Kit Houses Stand the Test of Time
Kit houses were America’s first mass-produced, prefab homes, sold by Sears, Montgomery Ward, Gordon Van Tine, Aladdin and also a couple of others. The materials for these homes, ordered straight from a catalog, were delivered to the construction site by truck and rail. Unexpectedly, each the parts, from wood to dividers to the kitchen sink, have been delivered ready for assembly with a local builder or even the owner.
As the prevalence of the kit house grew, so did the available sizes and styles. Sears and many others could produce homes that catered to every pocketbook and every taste. Over 70,000 were sold during America, and a number of these homes are still standing. In fact, there are many communities from Maine to Illinois to California that boast a large, complete collection of kit homes.
Such as the bungalow, the apparel home began with the dawn of the car Age and the consequent growth of inner-ing suburbs.
More: The Bungalow: National Design in the Dawn of the Automobile Age
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Cabinet homes came in several distinct sizes, styles and types. All the material for this particular Craftsman kit house would have been ordered through the retailer’s catalog and delivered to site by rail and truck.
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As one lot owner after another ordered from the catalog, it was not unusual for whole neighborhoods to be built almost exclusively of kit homes.
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Originally small homes for small lots and marketed to budget conscious buyers, these homes have a richness of detail that belies their modest origins.
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Kit homes are ripe candidates for renovations and expansions. By adding windows to this living room, this kit dwelling is made more attractive for today’s owners.
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Such as the bungalow, the normal kit house kitchen was initially modest and basic. Through renovation, remodel or a potential improvement, these kitchens may meet 21st century needs for spaciousness, convenience and light.
Bud Dietrich, AIA
A page out of this Gordon Van Tine catalog for the “Columbia” version, which the firm also marketed as the “Hudson.” Montgomery Ward marketed a slight variation of this home as the “Cedars,” selling the kit for $2,515. Not bad for each the materials to build a home.
Bud Dietrich, AIA
A 1920s Gordon Van Tine “Columbia” model, bought from a catalog page such as the one above, after renovation and expansion. New siding, windows and front door guarantee the home will be around for another century.
Bud Dietrich, AIA
Many apparel homes that were initially small, frequently only six rooms and one bath, have been expanded for added living space like a family room in addition to master bedroom and bath.
Bud Dietrich, AIA
Ceiling heights from the original kit homes were usually ample, letting new spaces to possess the exact same. An addition to your kit house also affords an opportunity to include windows, raising the quantity of natural lighting from the house.