In the past two years I have discovered many new interests, hobbies, and passions. I have talked about many of them on here before, antiqueing, collecting fiesta ware, pyrex, vintage fashion, etc.. One interest I have yet to tell you all about is my interest in housing! I attribute my interest in housing to my soon to be degree in human ecology. I have had to take several classes talking about shelter, housing, and design and have throughly enjoyed it!
One area of housing that has really interested me is the "do it yourself kit homes". Many people have not heard of them and if you are one of those people, do it yourself kit homes is a house that was sold through catalogs in the early 20th century. Sears, Montgomery Ward, Alladin were a few of the companies that sold the houses. They were 30,000 piece kits delivered by railroad to the location and you were given a book on how to put it together! There were over 300 styles of these houses and there was even a school. The houses were very inexpensive ranging from $2 to $8 thousand. Many of these houses still exist today! We all ride by them everyday and often times people live in them and don't even know they are!!
Anyhow I would love to own one someday that is still very authentic with little to no serious modifications. My mom actually grew up in one and I remember going to visit my grandparents when I was little. I haven't seen that house since I was three but I remember every room and even where the furniture was located! The house was not built with indoor plumbing (but was later added) and they still had an outhouse in the backyard. I remember many meals in the kitchen, many times peeing my pants and mom having to wash them and hang them in front of the wood stove haha!, and many good memories there. I will never forget that house and that farm, and the people who made it a home.
I love architecture very much and am a self taught student of the field.
ReplyDeleteThe house that you show in the picture is Four Square Style, and the Hendersons and Baysingers each live in one.
The Chochettes live in a Arts and Crafts Bungalow that was purchased from Sears and Roebuck as were several of the houses on Market Street.
The house at 510 is a Federal Style but had the porch put on in the 30's and it is an Arts and Crafts style.
I love studying the styles of different homes and seeing how true to form they have been preserved.
The house we are living in now is a mid century desert home that is one story with low slung roof and big rooms with big windows. Very clean lines and lots of glass.
So totally diff. from the home we have lived in for the last 20 years.
Anyway I thought I'd share that with you.
aw thats neat. i didn't realize there was so many right there in a row in pocomoke! Anne was neighbors with the man who owned the Alladin company in Michigan! She said he never actually finished his own house!
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