Annapolis and its Sears Homes
What a surprise to find an abundance of Sears Homes in Annapolis Maryland! It’d be interesting to know how and why this Navy town ended up with so many kit homes.
A picture’s worth a thousand words, so here are a few pictures of my “finds” in Annapolis. Note: All of the homes pictured below were found within the city limits of Annapolis, MD.
BTW, if you enjoy these pictures, please spread the word and email a link to your friends! And join our group on Facebook, “Sears Homes.”
To learn more about Sears Homes, click here. In short, these were houses purchased out of the Sears Roebuck mail-order catalog. They were shipped to the rail station in 12,000 pieces and assembled by the aspiring homeowner. About 70,000 Sears homes were sold from 1908-1940.
To read a recently published article on the Sears Homes of Annapolis, click here.
The Sears Newcastle was a Colonial Revival and a popular design
Sears Newcastle sitting pretty in Annapolis
The Sears Hamilton was a modest, but a big seller for Sears.
Odds are, the owners of this Sears Hamilton have no idea that they have a historically significant home, and no idea that its historic value has been diminished with insensitive remodeling.
The unusual rooflines on the Sears Jeanette is its best distinguishing feature.
This little Jeanette has a photographer standing in its front yard!
A "bungalow from the Golden West" the Osborn was another very popular house.
This Osborn sits on a corner lot in Annapolis.
Originally known as The Windsor, this little house was later renamed "The Carlin." By any name, it's still a cutie-pie!
Here it is, in the flesh, on a dead-end street in Annapolis.
Perhaps one of their top ten most popular designs, the Sears Crescent was offered in two floor plans, with an expandable attic option in both plans.
From the 1919 Sears catalog, here's a view of the Crescent's interior.
Sears Crescent with its expanded attic! The dormers were probably added in later years, after the home was built.
The most notable feature on the Americus (shown here from the 1925 catalog) was the oversized front porch roof, unique front columns and the second floor front wall that juts out a little from the first.
I found this Americus in an upscale neighborhood. This Americus has been "supersized." Judging by the home's placement on the lot, it's likely that this house was a "custom design" and was built with the extra square footage.
There is a Glens Falls model Sears house in Annapolis on Southgate Ave near Franklin. Sits back from the road with a long driveway. It’s so large, hard to believe it was mail order.
You might like to know that the “original” structure (not the new building) of the Holy Family Catholic Church in Davidsonville began as a Sears “Kit” house. You can probably get some background info from the church office or elders as to how they came to buy a “kit” house way back when.
I am going to forward this info on to my brother. He attended the Naval Academy and he also married a girl who I believe grew up in Annapolis! Maybe they will recognize some of these. I told them about these houses during their last visit. They also lived in Norfolk for awhile and I told them all about you Rosemary
@christine
Aren’t they lovely homes? I was so impressed with the *quality* of Sears Homes I found in Annapolis, and they’re all in very nice condition.
I loved looking at these pictures. I had no idea that Annapolis had these homes too. I do know there are several in Washington DC area, I know of a few in the Capitol Hill area.
Thanks for the posting!
Annapolis and its Sears Homes http://bit.ly/b471gz
This comment was originally posted on Twitter