A pretty sight I saw yesterday.

[Erby]

Sometimes you see something pretty. Just wanted to share it.

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OK, so it was a long time ago. But it still looked good.

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[Brian G]

Ahhhhh, Prarie style. Sturdy, practical, and unassuming.

Brian G.

My Kind of House [:-thumbu]

[kurt]

Sweet. And that guy didn't have no steenkin' electric power compound miter saw.

[John Dirks Jr]

The picture of that house brings back memories for me. The house looks almost identical to the one my father was raised in. I remember visiting there in my childhood.

Unfortunately the house is no longe standing. It was located in Greensburg Kansas and was destroyed by the tornado that leveled 95% of the town on May 7 2007. Next weekend we are flying out there to visit with relatives who live on a farm on the outskirts of town.

Here is same links to aftermath of the storm:

http://www.kansas.com/static/slides/050 ... doaerials/

http://www.ultimatechase.com/chase_acco ... Survey.htm

[Chris Bernhardt]

A couple of years ago I inspected a house built by a professor at UofO and his sons in the 90's completely without using any electrical tools. Even the cabinets and this was no small house. I saw the collection of hand saws that he had used. Unfortunately he passed away shortly after finishing it.

Chris, Oregon

[John Dirks Jr]

Here's the lot to the house where my grandmother used to live. It's just a hole in the ground now.

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Look across the street in one direction and this structure was damaged but not destroyed.

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Look across the street in the other direction and all structures are gone. This land was cut up into 1/2 acre lots and was all built up. Now you can see clear through to the other side of town and beyond.

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[hideinforest]

Oh,is it prefab?

I just wonder how much times it took before becaming a pretty one?

[Erby]

C'mon Jerry,

Look at the picture of the exterior. Do you really think they did pre-fab houses 100 years ago?

[ozofprev]

Originally posted by Erby

C'mon Jerry,

Look at the picture of the exterior. Do you really think they did pre-fab houses 100 years ago?

Perhaps not that one, but yeah, sort of...

[Chad Fabry]

I was going to mention Sears kit homes, but decided against it because they weren't really kits as much as a lumber package with a set of plans.

It's very possible that the house Erby posted is indeed a Sears kit. we have whole neighborhoods of Sears four squares mixed up with Craftsmans

[ozofprev]

According to the link, the lumber was precut and prefitted. That goes beyond lumber with plans.

[Chad Fabry]

Hmm. I haven't run across that phrase in other ads. Thanks for the info

[Erby]

Nah, from other things in the house, it's obviously stick built on site.

Though I didn't know Sears Kit Homes went quite that far back. Dang!

I have seen several here in Lexington from the late 40's early 50s though over on the east side of town.

[Bill Kibbel]

Originally posted by Erby

I didn't know Sears Kit Homes went quite that far back. Dang!

I have seen several here in Lexington from the late 40's early 50s though over on the east side of town.

Those can't be Sears homes or the dates are wrong.

In 1906 Sears sold building supplies through their catalog.

In 1908 building plans were added.

In 1909 folks could purchase the plans and the exact materials in a package.

In 1916, ready-made (pre-cut) kits were first introduced.

Folks could also finance through Sears.

The Modern Homes program was discontinued in 1940. The kits were never stored, they were prepared for each order.

[Jim Katen]

Originally posted by inspecthistoric

. . . The kits were never stored, they were prepared for each order.

Aw, shoot! You mean that you can't buy an old Sears kit home that's still packed in Cosmoline?

- Jim Katen, Oregon