Sears has been on a roller coaster ride recently. The company announced that it will be closing several stores due to declining sales worldwide. It’s sad to see iconic American companies like General Electric, Ford, GMC, and Sears struggling to compete against giants like Amazon, Google, and Apple in the 21st century.
These modern economic powerhouses are venturing into self-driving cars and other innovative technologies.
However, even though Sears might disappear, its legacy will live on. Sears was a significant retailer in the 1900s and played a crucial role in shaping the America we know and love today. One of their innovations was their mail-order service, through which they sold a wide range of products, including appliances, household items, and even homes.
Unlike today’s companies that often prioritize short-term durability, Sears was committed to creating quality products in the early 1900s.
Back then, Sears sold this man’s house for just over a thousand dollars. Considering the prices of homes today, that’s quite a steal. Sears had various house designs available for purchase and would ship them anywhere in the country. All you needed was a plot of land, and voila, you had a place to call home.
The house was delivered in pieces with detailed plans, and it was up to the buyer to assemble it. What an innovative solution, even by today’s standards! In fact, this idea seems to be gaining popularity as people embrace simpler living and the trend of small homes. Many DIY enthusiasts would love the opportunity to build their dream home piece by piece.
According to the Sears Archives documented by Atlas Obscura, the company sold approximately 75,000 mail-order homes between 1908 and 1940. The grandpa from the Reddit post built a house called Design No. 137, which cost around $1200 in 1916. Adjusting for inflation, that would be equivalent to about $27,000 in 2016.
Surprisingly, this mail-order house from Sears has withstood a century of wear and tear and still stands strong today. “It has held up incredibly well, all things considered,” the Reddit user wrote. “The exterior was a bit rough since the wood wasn’t treated back then, but the house was structurally sound. To preserve the interior, we had to build a shell of HardiePlank over the old exterior and install storm windows over the original windows. The original roof was beyond repair, so we replaced it completely. Considering that the basement is a century old, it’s in remarkably good condition. It’s been a fascinating project.”
Looking ahead to the year 2118, what do you think future generations will admire from our time? Will it be our smartphones or computers? Or could it be something so integral to our lives that we hardly notice it?
