Recently I made the 90-minute drive to West Point, Virginia, looking for Sears Homes. Thanks to Rebecca Hunter’s book, “Putting Sears Homes on the Map,” I knew there were at least four Sears Homes in West Point. Her book is a compilation of testimonials from old Sears catalogs, organizing those testimonials by city and state.
Her book listed one testimonial in Norfolk, Virginia and yet I’ve found more than 50 Sears Homes here in Norfolk. “Putting Sears Homes on the Map” listed four Sears Homes in West Point. Proportionately speaking, that meant there should be at least 200 Sears Homes in the tiny town!
I’m saddened to report that I could only find one of the four houses that were listed. Her book listed the Whitehall, the Greenview, the Ivanhoe and the Avoca. I found the Ivanhoe, but couldn’t get close enough to take a photo. It sat on a supersized lot, bordering the water. Unfortunately, it faced the water, making it especially difficult to get a photo! However, I did find (and photograph) the Avoca.
Here are the Sears Homes that I found in West Point, Virginia.
To read more about Sears Homes, click here.
Sears Avoca
Avoca
Sears Crescent
Sears Crescent
The Sears Homes of West Point probably rode into town on these very railroad tracks!
Sears Greenview from the Sears Modern Homes catalog. We know one of these was built in West Point, but where?
Sears Whitehall. We know there was a Sears Whitehall built in West Point, but I suspect it's been torn down.
And there's a Sears Ivanhoe on the waterfront, but no one was home. I'd love to get a photo! This image is from the 1920 Modern Homes catalog.
To learn more about Sears Homes, click here.
To buy Rose’s book, click here.
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There is a beautiful old Sears home on Highway 30 just eight miles out of West Point. It is in very good condition and I believe it is a Vallonia? 8 rooms, hallway and staircase straight up the middle of the house, one bath. It sits on an incredible piece of property, long drive lined with old cedars and a cold cellar built into the hillside in front of the house on the right. Too good to pass up if you are this way again. It is the second house on the left past the intersection of King William Rd (30) and Rose Garden Rd. Don’t know if current occupant is visitor friendly! Stop at the store on the corner and ask the proprietor!