The Thrift Book of a Nation

Earlier this week, my friend Rachel posted a picture of this 1922 Sears catalog in our Facebook group “Sears Homes.” I found it utterly enchanting. The cover shows a little girl dashing out to the mailbox to retrieve the goodies that just arrived from...

The Sears Home in Needham, Massachusetts

Last week, I visited Needham, Massachusetts and spent time with my daughter, Anna Rose. After a Saturday morning breakfast, we were driving back to her house when I saw a house that caught my eye on Webster Avenue. As she pulled up to a nearby stop sign, I hopped out...

Pretty, Pretty Preston!

“Houses By Mail” (published 1985) is a wonderful field guide for those seeking more information on the 370 models of Sears kit homes that were offered from 1908 – 1940. The book contains some factual errors, but it’s still one of my favorites...