hello all,
I just wanted to share some images of the home I grew up in. It’s in LaPlata, MD and was built in 1930 according to tax records. It’s had several changes over time but looks to me to be at least inspired by the Sears Osborne. It sits on a corner lot and the side porch was altered to be used as the main entrance, this was original. Changes over time were the addition of stairs to the upper floor and finishing it as a habitable room, enclosure of the sleeping porch and addition and enclosure of another small porch next to it, enlarging of a possible third bedroom [mystery room off of living room] and portion of larger porch carved out for this room, screening in of larger porch, early on- the walls were furred out after the original construction, not sure why, but evidence exists of radiators moved after pipes fit into floor, some walls are not insulated and are plaster on the concrete blocks, orig Dutch garage had later addition for larger cars, skylights put in and a few doors moved in the 1990s to allow use of upper floor as master bed room, bathroom added in upper floor some time mid-century. I've been trying for years to make sense of all the changes this has seen.
Liz

I believe that this house could be more than "inspired by" the Osborne. It looks like the side view of an Osborne to me. It's been remuddled and seriously altered from its original design (front porch looks rough), but I'd say there's a fair chance it is indeed a Sears Osborne.

Rose

Rose,
Thanks for taking a look. I'll have to scan the historic images we have from previous owners. The earliest shows the porch in its current configuration [though it has been rebuilt several times over the years]. It is unfortunate that the large side porch was altered and chipped away at at some point. That is the biggest loss. Even with those changes it still has a lot of character and original fabric.
Liz

Here is the earliest photograph of the house, it should be the early 1930's. The main entrance porch remains the same though the side porch is not yet screened in or altered. Also the far left porch is visible, this is now enclosed.
Liz

The Osborn First appeared in the 1915 catalog.