Come August 2014, this website will celebrate its fourth birthday, and one of my very first posts at this site was about this little mystery house in Ohio (shown below).
Unfortunately, I never did find this house, or learn anything about the couple in the photo.
I suspect the house is somewhere in Ohio (which is where this post card was sent from) and I’m sure the couple (and their child) have gone on to heaven. The house in this photo was last offered in the mid-1910s Sears catalogs.
The diminutive foursquare is Sears Modern Home #106, and I purchased the post card from eBay in 2002. It cost $3, and I suspect that there weren’t a lot of folks who recognized this little house as Sears House.
If you know where this house is, or if you know the people pictured herein, please drop me a line?
To read more about how to identify kit homes, click here.
And if you live in Ohio, please post this link on your Facebook page! Maybe we can find this house!
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In 2003, I purchased this post card from eBay. I'd love to know where this house is. I suspect it's somewhere in Ohio, because this postcard was originally found in Ohio.
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Close-up of the little fam in front of the little house. Check out the detail on the porch railing.
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Extreme close-up of the fam. Dad doesn't look well.
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You can see a house number hiding behind that column.
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Modern Home 106, as seen in the 1910 Sears Modern Homes catalog.
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Oh dear - where's the potty?
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The house in the photo has an extra dormer on the side, which probably made this small attic room more livable. At least, a *little* more livable!
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Who are they?
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Have you seen this house? If so, please leave a comment below!
To learn more about the big and fancy Sears models, click here!
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Odd photo for a postcard. Rose, what’s on the back?
Oh yes, Ohio, that narrows it down! Lol!
Every time you post this picture I look for it.
After about ten minutes I think to myself “really”you would be better off spending time picking numbers for the lottery.
I really would love to know where this house is or was.
I bet Rachel has spent a few minutes looking too.
I know, but I have to give it a try every year or so. 😀
Someone knows these people or this house.
SOME one!
When I started writing these blogs, I was getting 30 hits a day and now I’m well past 1,000 hits a day, so my odds of finding someone who knows where this house is are going up! 😀
@Lara
Lara, apparently the post card was never “posted.” On the back is a small circle of print that just says “Post card.”
No clues at all!
Ha Mark! You know me too well 🙂
I have spent some time, more than once, looking and trying to solve the mystery. LOL
Since I last looked for this house I have been able to collect all of the modern homes catalogs ever published.
Last night I looked in those published from 1908-1917 in hopes of finding one of those blurbs that say “this house built in such and such towns” not one.
It was never shown in the merchandise catalogs either.
I haven’t checked the building materials catalogs yet but I think I would have seen it and likely found it because I have found most of those homes too. :/
To me, this looks like it could have been taken to send to Sears as a testimonial.
I love the 106 and other early 1-1/2 story models from the catalogs.
I *think* I also saw this house in your book The Houses That Sears Built, but was immediately smitten with the boxy appearance, use of materials and overall charm.
Here in Norway, building regulations are very strict and actually prevent home builders from duplicating old styles.. sad, because I would love to build this exact house with a minimum of augmentations!
(I would include a bathroom somewhere, slate roof tiles instead of shingles for climatic reasons and update insulation standards.)
Ps. I found the book very educating. I conversely bought Sears Homes of Illinois, and together they form my Sears homes hobby’s learning material and case study.
Have you tried the Ohio Historical Society?
When was this house manufactured — then see how many Ohio towns were actually in existence at that time. There’s a way to narrow it down.