kitchen. Photo courtesy of Realtor site.

The house was completed in early 1924. The original owners were Fred Meyers, his wife, Ruth, and their newborn Charlotte. Fred was a salesman for a box company in Chicago. By 1930 the Meyers had moved to Indiana.

Update!
The delightful little cottage has been, erm, altered significantly.




According to the real estate listing, this house was a "Candidate for the Renovation of the Year Award 2016 presented annually by the Glen Ellyn Historic Preservation Commission!"

Two Rare Depression Era Sears Homes in Northwest Chicago

I was early for an appointment and took a leisurely stroll through Edison Park. To my surprise (and delight), I stumbled across two very rare Sears homes on the same block.

I was able to authenticate one of these homes as being from Sears Roebuck because the building permit was on file with the city of Chicago.

Sears Homestead

7239 W. Coyle, Chicago.

Sears Homestead.

As you might guess, Sears did not sell many homes in the heart of the Depression. Sears offered the Homestead beginning in 1933--one of the worst years on record for residential building. To date, I have located four Homesteads in Illinois and one in Maryland. 

This house in Edison Park looks much like the Homestead catalog illustration. but I was able to authenticate it anyway.

"Sears Roebuck Co." is listed as the architect on the building permit, dated Nov 18, 1932.

 
Sears normally issued their Modern Homes catalogs in the fall preceding the year on the catalog. So the 1933 catalog came out in fall of 1932, when construction started on this house.

The original owner of the Homestead was George Leniak, a divorced father, and his daughter, Lesley. George was a printer for R.R. Donnelley and Sons. George owned the house until at least 1965, when he retired and moved to Wisconsin.


Sears Old Town

7319 W. Coyle, Chicago.

Sears Old Town. Scan is from Houses by Mail.

The Old Town was sold one year only-- in 1933-- and the only Old Towns that I have discovered are this one in Edison Park and another in Arlington Heights.

The building permit for this house was issued October 23, 1932, and the original owner was Harry Lorse.

The architect of the Old Town was Alexander Bacci.

Sears Conway in Lombard

521 S. Highland, Lombard. Photo courtesy of Margaret Kansa.

Sears Conway.

This authenticated Sears Conway in Lombard was built between 1926 and 1930.

Stamped lumber in the basement authenticates the house as being from Sears Roebuck. Photo courtesy of Margaret Kansa.

The homeowner is interested in seeing the interiors of other Sears Conways, particularly the kitchens. If you own a Conway and would like to share photos, please email me and I will pass the information along.