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rosethornil

This old schoolhouse - have you seen it???

20 years ago

I've been wandering the country for four years looking for Sears Homes but one thing I've never been able to find is this Sears KIT SCHOOLHOUSE.

The kit schoolhouse was offered by Sears Roebuck only in the 1908 Sears Modern Homes catalog. I've seen some fairly close examples (Such as this one from Hanover, PA), but never a perfect match. I'm wondering if it was ever built. I'm also wondering if maybe it was built and later torn down.

It was offered in solid brick and had a "FUTURE Girls' Toilet" and a "FUTURE Boys' Toilet" in the floorplan.

If anyone has seen this school house, please drop me a note or post it here!!

Thanks!!

The 1908 catalog picture:

The close match I found last week in Pennsylvania:

Thanks!!

Rose

author, The Houses That Sears Built

Comments (9)

  • 20 years ago

    I haven't seen it, but boy, those old brick school houses sure do look a lot alike, and I attended a couple of them.One of them had no toilet facilities within the actual building. You had to go down a winding stairwell to the ground floor, then to an outside passageway that connected to the lavatories. Maybe it was to discourage us kids from taking needless bathroom breaks in cold weather?Of course, it was nice to get out of the stuffy classrooms in springtime.

  • 20 years ago

    Here's a similar one in Nashville. No dormers, different cupola, but similar.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Fall School

  • 20 years ago

    Hmm, it looks very similar to the queens colledge main building in charlotte NC, dillworth area. they probably have a website, I will look it up.
    John

  • 20 years ago

    I went to school there!!!!!!!grade school.Im from Hanover originally.

  • 20 years ago

    There was an old schoolhouse (turned into a hideous block of apartments) in the town where I attended college in Western, PA--Grove, City, Pennsylvania. There are also Sears built homes in that town.

    The old school building was actually in use until the early 1970's--my husband's sister attended there for 1st grade. Then it was sold and turned into apartments.

    Anyhow, I can't make any guarantees, but it does look quite abit like the picture--although it may be smaller, and have fewer windows.....

    Good luck!

  • 20 years ago

    I've seen one similar while driving on the 40 in South Jersey. I don't remember which town though ... Also a few in the sticks of Arizona. I wonder if any old records exist as to who may have ordered these buildings.

  • 20 years ago

    Off topic to original question, but:

    This looks very much like the kind of building I live in. It is a converted school house. From the exterior it looks like an old brown battle ship.
    They've maintained the center halls and divvied the floors into effeciancy and one bedroom apartments. This took place about 12 years ago or so. Not very attractive at all from the outside, but the apartments are relatively modern and affordable.
    Cream.

  • 4 years ago

    Maybe this one in Montpilier Idaho Bear Lake Middle School. There was a smaller one close to here that was condemed and burnt down a few years ago in Geneva ID that was built in 1909. Happy hunting!


  • 3 years ago

    There's an old schoolhouse in Ft Smith AR that looks similar. It's now apartments.

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