Ms. Thornton-

I live in Nashville, TN and found you (obviously) on the internet
using a Google search for "Identifying Kit Homes".

I am trying to identify this house. The lady who lives there has been
in the house since 1954. NOTHING has been done to the exterior except
an exterior entrance added(under the screened front porch), the
interior has been altered somewhat but can be restored. The stair
orientation was changed to make it a duplex. There is one pair of
pocket doors changed into a single door. (She says the pocket doors
are still inside the wall!!)

I have searched the Sears catalogs and cannot find anything similar to
this house. I have some library books on the way...

This house & the one next door were obviously built around the same
(she says 20's, the neighbor says 30's) time using the same materials.
The house next door (pic included) is much more elaborate, but has the
same roof line and fancier windows, trim, etc. It was renovated in the
80's. Both homeowners were told they were kit houses.

The pseudo "Romanesque Revival" facade on this house just blows me
away.

Much, much thanks in advance for any insight you can provide. I think
I am suddenly and completely obsessed with kit houses. I have ordered
some books. If I am correct, Nashville is absolutely chock full of kit
houses, most have been beautifully restored.

Regards,

Joy

View the pics here:

http://s163.photobucket.com/albums/t288/applestar1912/

I don't think either is a Sears. the house next door resembles a Sears #123 but it was available 1911 -1913.

Sears did offer a machine that made the blocks the two houses are constructed of. There were ads that said a man could make enough blocks to build his own house so maybe the houses were made with a Sears brick machine?!

They're both nice looking houses!

Donna

Donna-
Thanks for the reply. What a project! Can't find this roof line anywhere. Oddly enough, the closest architectural style I can match is from "A Field Guide To American Houses" pg. 337: upper right hand...style: Eclectic, subgroup: Colonial Revival...and that is the house next door!

Have sent this out to R. Thornton and some architect friends. I am aware of the Sears kit that helped turn cinder blocks into fascinating stone-like elements...but 2 whole houses worth?

Keep me informed if you run across anything.
Much appreciated.

Hey Joy-

You may want to post your house over at www.oldhouseweb.com. They have a huge active forum with people with ALL different kinds of houses - maybe those folks can help.

donna

That's a grand old house, but I don't recognize it as being one of Sears 370 designs.

quote:

Sears brick machine

The Arkansas Historic Preservation program has some interesting info about the Sears concrete block machine.
"The basic machine offered by Sears, Roebuck and Company home catalogues came with the rock face pattern, which could be a factor in the frequent appearance of that design in Arkansas. Sears, Roebuck catalogues also offered plans for concrete houses but did not provide the concrete block because most people would make their own. To cover all the bases the company offered its version of the block machine in 1905, asserting that ease of production was such that anyone could start their own cottage industry or make blocks for their personal use."

CONCRETE BLOCK