I am trying to identify the maker of this kit home that was built in 1916 and can't find another one like it anywhere online. Do recognize it? The front porch looks like it is screened in this picture. This was taken in the 1920's of the house.

Thank You
P. S.

This is a picture of the interior of the home in 1918 when the original owner had it. To the left through the entry is the front door.

I have seen some Fenner Maufacturer Co Kit Homes that look very simalar to this one and they were based in Portland OR.

This home was shipped from the West Coast to Fairbanks Alaska. Portland sounds like a place they would have had a home shipped from.

Does this help to ring any bells for anyone?

This is the house before it was referbished

This is the house after it has been referbished

Here is another one.

The back entry looks like it was added on later.

Chenapat,

If you haven't already, you should check the Aladdin Catalogs, they had a large plant in Portland during the time period that you are researching, and you should also think of the Eaton Company, who was selling kit homes in western Canada from 1910 to 1932.

Lauren

I have looked at the Aladdin Homes and not found this house.

I do not believe I have looked at the Eaton CO. homes though.

Thank you for the lead!

quote:

Originally posted by Chenapat:


I do not believe I have looked at the Eaton CO. homes though.

Thank you for the lead!

I have the Les Henry book on Eaton's Homes and it does not show up in there.

That is for 1915 and 1916?

I have found two very similar house but not the right one yet.

This is the other one. It is a Harris Home Model number M-1501

This is another close match. It is out there some where!

Would it have been extremely unusual to change the plans in a kit home?

quote:

Originally posted by Chenapat:
Would it have been extremely unusual to change the plans in a kit home?

I think changing a "kit" home would have been unusual, but I have to think that lots of "planbook" homes were changed. Our house is based on the "Monte Cristo" from the 1926 Standard Homes Company catalog. The original owner handed the builders the planbook house and then said what she wanted changed. Here is a comparison of the original plans and what we have:

House comparison

How fasinating to see the differance in the houses and the owners note and what she wanted changed! What a treasure to have for your home and the original pictures too.

Maybe they made changes from the original house plan because I can find close matchs but not the right house yet. I have been through 1000's of pictures and have only come close but not found the right house as you can see.

Thank you for your post

I am beginning to wonder if this is a kit home at all. No one recognizes it and this is the best place to ask.

I have searched from 1915 to 1916 of different homes and manufacturers and have come close but not found the home I am looking for.

Chenapat-

People could and did make changes to kit house plans. But also keep in mind that companies like Sears and GVT and alladin designs reflected the popular homes of the day. They were followers not leaders. People had plan books to choose from, builders could design their own homes, etc. There were many ways to create a home.

Your home is a beautiful one - that porch makes me want to come over and sip iced tea and chat on a warm summer's day. Enjoy it and don't worry too much about its roots - it might decide to tell you more about itself later!

Donna

This home was so detailed for the times in Fairbanks Alaska it just must be a kit home so I think it may have been changed while building.

I hope I will be able to figure it out. I still have not looked at local records for the time.

It would have had to come in by stern wheeler as there so no rail road to Fairbanks from the states at this time.

I have had to write my book about the owner and builder of the home with out documenting the kit home it was.

I hope some day I can find the records in Fairbanks at the time it was bulit and find out what kind of kit home it was.