A Sears Puritan "Dollhouse" in Elgin

The Sears Puritan is one of the most charming little Dutch Colonials Sears ever sold. With a neat 24' x 24' footprint, it looks like a dollhouse in real life.

In the 1922 Sears Modern Homes catalog, the Puritan appears with its classic gambrel roof, full‑width dormer, and a curved entry pediment supported by decorative brackets. Buyers could even add an optional sunroom off one side. The benches by the front door were included in the standard price, a sweet little detail that made the house feel welcoming. 

Someone else thought the Puritan would make a great dollhouse as well. Miniature artist Frank Moroz created a 1/2"‑scale reproduction for Nutshell News magazine — a beloved publication devoted to the world of miniatures.

Benches and sunroom included! Scan from http://www.greenleafdollhouses.com.

Nice landscaping! Scan from http://www.greenleafdollhouses.com.

Here's a great example of a full-size Puritan still standing in Elgin.

671 Oak, Elgin.  

An older photo of the house with its original shutters. Photo from Historic Elgin website.

 

 

 

 

There is an addition off the back of the house.  

 

 

 

 

Naturally there is a dollhouse in the dollhouse!  

 

 

 

According to the Historic Elgin website: "The 1925-26 edition of the Elgin City Directory lists the lot at 671 as vacant, but the directory from 1927-28 list Arwin Rahn at the property. This suggests the home was built in 1926. Financial records indicate that Arwin and [his wife] Lydia purchased the property in March of 1927 from Albert C. Eichhorst for $6,200. It would appear, then, that Eichhorst purchased the land, built the home, and then immediately sold it to the Rahn family."

Arwin worked as a lineman for the telephone company.  The Rahns sold the house around 1943.




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.