The Sears Del Ray was patterned after a popular design that popped up in several places in the late 1910s/early 1920s.
One hundred years later, it’s hard to figure out who deserves credit for designing this attractive bungalow.
The Sears Del Rey, as seen in the 1921 Sears Modern Homes catalog. From what I can glean, it first appeared in their catalog in 1920 or 1919.
*
In February 1922, this design won The "Blue Ribbon Award" in the popular building magazine, "American Carpenter and Builder."
*
The accompanying article in American Carpenter and Builder states, “I am a student at Sanford University, and I erected and completed this charming little residence with the assistance of one carpenter during my summer vacation. It was sold as soon as finished. I will build more during the coming year.”
In other words, in the early 1920s, a California college student spent his summer vacation building the Del Rey’s clone in the San Jose area. (Reminds me of a song! “Do you know the ‘Rey in San Jose?“)
*
Oopsie. Here's another one. This is Pacific Ready Cut Homes Model #385. Gosh, it looks just like a Del Rey too! (1919 Pacific Ready Cut Homes.)
*
Personally, I find "breathing houses" worrisome.
*
And here's a Del Rey in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Maybe. Or maybe it's the 1922 "Blue Ribbon Winner." Or maybe it's Pacific Ready Cut! Photo is copyright 2012 Rachel Shoemaker and may not be used or reproduced without written permission.
*
Ah, but here we have a bona fide Sears Del Rey, authenticated by Rebecca Hunter. This darling house is in Elgin, Illinois. The photo was snapped in 2002 (at Halloween)!
*
Floorplan for the Del Rey shows a screened porch (right rear) that is usually converted into another bedroom (1921 catalog).
*
In the 1924, Mr. Gray built this Del Ray in Ohio (from a testimonial published in the 1924 Sears Modern Homes catalog). Sure would be fun to find out if this REAL Del Rey is still standing.
*
Accompanying text gives the name and city. Is it still there?
*
Here's a Del Rey in Wheaton, IL.
*
This one is in Rocky Mount, NC.
*
Dale and I found this little house in Fullerton, California (oops, I THINK it was Fullerton). Most likely, this is the Pacific Ready Cut Home Model #385 with a modified shed roof over the porch.
*
To learn more about Sears Homes, click here.
To read the next blog, click here.
To learn more about Pacific Homes, click here.
* * *
I have one in Cincinnati with a coordinating garage.
R. V. Gray’s Del Ray is located at 885 Grayton Road, Berea, Ohio
We have a Del Ray (or Del Rey) authenticated Sears model in West Chicago, IL.
When the original owners ordered it, they had an empty lot on the west side, so ask to have the fireplace on the interior wall, and put three extra sets of the beautiful French windows on the west wall.
Unfortunately, another house was built on the western lot about 1957, but the interior is all the same layout, and we still have the original windows with the fabulous hinges, etc.
Oh, I found “R. V. Gray’s” Sears Del Rey years ago!
Robert V Gray’s, wife Lida, Sears Del Rey is located at 23400 Cedar Point Rd, Brook Park, Ohio.
It has been heavily remuddled. If you look up the address you can see an old real estate listing and see that the original fireplace, shown in the catalog image above, is still there.
Here is my Del Rey in Naperville…. 619 N. Ellsworth St./Users/lhernandez/Desktop/P1010622.jpg