From “White Beauty” to Brick Classic

Kit home researcher Andrew Mutch recently shared a fantastic Sears home testimonial from a poster he picked up on eBay — and it led us straight to one of the rarest Sears models in Illinois: The Preston, also known as the “White Beauty.”

The testimonial came from H.F. Meacham of Oak Park, who mailed Sears a photo of his brother’s Preston. At the time, only one shutter had been installed — a charmingly unfinished touch in an otherwise stately Colonial Revival.

Testimonial letter by H.F. Meacham of Oak Park, Illinois. Scan courtesy of Andrew Mutch.

Photo of "The Preston" that Meacham sent into Sears Roebuck. Scan courtesy of Andrew Mutch.

 

The Sears Preston from the 1923 Modern Homes catalog. Notice that the Sears Preston in Oak Park had a sunroom added at build time, a popular upgrade for families who wanted extra light and space.

 

Sears nicknamed the Preston the "White Beauty". Despite being sold from 1918 to 1924, there is only one Preston in Illinois, making this house a true rarity. The Preston features symmetrical triple windows on the front facade, dormers on the roof, and an inset arched entryway. 

Andrew located the Preston in Oak Park. In a twist, the White Beauty is now clad in red brick, giving it a completely different personality.

900 Fair Oaks, Oak Park. On the right is a new family room addition, added sometime after the original build.

An older photo with less foliage, from our friends at the Cook County Assessor.

The Preston is not flush in the back. The section of the second story that is now enclosed was once a sleeping porch.

The sun room side.

The side with the family room and large side yard.

The Preston was built in 1921 and cost $10,000--a significant sum at the time. 

From American Contractor, May 1921. Who is D.H. Thatcher and why is he listed as owner?! There was a wealthy Thatcher family in River Forest at the time. I am so confused! Was a Meacham the second owner? 

The Oak Park Preston has a reversed floor plan. The size of the dining room has been reduced to increase the size of the kitchen. A half bath was added on the first floor where a stairwell was. On the second floor, a front bedroom was removed to create a primary bath. The sleeping porch and rear bedroom were combined to make one big bedroom.

The reception hall.

The reception hall from the 1918 Modern Homes catalog. Remember our house in Oak Park is reversed.

A look back towards the front door and the dining room.

The house originally had decorative beams on the ceilings and built in bookcases in the living room. The catalog states that a "rustic brick mantel" came as standard, so I suspect that is a replacement. Those doors lead to the original sunroom.

 The sunroom has since become a home office.

The new half bath on the first floor.

The expanded primary bedroom. The windows were once the sleeping porch.

The sleeping porch as it was originally.

The new primary bath which was once a front bedroom.

The attic has been finished with a sitting room, an additional bedroom, and a bathroom.

The Preston came with a wall safe as standard, which a prosperous family needs to store their wads of cash.

Our letter writer, H.F. Meacham, didn't actually live in the Preston. However, his brother, Dr. William C. Meacham, did.  H.F. Meacham lived next door in this house:

The Meacham brothers, both surgeons, built Sears houses side-by-side in Oak Park. A perfect snapshot of early 20th‑century suburban ambition.

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.