A Stately Sears Haverhill in Evanston

1010 Isabella, Evanston. Capture from Google Streetview.

Sears Haverhill.

The Sears Haverhill was sold from 1933 until 1940. Sears marketed the Haverhill as an economical Colonial. Considering the Haverhill debuted in 1933, the slowest year for residential building in decades, "economical" was the operative word and affordability was everything.

The Haverhill had six rooms, two full baths, and a half bath—a surprisingly generous layout for a modestly priced kit. Sears promoted the Haverhill as a “home of good taste” that delivered comfort and efficiency without unnecessary cost. The home represents the practical elegance of Sears’ later catalog years. It was designed to look refined but not extravagant, to offer modern comforts without excess. 

This Haverhill in Evanston was built in late 1932 or early 1933.

The dormers are original to the house as the attic was initially finished as a recreation room. The side porch was an option on many Sears models.

The current owners have enclosed this porch and made it a sunroom, but originally it looked like this. The railing is original from Sears.

That same railing design appeared in the catalog illustration for the Sears Jefferson model, one of several examples where Sears reused decorative details across different homes.

The front entrance was modeled after the one on "General Strong's home, which was built 'way back in the Revolutionary days," according to the Modern Homes catalog. I took this photo before the current owners purchased the house, and the house needed some sprucing up. 

The Haverhill front entrance as shown in the catalog illustration.

This appears to be an original light fixture.

These railings are original from Sears and can be found on other Sears models.

The Haverhill has an identical floor plan to the Sears Alden. However, the Haverhill exterior is brick veneer, it has a fan-light entrance, and has more windows in the front.

A fireplace came standard with the Haverhill—the catalog charmingly described it as “friendly.” The fireplace anchors the main living room, with a door leading out to the sun porch..

In the kitchen, the original cabinets from Sears are still in place, a rare survival story.

The first-floor half bath retains its pink tile, a cheerful touch that likely dates to the home’s earliest years.

Three bedrooms on the second floor, and two full baths. The master bedroom has a separate dressing room and two wardrobes.

The master bedroom. 

The master bath features a walk-in shower—something only a few Sears models ever offered.

The original owners were Johannes and Grace Krawetz. Johannes graduated from Northwestern University in 1923 with a degree in chemistry and went on be president of the Phoenix Chemical Laboratory. In August 1932, the couple purchased the lot on Isabella Street. With baby Arthur due that October, they needed a home of their own.

The Krawetzes moved into their new Haverhill and stayed for the rest of their lives. Johannes died in 1974, and Grace followed in 1984. Their son Dr. Arthur Krawetz and his wife Sallie Posniak lived in the house following his parents' deaths. Like his father, Arthur worked for Phoenix Chemical Laboratory. He passed away in 2015, and Sallie sold the home the following year. The real estate listing identified it as a Sears house.

Today, the Evanston Haverhill is still doing exactly what Sears promised: offering good living for generations to enjoy.

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.