I've been catching up and reading all the posts!! How interesting this site is!!

I am president of our local historical society in Iowa. We have a house we are moving that is called 'craftsman-style' by the person from the state preservation society who inventoried the house and decided it should not be destroyed. It is eligible for the National Register of Historic Houses, as the inside is virtually unchanged.

We DO know the house was built in 1920. We have people in town that recall kit houses coming to town, but don't specically recall this house.

Thus far, we have not found any markings on basement items we can get to. We have not been in the attic yet. I checked under the stairs yesterday and could not find anything.

We are also moving the garage as that is as built also. The windows tie it into the house.

I'll attach some pictures and any help or suggestions are VERY welcome.

Thanks so much. Linda [IMG]C:\WINDOWS\Desktop\museum\house pictures[/IMG]

linjenka, your link doesn't, work at least for me, please post it again. thx.

You can't link and insert a picture on your home computer, which is what the file path shows, you can only attach a picture from your home computer. To use the html 'tags' (ie [IMG]pic name[/IMG] ) the picture has to be uploaded to the net in a photo account, and then it will be inserted directly into the message.

Wabash - put the [img] and [/img] tags around the url address/name for your animated train, and it should show up in the forum, instead of being linked. Put it into your signature and it should show up everytime you post.

thx stonecat, i hope to find something a bit less hokey

I love Iowa because it is filled with homes from Gordon-VanTine, A Davenport Iowa lumber yard. From 1908 until about 1925 they offered house plans from which customers could purchase blueprints and all the materials needed to build the house (thus there are no identification stamps). From 1916 until 1946 they offered pre-cut kit homes, just like those from Aladdin and Sears.

Post a picture and one of us should be able to identify the house!

OK- I'm confused how to post pictures. I need to put it on a photo account- where???

I wondered if this was going to be from the Davenport place also.

I'll post some pictures as soon as I can figure it out!!

Thanks, Linda

Open the message box and look at the bottom left. Click on "Add Attachment" note to add a photo from your home computer. The picture will show up as a link in your message (little paper clip symbol with the name)

The method of opening an on-line account is different, but for now just try the "Add Attachment" method.

Gosh, I don't see 'add attachment.' Am I missing something or what??

sorry!! Linda

Linda,

I figured out the problem. You have to register as a member before the "Add Attachment" function gets enabled. In other words, if you just post as a guest you can't add pictures. Signing up is simple...and its free

It looks like I need to post a certain number of times to get the member status.

So, here is another.

linjenka, you have enough posts that you should at least be shown as a junior member so you must have missed something when you signed up. go to "my space" and see what is up. dale wolicki seems to be in the same position.

stonecat, do you know how this works?

I'm trying to load a picture of the house I described above. I have inside pictures also.

A guy went into the attic and could find nothing with numbers stamped on any beams. We have looked under the stairs and also in the light fixtures.

We want to write a history of our house, but everyone is town is sure it is a kit house. I need to prove it before I will write that.

Any suggestions??

OK now that I got it to load, I'll add a few more.

I thought perhaps it was a M. Ward house as we are in Iowa.

Any help appreciated.

There are some websites that document the Sears Kit Homes:
http://www.oldhouseweb.com/stories/Features/Sears_Kit_Houses/

Even Sears now has an historical section of their webpage that reproduces the books where customers can order their homes.
http://www.searsarchives.com/homes/

This has lots of pictures and floor plans:
http://64.66.180.31/archive/sears/index.shtml

Good luck, it is a neat looking little bungalow.

Bev.

I don't know whether or not its a kit but your porch is really sharp!! The curves give it a really unique look!!

One of my board members sent me a link to a Sears Starlight house plans. This appears to be very similar to our house. I could not read the dimensions- can anyone help me with this?

Also, does anyone have an opinion as to if our house would have been built with a bathroom in 1920 in small town Iowa??

We are trying to get our house listed in the National Register of Historic Houses. It is eligible for this. It would be great to be able to say it is a kit house and this is the model.

The kitchen and bath have been updated and we want to take them to 1920's style. That is why I'm looking so hard for plans.

I've loaded an indoor shot. The woodwork and interior is untouched and original.

Rosemary- could you help with this??

Dale, I've sent you a few pictures. Perhaps these new ones will help you also. The Sears Starlight looks possible. Any thoughts?

I can use all the input I can get. Please

And another interior shot.

I have more if anyone wants to see.

Thanks, Linda

Someone has suggested the Tacoma from Montgomery Wards might be what our house is. Does anyone have any info on this house? What are its dimensions? Our house is 24 ft by 36 feet with an 8 foot porch out front.

Is there any good books/web sites on Wards houses?

Thanks, linda