Peace Pipes and Fourplexes: The Calumet

The Calumet is a rare Sears kit house that was offered for a brief time in the late 1910s and early 1920s. Sears did offer a few apartment buildings (yes, as kits), and the Calumet was one of them. My favorite feature of the Sears Calumet is the wall-bed, and the...

The Paloma: A Two-Story Bargain

In 1919, The Paloma was indeed a “two-story bargain.” The very modest 860-square-foot, two-story house cost a mere $1,131 which was a sound value.  And all in all, it wasn’t a bad-looking little house. But it was little. Upstairs, they managed to...

Coming Out Of The Closet: Murphy Beds

In the early years of the 20th Century, living a simple, modest, clutter-free life was an integral part of The Bungalow Craze. Murphy Beds were an integral part of that “space-saving” mind-set. And they were very practical, too. After one’s morning...