Mail-order House
The mail-order mansion. This house is the Magnolia model of the Sears Kit Homes. There are only seven known Magnolias, and the one in Syracuse is in the best condition, according to an expert on these houses. She said that this house was the only one that has all the trim. A little bit of history: For nearly 30 years people could order a piece of the American dream through the mail. A buyer could leaf through a Sears, Roebuck and Co. catalog, choose a house and mail in the order. In time, a railroad boxcar would chug into town, carrying a ready-to-assemble house - complete with nails and a 75 page instruction book. Most of the house kits came in a single boxcar. The model named Magnolia sold between 1918 and 1922, needed two. The Magnolia was bigger, grander and fancier than any of the other 370 models that Sears offered. And because of that, it was also rare. Only six were thought to have been built. An expert on Sears homes got an e-mail about this particular house on James Street in Syracuse. She then realized that there was indeed a seventh Magnolia model. Edward Knapp bought the house from the Sears catalog - the exact date is unknown. The architects drawings have two dates 1918 and 1921. Knapp who traveled extensively, had the house built for his two sisters. The Knapp's sold the house to Constance & Albert Samara, who lived there for more than 40 years. Albert died in 1986, Constance in 1993. When Anthony Zollo heard the house was for sale he bought it sight unseen. He spent more than $100,000 and three months of 12-14 hour workdays to restore and update the house. Next up for the house, Lisa Tabor and her husband John bought the house, got engaged and then married in the house on New Years Eve in 1995. The house had been on the market for three years. After they moved in they discovered the architects drawings in a drawer. In 1955 the layout of the house was changed, Lisa Tabor said. One of the two staicases was removed to enlarge a bedroom, an outdoor porch on the back was enclosed and enlarged and an upstairs bathroom was added. The house looks bigger than it is - its a four bedroom split Colonial. Most of the houses original details remain. Located at 1500 James Street in Syracuse, NY (62)
Mail-order House
The mail-order mansion. This house is the Magnolia model of the Sears Kit Homes. There are only seven known Magnolias, and the one in Syracuse is in the best condition, according to an expert on these houses. She said that this house was the only one that has all the trim. A little bit of history: For nearly 30 years people could order a piece of the American dream through the mail. A buyer could leaf through a Sears, Roebuck and Co. catalog, choose a house and mail in the order. In time, a railroad boxcar would chug into town, carrying a ready-to-assemble house - complete with nails and a 75 page instruction book. Most of the house kits came in a single boxcar. The model named Magnolia sold between 1918 and 1922, needed two. The Magnolia was bigger, grander and fancier than any of the other 370 models that Sears offered. And because of that, it was also rare. Only six were thought to have been built. An expert on Sears homes got an e-mail about this particular house on James Street in Syracuse. She then realized that there was indeed a seventh Magnolia model. Edward Knapp bought the house from the Sears catalog - the exact date is unknown. The architects drawings have two dates 1918 and 1921. Knapp who traveled extensively, had the house built for his two sisters. The Knapp's sold the house to Constance & Albert Samara, who lived there for more than 40 years. Albert died in 1986, Constance in 1993. When Anthony Zollo heard the house was for sale he bought it sight unseen. He spent more than $100,000 and three months of 12-14 hour workdays to restore and update the house. Next up for the house, Lisa Tabor and her husband John bought the house, got engaged and then married in the house on New Years Eve in 1995. The house had been on the market for three years. After they moved in they discovered the architects drawings in a drawer. In 1955 the layout of the house was changed, Lisa Tabor said. One of the two staicases was removed to enlarge a bedroom, an outdoor porch on the back was enclosed and enlarged and an upstairs bathroom was added. The house looks bigger than it is - its a four bedroom split Colonial. Most of the houses original details remain. Located at 1500 James Street in Syracuse, NY (62)