In “Driving Miss Daisy,” there’s a scene where Hoke is studying a wall filled with family pictures, and he comments “I just love a house with pictures, Miss Daisy. It do make a house a home.”
Hardly a day goes by that someone doesn’t send me a picture of a house, but my favorites are the old family photos that capture a moment in time when a family was enjoying their newly built “home.”
Last week, Donita Roben joined our group on Facebook (“Sears Homes”) and posted a picture of her home, asking if someone could identify a family home that had come from Sears Roebuck.
In no time at all, Rachel Shoemaker identified the house as a Lewis Navarre, and posted original catalog images from the 1920 catalog. (BTW, to read more about why 80% of people who think they have a Sears House are wrong, click here.)
Thanks so much to Donita for sharing these photos! And thanks to Rachel for identifying this wonderful old house!
To hear Rose’s recent interview on NPR, click here!
*
Donita said that her father-in-law remembered the house being delivered by train. She wrote, "My father-in-law remembers that everyone in town was so excited about its arrival. He talked about unloading the train and hauling things by wagon. Even the kids got in on helping by pulling their little wagons loaded with kegs of nails, etc. He did not live in the house until later. It was actually built by the town doctor (Dr. Cross)." Photo is copyright 2014 Donita Roben and may not be used or reproduced without written permission.
*
One of the things I love about the vintage image (shown above) is that it shows the Lewis Navarre from the same angle as the 1924 catalog picture!
*
A close-up of the boys also provides some detail on the front porch. Check out those paneled columns. Photo is copyright 2014 Donita Roben and may not be used or reproduced without written permission.
*
Knowing what those columns look like, the readers of this blog should be able to spot a Lewis Navarre at 100 paces! Quite unique! (Image is from 1924 Lewis Homes Catalog.)
*
The Navarre was a surprisingly spacious house with a full second floor. The house has four bedrooms and a bath on the second floor. Downstairs, it had a nice-size kitchen with a walk-in pantry and a mudroom.
*
Donita also shared some pictures of the home's interior. The photo was taken in the dining room, facing into the living room. Note the fireplace on the left. Photo is copyright 2014 Donita Roben and may not be used or reproduced without written permission.
*
And it still has its original windows! Photo is copyright 2014 Donita Roben and may not be used or reproduced without written permission.
*
And she found some markings on the lumber Photo is copyright 2014 Donita Roben and may not be used or reproduced without written permission.
*
"You can see that the Navarre is remarkably well designed..." (1924).
*
In her email to me, Donita wrote, "One of my best friends lived in this house and I used to walk home from school with her when we were in high school. I spent quite a bit of time at the house, and loved it even then." Photo is copyright 2014 Donita Roben and may not be used or reproduced without written permission.
*
Thanks so much to Donita for sharing these photos! And thanks to Rachel for identifying this wonderful old house!
To hear Rose’s recent interview on NPR, click here!
* * *
In her email to me Donita said the land was platted in 1914 and the house was built around that time possibly 1914 or 1915.
I couldn’t find anything in the assessor records however I did find that the house was offered in the 1914 catalog as the San Mateo.
I can’t access the Sanborn maps for Rockwell, Iowa. That might help determine a closer date.
After I sent the original information I did find out that Dr. Cross was one of the town doctors from 1917-1936, so maybe that narrows it down a little more.
Thank you Donita, Rosemary, and Rachel- Thank you for sharing this fabulous home! What a Americana remembrance.
Interestingly enough, I am seeing McMansions in my area (built in the last 5 years) incorporating the front elevation of these types of homes.
Unfortunately, with zero zoned lot lines, (5 ft between the home and block wall) it looks dumb. High density housing tracts don’t work with such masterpieces.