January 25, 2022

The "Starlight Cottage" of Geneva

721 Illinois, Geneva. Photo from Realtor site.


The Sears Starlight from 1927. The clipped gable dormer is one of its distinguishing features.


The Starlight was one of the most popular models sold by Sears Roebuck. It was sold from 1911-1932!

The Starlight has three full-size porch pillars and one half-pillar.


The Starlight had five rooms and plenty of windows. The living room, dining room and kitchen were stacked on one side of the house. The other side of the house had the two bedrooms separated by a small hallway.


This Starlight Cottage was actually built in 1926.  Photo from Realtor site.


All interior walls have been removed. Photo from Realtor site.
 

Photo from Realtor site.
 

As in the original floor plan, the stove is next to the now-exposed interior chimney. Photo from Realtor site.
 

The front bedroom. Photo from Realtor site.


The rear bedroom with the double windows. Photo from Realtor site.


Photo from Realtor site.


There is an addition on the back of the house for a master bedroom and bath. Photo from Realtor site.


The new master bath. Photo from Realtor site.

 
Photo from Realtor site.


Photo from Realtor site.


This Sears Starlight was built in the fall of 1926. The purchaser was a wealthy real estate developer in the Geneva/St. Charles area named Emery T. Moore, and he received financing from Sears Roebuck. He also built a Sears house next door. The former owners report Sears shipping labels on the lumber in the Starlight.




 


1 comment:

Architectural Observer said...

Twenty-one years is an impressive run for any kit house; the Starlight clearly was what a lot of home buyers were looking for! It is interesting to note that in this renovation the living, dining and kitchen areas are still retained in their original locations despite the removal of interior walls.

So many of these houses seem to end up gutted or remodeled; it would be nice to have a centralized warehouse somewhere to receive unwanted parts and hardware which could be sold to help restore other Sears houses. Not sure how that would work logistically or financially, but it's a nice fantasy!

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