220 S. Villa Ave, Villa Park, IL 60181

Operated by the Villa Park Historical Society, a 501C3 non-profit organization, partnering with the Village of Villa Park

Villa Park Historical Society & Visitors Center

Sears Catalog Homes

Sears sold these “Modern Home” kits from 1908-1940.  Everything you needed to build the house were assembled with instructions – including lumber, nails, flooring, roofing, bathroom fixtures, plumbing, etc.  Shipped by railroad boxcar and then usually trucked to a home site, the average Sears Modern Home kit had 25 tons of materials, with over 30,000 parts. All you need to do was excavate the foundation.

Rebecca L. Hunter is a nationally recognized expert, author and researcher of these kit houses.

Sears sold these “Modern Home” kits from 1908-1940.  Everything you needed to build the house were assembled with instructions – including lumber, nails, flooring, roofing, bathroom fixtures, plumbing, etc.  Shipped by railroad boxcar and then usually trucked to a home site, the average Sears Modern Home kit had 25 tons of materials, with over 30,000 parts. All you need to do was excavate the foundation.

It is believed that Villa Park may have over 70 Sears house.  However, only 11 have been authenticated and received an honorary “Sears Catalog Home” plaque by the VPHPC