Modern Home #126 appeared in the 1908 Sears Modern Homes catalog (which was the year Sears opened their Modern Homes Department). By 1914, it shared a page with its fraternal twin, The Sears Elsmore (then known as Modern Home #208). By 1916, Modern Home #126 was gone.
In March 2002, The Houses That Sears Built hit the world and in a desperate bid to promote the book (and the topic), I did a survey of nearby Webster Groves, Missouri. (I was living in Alton, Illinois at the time – just across the Mississippi River from Webster Groves).
After doing the survey, I contacted several folks in Webster Groves and talked them into allowing me to give a lecture at the Webster Groves’ Library. Those were good times. It was my first “big” talk and was promoted in a local paper. We had about 80 people show up at the talk and 40 of them purchased a book! As I said, good times!
It was during that survey of Webster Groves that I found Modern Home #126. Rachel Shoemaker sent me a link to this house which recently sold. Unlike so many Realtor photos I’ve seen, the pictures of Modern Home #126 are beautifully done and in focus! Thanks to Circa Properties of St. Louis for allowing me to borrow these photos! 🙂 You can visit their website by clicking here.
To read about the Sears Homes in nearby Kirkwood, click here.
Did you know that Ferguson was the first city to hire me to do a survey of kit homes? I’ll always be grateful for the kindness of the people of Ferguson.
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Modern Home #126 appeared in the first Sears Modern Homes catalog (1908).
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By 1914, Sears Modern Home #126 was relegated to sharing a page with the newly offered "Modern Home #208" which would later be known as the Sears Elsmore. By 1916, #126 was no longer offered.
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The Sears Elsmore became an immensely popular house for Sears (1921 catalog).
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And yet, Modern Home #126 had been a popular model (judging by the testimonials).
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The two homes shared a floorplan that was very close. Perhaps do-it-yourself kit home builders didn't appreciate those chamfered corners on #126. Plus, the closets in #126 are a bit odd.
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Those chamfered corners and over-sized eaves do create a unique and dramatic appearance!
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And here's Modern Home #126 in Webster Groves, one of my "first" discoveries! And major kudos to the Realtor for snapping this photo from the right angle (to match the catalog page).
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And what a sheer joy to see that this fine old home still has its original "eyes" (windows) and siding! Can you imagine how it'd ruin the look of this home to put in some pedestrian vinyl windows?
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What a fine-looking home it is. Do the owners know that it's a Sears House? This one, I'd say "maybe," because it was featured in that talk I gave in Webster Groves, so many years ago.
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The floorplan featured for this listing shows it's a pretty good match to the old catalog image. The minor changes shown above (bathroom modifications, closet enlargement and added staircase to 2nd floor) could have been done when the house was built or in later years. Houses do tend to get remodeled a bit through the years.
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Modern Home #126 from the 1908 catalog.
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The interior of the Webster Groves #126 is also stunning.
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The upstairs seems quite spacious. Those four small dormers add a lot of light to the room. I'm inclined to think that this 2nd floor was done when the home was built but it's almost impossible to know for sure. This house is now 100 years old or more.
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Here's another lovely #126 that Rebecca Hunter found in Quincy, Illinois. It also has its original windows and siding (stucco). I find it most interesting that, without exception, every #126 I've seen has had columns or pillars added to that over-sized front porch overhang. Photo is copyright 2008 Rebecca Hunter and may not be used or reproduced without written permission.
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Lastly, here's Mr. Gilchrist's Modern Home #126 at 2904 Meredith Avenue in Omaha, Nebraska! Photo is courtesy Douglas County Assessor's website (and they don't even KNOW how courteous they're being in sharing this image)!
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Interested in purchasing a quality home in St. Louis? Visit Circa Properties website here!
Check out Rebecca Hunter’s website by clicking here.
To read about the Sears Homes in nearby Kirkwood, click here.
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I honestly can’t recall where I read it, but somewhere I read an article that said those originally unsupported cantilevered porch roofs were destined to collapse without added support in the form of columns or posts of some kind.
They look so unstable just from the drawings. It’s probably just my own preferences, but the original exterior elevation isn’t nearly as attractive as its second incarnation as Modern Home #208 (The Elsmore).
We lived in an older house we rented for about a year or so in Kokomo, IN when my kids were still babies, and it had ONE of those funky corner closets in it, in a room that had been previously transformed by previous tenants into a laundry room.
The other bedrooms had no closets whatsoever. Apparently the house was old enough that when it was built, nobody expected built-in closets ~ they used movable wardrobes or chifforobes or whatever other movable furniture which served the purpose.
Babies didn’t need closets in our house ~ they shared a tall chest of drawers.
We bought and used a portable clothes rack in a corner of the bedroom. Behind closed doors (our bedroom) it was nobody’s business what furniture was or wasn’t in there, and it worked for us.
I couldn’t wait to get out of there though, and we moved to a modern apartment in Indianapolis after my husband got transferred and promoted in his job.
We had real closets, and central heating (instead of a space heater in the living room) and A/C, and cable and storm windows and everything!
I am the current owner of the Webster Groves #126, purchased in 2016. The windows are vinyl but whomever replaced the originals made sure to keep the look of the originals. The siding is original. The original builder did make a few changes to the layout. They added a wall with large open doorway between the living and dining rooms, built in china cabinet is on the wall closest to the dining room. They also made two fireplaces out of one so both the dining room and living room have one, thus adding another snipped corner to each room (7walls in each room). I believe you are right that the stairway to the second floor were installed during original construction because they are very steep and the walls in the stairway are plaster. I do not think the upstairs was finished till later since the walls are drywall.
We absolutely love this little house. Recently several kit homes in the neighborhood have been flipped with extensive renovations/additions and have lost their charm. It’s a shame, but at least mine still looks like an adorable dollhouse!
I am the proud owner of a #126 in Cincinnati,Ohio! I always wanted to see inside a kit home so when this one came up for sale I couldn’t resist. As soon as I stepped in I new I would buy it. That generous front hall, the clipped corners and the beautiful quarter sawn oak floors!! Swoon!