The Mail-Order House
Located on James Street this is one of the seven Magnolia style, Sears Home Kit Houses that still exist today. It was ordered from the Sears catalog and shipped to the buyer in numbered pieces. In 1955, however, the layout was changed. One of the two staircases 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 house's original details remain, including tin ceilings, moldings, a double-sided fireplace and the outdoor light fixtures. A tuip-shaped chandelier in the foyer is original, as are the fireplace tiles and transom windows. This house showed a widow's walk in the Sears ad but this house never had one. How can you tell this is a Sears house: look for stamped lumber in the basement, attic or crawlspace. Sears Modern Homes were kit homes and the framing pieces were stamped with a letter and a number when the lumber arrived on site. That number was used to assemble the pieces. Often any paperwork, including blueprints and bills of lading can be found in the attic or the basement. Plumbling & heating equipment was not included in the basic kit home but could be purchased separately. From the 1920s to 1940 Sears plumbing features sometimes were stamped with an "R" or "SR". The house is now owned by John & Lisa Tabor. They say the house is solid, strong, well made and very pretty. Located at 1500 James St ,Syracuse, NY (63)
The Mail-Order House
Located on James Street this is one of the seven Magnolia style, Sears Home Kit Houses that still exist today. It was ordered from the Sears catalog and shipped to the buyer in numbered pieces. In 1955, however, the layout was changed. One of the two staircases 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 house's original details remain, including tin ceilings, moldings, a double-sided fireplace and the outdoor light fixtures. A tuip-shaped chandelier in the foyer is original, as are the fireplace tiles and transom windows. This house showed a widow's walk in the Sears ad but this house never had one. How can you tell this is a Sears house: look for stamped lumber in the basement, attic or crawlspace. Sears Modern Homes were kit homes and the framing pieces were stamped with a letter and a number when the lumber arrived on site. That number was used to assemble the pieces. Often any paperwork, including blueprints and bills of lading can be found in the attic or the basement. Plumbling & heating equipment was not included in the basic kit home but could be purchased separately. From the 1920s to 1940 Sears plumbing features sometimes were stamped with an "R" or "SR". The house is now owned by John & Lisa Tabor. They say the house is solid, strong, well made and very pretty. Located at 1500 James St ,Syracuse, NY (63)