If a mother could have favorites, the Sears Lorain would be on my Top Ten list. I’ve always had a soft spot in my house-shaped heart for Cape Cods, and the Lorain is a classic example of a 1930s Cape Cod.
In 1933, The Lorain was offered with the rounded dormer, but in later years, the design was changed into a gabled dormer. Personally, I prefer the round design (or “circled head” as Sears called it), but I suspect it was a problematic issue for the neophyte home builder, so it was changed.
In 2005, I visited New Jersey where an independent film maker did a one-hour documentary on the restoration of her Lorain (in NJ). It was well done, but I don’t know if she ever sold the film. It was titled, “Restoring Lorain.”
The filming of that one-hour documentary was a blast, and the woman film maker and her sister showed me great kindness and respect during my time with them. Maybe that’s why the Lorain is one of my favorites! 🙂
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Thanks so much to Rachel Shoemaker for sharing this image from her 1930 Sears General Merchandise catalog! What a wonderful ad, featuring the Lorain!
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Now that's good writing!
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In the 1933 Sears Modern Homes catalog, the Lorain had a "Circled Head Dormer" (as shown above). Check out the arched porch roof with pediment. Down the side there's a bedroom window (full size) and two small windows (bath and kitchen). This is another distinctive feature to help identify the Lorain.
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Hey, what's Dad doing here? Mowing the neighbor's yard? Why, that's not even a Sears House in the background! The humanity!!
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In 1936, the Lorain still had its "circled head dormer." And lots of flowers in the flowerboxes.
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In 1938, the round dormer was replaced with a gabled dormer. The flowers remain.
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I love reading this stuff (1936 catalog).
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This is a darling little house, and check out the cut-out shutters (1936).
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And it has a star. Hmmmm. How quaint. Nonetheless, this Lorain in Petersburg, WV is in darn good condition. If only I'd remembered to pack my battery-powered chain saw to deal with troublesome landscaping. That bush is right in the way of everything.
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Another angle of the Lorain in Petersburg, WV.
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Not only does this Lorain in Claremont, NH retain its original windows (and storm windows), but it has its original cut-out shutters, too. How exciting is that?
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Nice sized rooms, but a tiny little bathroom.
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No bathroom upstairs? Eek.
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The 1938 Lorain.
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Here's an example in Alton, IL. That wooden deck railing is a special kind of ugly.
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Yikes. This poor dear in Elgin, IL needs a emergency dormer-ectomy performed.
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What a cute house! I wonder if the film maker has posted the video online someplace where we can all view it. I know I’d love to see it.
Not only does the dormer need fixin’, but take a look at what they have done to the rounded detailing on the front porch by closing in behind it with siding!!
Not sure what they gained by doing this to the front porch.
Do you by chance know where I can order or find a pdf. of the original instruction manual for the Lorain?
@Jacodi Pierce
I’ve seen the construction manual for Sears kit houses online. But the ones offered were not house-specific.
Blueprints for a Lorain would have house-specific details but I’ve yet to see a set for the Lorain.
I just came across this when I found a documentary on youtube and was looking for more info on it. I think this may be what you’re looking for: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVfCT_iNsos