One of my personal favorite Sears Homes is the Sherburne. For one thing, it’s quite distinctive (and easier to identify than a very simple little house). And, it’s just so pretty. I love the lines, the big front porch, the steeply pitched roof and all those windows.
Enjoy the photos!
The 1921 catalog described the Sherburne as "Strikingly handsome."
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And apparently, it was popular too (1921).
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The first floor had three spacious rooms.
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My favorite graphic of all time comes from the 1916 catalog, and features the Sherburne. Mom and Dad are living in squalor here, eyeballing the "plans" for their new house, The Sherburne. Look at their circumstance! The house they're in now has GAS lights! The curtains are threadbare, the rug is worn and tired, and the library table is so pedestrian! Such a primitive structure!
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But Dad and Mom are already dreaming The American Dream and they've sent in their $1 good faith deposit to Sears. They have started on the path to the "Materialization" of their great dream. And it's a Sears Sherburne!
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And now they're moved up to the "Realization" of their wonderful dream! The manifestation of all that dreaming (and working) is an imposing, three-story Sears Sherburne!
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And what follows "Anticipation, Materialization and Realization"? Gratification! The kids are dancing a jig! Mom and Dad are happy, happy, happy! And look at the house! They now have electric lights! And a phonograph! And a mantel clock and artwork on the walls! Why, even the library table has grown a marble top. They now have a thick, plush rug!
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This Sherburne is in Rudyard, Michigan (and is the house mentioned in the testimonial above). This photo is copyright 2010 Dale Wolicki and can not be used or reproduced without written permission.
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This beauty is in Urbana, Illinois. I love the colors on this house. This photo is copyright 2008 Rebecca Hunter and can not be used or reproduced without written permission.
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And this one is in Decatur, Illinois.
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In the 1916 catalog, the Sherburne was $800 less than 1921.
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In both the 1916 and 1921 catalogs, this scary guy is on the front porch.
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To learn more about Sears Homes, click here.
To read about my other favorite Sears kit house, click here.
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Hey, I got another one right! Rudyard is small town in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, just off I-75 between St. Ignace and Sault Ste. Marie (Michigan).
The Lehighton house is still there 🙂
523 Mahoning Street, Lehighton PA 18235
The Rudyard House belongs to my Grandmother!
Grandmother’s house in Rudyard Michigan is always a joy to see when I drive through town.
Hopefully the house is keeping her warm this cold December weekend!
I grew up in the house in Rudyard.
I am sitting in the house in Rudyard right now.
Hot water heat and cast iron radiators keep it warm, but the original windows leak a lot of air compared to new ones.
But, it is a classy house all the same and not looking too bad for 100 years old.
It would be great to see some current photos of the Rudyard house.
My daughter just bought a house in Richmond, VA which is this house with slight variations.
Does anyone know how to get framing or electrical plans?
I found a Sherburne model at 103 Bondsville Rd, Downingtown, Pennsylvania. You can see it on Google Street View.
Looks mostly original and very cute. Even has a small “Sears Kit House” sign in the front yard.