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244 N. Harvard, Villa Park.
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| Montgomery Ward Kelton. |
The Kelton model from Montgomery Ward truly lives up to its catalog description as a “fresh note in modern architecture.” This Villa Park example is a reverse floor plan (which was an option with most models). The house has not been expanded and has its original wood shingles and charming shutters still intact..
💡 Fun fact: At just $1,447, the Kelton was the most affordable option in the 1930 Wardway Homes catalog.
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The rear of the Kelton is not flush.
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| The Kelton was a compact bungalow. |
Inside, the house retains delightful period details.
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| A “cheery” living room with the original front and closet doors. |
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| A built-in telephone cabinet (a nostalgic gem!) |
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| A cozy dinette off the kitchen instead of a formal dining room |
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This must be the front bedroom, because the rear bedroom does not have a closet! The Kelton is a tiny house. Photo from Realtor site.
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Warner L. and Hannah Rhode purchased the house in July 1931 for $3,850, with financing from Montgomery Ward. Warner was a distributing clerk for the post office.
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| With a Wardway Homes office in nearby Elmhurst, it’s no surprise that the western suburbs are dotted with Montgomery Ward models. It is likely where the Rhodes purchased the Kelton. |
Warner died in the 1970's, and Hannah lived in the house until her death in 1991 at age 96.
Today, the Kelton in Villa Park stands out as a testament to affordable design.
Copyright Disclaimer: All photographs in this post (unless otherwise noted) are from real estate aggregate Redfin.com and are used in this post for the purposes of education, consistent with 17 USC §107.
2 comments:
The Kelton may have been the least expensive model in 1929, but it looks quite livable and offered many perks (who wouldn't want a built-in phone niche?) for the financially-conservative buyer.
I "get" why the kitchen was remodeled, but personally I would have found a way to retain the two original arches defining the ice box and dining nooks.
The back bedroom does, in fact, have a closet -- and it's larger than the one in the master bedroom! It is above the basement staircase... right behind the kitchen range and chimney on the floor plan.
Stained wood shingles (which appear to have been the original intended exterior) would give the house a bit more substance and dignity than the current yellow paint. The Kelton looks like a house I could easily live in today; I like it a lot. The fact that the original shutters are still intact is nothing short of amazing!
I am always astonished when these tiny bungalows are still standing in the Chicago area. As you said, the Kelton design is very livable, and this the quality that has likely kept it around almost 100 years.
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