I love Elkins, WV. It’s a beautiful place and a lovely city. And I love the people of Elkins, too. Especially this guy (pictured below), sitting on the rock.
His name is Wayne Ringer and he’s from Elkins, West Virginia.
He graduated from Davis and Elkins College in 1977, and Washington and Lee (School of Law) in 1980. Last summer, we drove from Norfolk to Elkins to attend his cousin’s 30th Wedding Anniversary party (part of the Skidmore clan). It was a happy, happy time. Surprisingly, I found quite a few Sears Homes. (Story continues below photo of cutie-pie husband)
Darling Hubby Wayne from Elkins, poised atop a rock in the Cheat River
What is a Sears Home? These were true kits sold out of the Sears Roebuck catalog. The houses were shipped via rail and contained 30,000 pieces of house. Each kit came with a 75-page instruction manual and a promise that a “man of average abilities” could have one assembled and ready for occupancy in about 90 days. Today, there are about 70,000 Sears kit homes in America. Incredibly, about 90% of the people living in these homes don’t realize what they have! The purpose of this website is to help people learn more about this fascinating piece of America’s history.
Here are a few of the houses I found within the city limits of Elkins, West Virginia.
The Sears Lynnhaven was one of Sears' most popular kit homes.
Sears Lynnhaven in Elkins, hidden behind a few trees.
Sears Matoka, another popular Sears Homes
Sears Home or Wardway Home? Hard to know for sure. This house was offered (in identical floorplans) by both Sears and Mongtomery Wards. One thing's for sure: It's a beautiful old kit house. It's in South Elkins.
Sears Hazleton from the 1919 Sears Modern Homes catalog
Unfortunately, I had to photograph this house from the opposite side shown in the catalog image, but this bungalow (high atop a hill in Elkins, WV) is unmistakeably a Sears Hazleton. If you looked at this house from the right side, you'd see that unusual bay window with six windows (four large, two small) on that left side. It's located in Wees Historic District.
Sears Cornell from the 1923 Sears Modern Homes catalog
Sears Cornell. Although this looks like just another foursquare, this Cornell has a goofy floorplan, with a tiny bathroom (and tiny window) on its left side. When you look on the home's left side, you'll see that the oddly-placed bathroom window is right where it should be. THe Cornell was a very popular house for Sears, and I'm confident that this house is a Sears Cornell.
Sears Marion/Lakecrest from the 1936 Sears Modern Homes catalog
Is this a Sears Marion? I'd say it is. It's a good match on all sides and all the windows are in their right place. One eye-catching feature is the swoop of the bellcast roof on the front of the house. The raised roof in the back was obviously added in later years.
Sears Glendale from the 1919 Sears Modern Homes catalog
Is this a Sears Glendale? It looks like it. However, it is not a spot-on match.
And there’s even a Lustron Prefabricated post-WW2 home in Elkins. Lustron Homes were made of 20-gage 2×2 metal tiles, covered with a porcelain enamel finish (just like the top of a high-dollar washing machines!). These houses were all metal – inside and out – and hanging a picture required sticking magnets to the walls! Nails and other fasteners would damage the porcelain enamel finish. Lustron was based in Columbus, Ohio and less than 3000 Lustron Homes were sold in this country. They were remarkable, strong and long-lasting houses – definitely ahead of their time. Finding this three-bedroom model in Elkins was a special treat, as the three-bedroom Lustrons were very rare.
Lustron Home in Elkins, WV
Close-up of 2x2 metal tiles on Lustron Walls.
To learn more about Lustrons, click here.
To read more about Sears Homes in West Virginia, click here.
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Here is a story about a Lustron in Atlanta:
http://www.readymade.com/magazine/article/laws_of_attraction
The Hazelton that you found has me a bit confused because I notice that it is a two-story home but if I’m not mistaken isn’t the Hazelton a single-story? Those windows in the gable should be part of the attic, unless this homeowner actually made their attic into living space, which is very possible as the attic would be quite roomy in a Hazelton.
The reason I bring this up is that I just purchased a home in Indianapolis that was built in 1915 and matches the Hazelton floorplan to the letter with the exception of the kitchen that was renovated around 2006. Based on all of the details inside the home that match the description in the original Sears ad, we are about 99% sure that we have a Hazelton. The beams in the basement have all been painted so we can’t tell if there are numbers on them but I will be heading into the attic hoping to find some markings there.
I can’t seem to be able to post any pics here otherwise I would offer them up so you could tell me what you think 🙂
Yes, the Hazleton was a two-story home – sometimes. 🙂
There’s a Hazleton in Litchfield, IL with a gabled dormer too, which is pretty interesting.
I’ve sent you an email. Send a photo by reply and I can tell you if your house is a Hazleton.
@Sears Homes
Hey Rose! 🙂
I know it’s been a little while, I did email you some photos of my *possible* Hazelton a few days after my last post. It looks like you’ve been pretty swamped, just wanted to see if you got the pictures 🙂 Hope you’re having a great spring/early summer and staying out of the heat!