Local History

The next time you visit the historic Clague House Museum, you may notice the new flag pole just to the right of the front door.  The Westlake Historical Society dedicated this flag pole on Saturday, Aug. 11, to the memory of longtime Westlake residents and outstanding society members Bill and Jean Robishaw.

During the ceremony, Westlake Mayor Dennis Clough read a quote by President Abraham Lincoln to describe the Robishaws: “I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.”

Also speaking during the ceremony were Westlake Schools Superintendent Dan Keenan and Westlake Assistant Planning Director William Krause. A representative from Congressman Dennis Kucinich's office was in attendance with a presentation.

Bill and Jean were married for 67 years until her passing in 2010. After Bill passed away earlier this year, Westlake Historical Society President Lysa Stanton proposed the idea of honoring the Robishaws with the flag pole based on several conversations she had earlier with Bill.

Has your home turned 100 years or older this year? If so, we would like to help you celebrate!

For almost 40 years, the Westlake Historical Society has provided our residents a way to honor their century home or building with a plaque to be installed on the celebrated residence. The cost is nominal and the plaque is custom made for each individual home.
 
Century homes are a very important part of our community because they are a significant link to the rich heritage of our city. We are proud that so many of these historically significant residences continue to beautify present day Westlake.    

In a quiet, candle-lit ceremony, the Executive Committee of Bay’s Bicentennial has sealed the city’s 2010 Time Capsule.

The time capsule, which was on display during the two-day Bicentennial Celebration in Cahoon Memorial Park, stands 12.5 inches tall, 11 inches wide, and 20 inches long. The historic piece is meant to be opened during the city’s 300th birthday celebration in 2110 and will be placed and marked on this, the first anniversary of Bay’s 200th birthday.

The forty-seven-pound coated and water-proofed concrete vault is lined with copper and was specially designed and engraved by Carl Wetzig Jr., co-owner of the 58-year-old Avon Lake Sheet Metal Company located in neighboring Avon Lake.

The first in a series of four articles on the history of homes in Dover – now Westlake and Bay Village – and the Westlake Historical Society's century-home plaquing program.

Have you ever wondered how old your older Westlake or Bay Village home is? The physical appearance of the house offers clues to the time of its construction.

After the log cabin stage, the earliest and wealthiest settlers to Westlake sometimes duplicated their Federal-style homes from back in New England. This house style is reminiscent of the rectangular shape of the hotel pieces in Monopoly with a symmetrical five-bay façade with central door. The fanlight was a common motif and delicate leaded glass window sidelights sometimes flanked the main door. The derelict 1833 Taylor/Lilly/Glendenning house at 28989 Center Ridge Rd. (across from St. John Medical Center) is a fine example of this style with later Victorian era alterations.

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. The day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868, by General John Logan. It was observed later that same month on May 30 by placing flowers on the graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.

The first state to recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890, all northern states had recognized the day. After World War I, the holiday changed from only recognizing Civil War dead to those fallen in all American Wars. In 1971, Congress changed the National Holiday to the last Monday in May.

Today, Memorial Day is celebrated with many local parades and observances including the placement of American Flags on the graves of fallen service personnel. Arlington National Cemetery currently places American Flags on all 260,000 graves, and has since 1948. They then patrol 24 hours a day over the weekend to insure that each flag remains standing. 

The Red Brick Building, a century-old schoolhouse that was considered a landmark of the old Dover Village, was torn down over a period of five days, from Nov. 23 to Nov. 27. This building had been vacant since 2003, and after plans fizzled to transform the building into something useful for the community, the city decided to raze the school. Many residents have negative opinions regarding the tearing down of a local landmark.

“The building holds many memories for a great deal of community members, as well as historical significance for Westlake and the region," said Kim Bonvissuto, Communications Coordinator for the Westlake Schools. "At the same time, you have a segment of the community looking toward the future and the opening of our new middle and high schools [that] sees the Red Brick’s demolition as a necessary step to move forward.”

Last year, as Westlake celebrated their pioneers in bicentennial events, Westlake residents Craig and Kelly Smith had no idea that Craig’s ancestors were part of the larger Smith family that came from Massachusetts in 1811, to help found old Dover Township and Westlake. Craig’s father, Merle, knew little of his Smith heritage. 

This year, as Kelly began some basic internet genealogical research, she came across some information that pointed to the recent bicentennial book, "Pioneers of Westlake, Ohio," by Jeanne B. Workman. A quick trip to Westlake Porter Public Library to take a look at it made her heart race, as she soon realized that Craig was the great-great-great-great-grandson of Dover Township pioneers Abner and Rebecca Gibbs Smith. According to Workman, Abner Smith was born in 1754 in Chatham, Conn., but moved to Massachusetts before coming to Ohio. Abner died in Dover Township in 1821.

The 1920s may often bring to mind flappers, Tommy guns and the Prohibition but, as Michael Goldstein explained to a packed house on Oct. 24, it was also a period of cultural and economic progress.

Goldstein, a history instructor at Cuyahoga Community College, gave a 90-minute lecture about the “Roaring 20s” at Westlake Porter Public Library, peppered with local tales and musical interludes.

Our nation’s Civil War began in April 1861 with the firing of canons on Ft. Sumter. This year, 2011, is the 150th anniversary and commemoration of the Civil War. Activities are planned to remember the men who fought and made sacrifices.

Nine men from North Dover Township who answered the call of their country are buried in Lakeside Cemetery in Bay Village. They are: James Conklin, Washington Elmer, Alonson Grant, Luman Griswold, John Schultz, Chauncey Stevens, Alfred Wolf, Michael Wolf and an unknown union soldier.

This is the story of Luman Laomi Griswold who was born to Luman and Margaret Marilla Smith Griswold in Orange Township, Cuyahoga County, in 1835. At the time of Margaret’s marriage to Luman (the elder) she was living with Caleb Eddy in Dover Township.

The Westlake Historical Society invites you to visit us on Nov. 14 for birthday cake and punch as we celebrate Westlake's 199th birthday. The Clague House Museum, located at 1371 Clague Rd., will be open from 2-4 p.m. for tours and cake. Nov. 14, 1811, was the date that Dover Township (which included all of Westlake and Bay Village, and part of North Olmsted) was officially incorporated. Due to construction, the museum may only be reached by traveling south from Detroit Rd.

The practice of quilting is said to date all the way back to ancient Egypt. Some of the earliest known quilts in Europe date back to the late 1300s. Quilting in America was only done by the wealthy colonists originally and probably further delayed by the Civil War and aftermath.

Recently, the Westlake Historical Society was given a historic quilt made in England dating back to 1838. It is made of three cornered patches and lined with old historical newspapers and letters from the period. It was also shown at the Halle Brothers exposition in 1927.

The above quilt will be part of a presentation on September 27 by Dr. Marie Albano, titled "If Quilts Could Talk." The presentation is sponsored by the Westlake Historical Society and will be given at the Westlake Porter Public Library at 7 p.m.

[The second in a series of four articles on the history of homes in Dover – now Westlake and Bay Village – and the Westlake Historical Society's century-home plaquing program.]

The process of determining the actual year of construction of a building is like researching the “genealogy” of the piece of land on which it was constructed, determining both the chain of ownership and the history of the appraised value used for tax purposes.

The telltale sign of the “date of birth” of the house is an increase in the appraised tax value of the land underneath the structure. It is only in relatively recent years that the assessed value of the improvements on a parcel, such as a house, are assessed separately from the value of the land. For century homes, there was a time when the land, with a productive agricultural value was worth relatively more than the house.

The Clague House Museum is a familiar landmark to many in the city of Westlake. The stately home sits proudly as she has since being built in 1876. The former home of the Clague family, and current home of the Westlake Historical Society, is one that showcases Westlake's fine heritage.

The late Ruth Cunningham, a founding member of the Westlake Historical Society, as well as a miniaturist, envisioned in the mid-1970s building a miniature version of the Clague House. She initiated the idea by commissioning a carpenter to build the shell. The carpenter built the dollhouse-sized model completely enclosed.

On the north end of Bassett Road is Lake Road and the old Sadler (Saddler) property (Lot #92). Sometime after the Lake Shore Electric Interurban track was laid through their property in 1897, the Sadler family sold a strip of land south of the track on the west side of Bassett Road and a two story building was constructed. The building fronted on Bassett Road with two large windows on either side of the front door. On the first floor was a store with parking in front. Upstairs were living quarters.

Across the street was the Thompson grocery store. It was housed in the old wooden Methodist Church building moved in 1909 from the corner of Lake and Bassett Roads to the interurban tracks. When this building burned down around 1911, the Thompsons moved their store across the street into the empty building.

Bill Sadler and a book about the Lake Shore Electric Interurban tells us the building was built by Mr. Pencik, and he leased it to the West Shore Supply Company in 1919. The West Shore Supply Company was opened to satisfy the needs of the farmers in western Bay and Avon Lake. The store sold grain, grape growing supplies, rope, feed and shovels, among other things. It was similar to the Cahoon Store on Dover Center Road near the railroad tracks. With few good roads, the tracks were the way to transport goods and people.

In 1944, United States newspapers were publishing eulogies and paying tribute to the fifth-best-known man in North America behind only Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Charles Lindbergh, and Eddie Rickenbacker. The man receiving this tribute was Jack Miner, a noted naturalist and lecturer who was born in Westlake (then known as Dover Center, Ohio) in the year 1865.

Mr. Miner was one of 10 children living in a small frame house that stood near the intersection of Dover Center and Westown Blvd. Jack's English-born parents made a meager living in a brickyard located across the street from the family home. As a boy, Jack chose to work long hours in the brickyard instead of attending school because he was teased relentlessly about his fiery red hair and freckles. He only returned to school at the age of 12 because he was urged to return by friends Jack Rublin, Jack Klotze, Herbert Pease and George Hubbard.

During the years Jack was not in school, he spent hours learning the lessons of nature. The creek that ran near his home was both a play yard and a laboratory. Jack spent a great deal of time studying the creatures that crept and swam there, as well as the lessons he learned about bird life that would become his life's work.

Like U.S. Presidents, the state of Ohio has given birth to more than its share of astronauts – reportedly 24. While Neil Armstrong and John Glenn are the most notable, Westlake's own Col. Robert Overmyer is a distinguished member of this proud group.  

Although born in Lorain in 1936, Overmyer always considered Westlake his home. Young Robert's family moved to Canterbury Road, and he entered Westlake schools in the first grade. Overmyer graduated from Westlake High School with the class of 1954.

During the summertime of his high school years, Robert worked at Dean's Greenhouse on Porter Road. The income from this summer employment made it possible for him to attend college after graduation.

[Final article in a series on the history of homes in Dover – now Westlake and Bay Village – and the Westlake Historical Society's century-home plaquing program.]

The story of the Sheldon Johnson and John W. Hawkins families has come to light during the research for the plaquing of a century home at 2650 Clague Rd. in Westlake. A goal of the program is discovering the previous owners of a home and linking their stories with that of the house. The book “Maple Ridge Cemetery, Westlake, Cuyahoga County, Ohio: A History of Its People and Families” by Jeanne B. Workman and Jayne A. Broestl, published in 2003 by the Cuyahoga West Chapter, OGS, has information about these two related families.

Sheldon Johnson in 1866 died at age 81. He and his wife, Martha, are buried in Lot 7 of Maple Ridge Cemetery, owned by John Hawkins, Sheldon's grandson-in-law. The same cemetery plot also holds the remains of John, his first wife Vannie, his second wife Katherine and three infant children.

Currently on display through September at the Clague House Museum, 1371 Clague Rd. in Westlake, is a special display  of "Wedding Dresses Through The Decades." This display provides a unique look back into wedding fashions of the past and explains how some of our customs have evolved.   

The 1930s gave us the glamorous Hollywood look, the 1920s gave us the flapper style and the 1980s reminded us of the feel of royalty as Princess Diana's gown influenced wedding fashions throughout the decade and even into the '90s. The display highlights how bridal fashion have changed through the years.

Last year the Westlake Historical Society began placing wreaths on the graves of founding and pioneer citizens of early Dover (now Westlake). We believe placing a wreath on a grave is not only a symbol of remembrance, it is a sign of respect for that person and who they were.

We would like to extend the opportunity for you, your family, organization, group or business to place a Christmas wreath this year in memory of one of our pioneer families. Volunteers from the Westlake Historical Society will place the wreaths on the graves of our founding and pioneer families on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 10 a.m. 

The road construction on Clague Road north of Hilliard Road is almost complete and Westlake's historic Clague House Museum (1371 Clague Road) will be open during the holiday season. On Nov. 19, The Westlake Historical Society will hold an old-fashioned board game night beginning at 7 p.m. Please bring your favorite board game and a snack to share.  

The Clague House will be decorated for Christmas on Nov. 27 and all wishing to join in the fun should arrive at 2 p.m. December 1 is "Night At The Museum" with our special guest, Mayor Dennis Clough. The mayor is scheduled to arrive about 7 p.m. and all in the community are welcome to attend.

The Bay Village Bicentennial Committee has selected the winners of its "Letters to the Future" contest. Bay Village residents were challenged to write a letter of 300 words or less to the 2110 residents of Bay. Judging took place after the contest closed on July 10, and winners were chosen in three age groups: 16 years and younger, 16 to 64 years, and over 65 years. The letters will be placed in the city's 2010 Bicentennial Time Capsule which will be sealed on December 31, 2010, with an open-date of October 10, 2110 – Bay's 300th birthday.

The Observer will be printing each winning letter, beginning with this one by Caroline Dannemiller, winner of the 16 and under age group.

Dear Reader,

I hope you will enjoy my letter
In it will be some description, complaint and positive things about Bay Village.
Almost everyone here right now loves soccer.
Never use weed killer companies on your grass (they ruined my garden.)

During the 19th and early 20th century, parts of Bassett Road in Dover Township (now Westlake and Bay Village) were known as Dutch Road and Elbow Road. “Dutch” for the residents along it, many of whom were of Germanic ancestry, “Elbow” for the angled configuration of the section between Dover and Detroit roads. St. Paul Lutheran Church was the heart of this community of German people and Bassett Road formed the spine.

The first wave of settlers to Dover were primarily from New England with ancestors who had emigrated from the British Isles. Starting sometime after 1852 these original landowners began splitting up and selling their land to the second wave of settlers who were primarily from Germany.

Today if I want an easy Crock Pot recipe, I simply check the social media site Pinterest or do a Google search. A few clicks and I can find just the perfect beef stew recipe. The internet puts any recipe virtually at my fingertips. This time of year prompts many of us to reach into our collection of family favorite recipes to prepare for a special holiday meal. 

Walk back in time with me as we discover the "community cookbook." Most community cookbooks were and continue to be sold to raise funds for various projects. Maria J. Moss is credited with creating the first charity cookbook. It was sold to help cover medical expenses for the care of Civil War soldiers.

Have you ever noticed the row of sycamore trees on the north side of Wolf Road between Bassett and Saddler roads in Bay? Have you noticed them on Bassett and Walker roads? Ever wonder why they are there?

These trees are called American sycamores. You can tell an American sycamore from the way it sheds its bark, which leaves the trunk with a blotchy appearance. They are mostly found in Bay along Walker, Bassett and Wolf roads where our German families settled. This tree species is native to the Arctic, Central Europe and North America. They can be found as far south as Argentina today. They date back to the Cretaceous age, millions of years ago.

Established in 1961, the Westlake Historical Society has been telling Westlake's history for more than fifty years. Today, we are more committed than ever to preserving our local history, and educating the members of our community. We believe our local history is important to the people of Westlake, and we're dedicated to preserving our history for generations to come.

I may be biased, but I feel that in any community the local historical society is one of the most important volunteer organizations. Many people assume that every town in America has an established local historical society and museum.

It was 150 years ago that America’s Civil War began when the Confederates fired on Fort Sumter in Charleston, S.C., at 4:30 a.m. on April 12, 1861. It was a war that pitted North against South, brother against brother, and nearly tore our young nation apart. Many who served on either side were mere teenagers. 

One Medina-born youth by the name of John Yetter joined other men from Cuyahoga, Lorain and Medina counties to serve with the 103rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment from 1862-1865. Yetter’s great-grand nephew, Bill Stark, a Fairview Park resident, former teacher and retired Metro Parks Ranger, studied the history of this unit extensively for his Master of Arts degree in history, at Cleveland State University in 1986.

In celebration of Bay’s 200th anniversary landmark year, the Historical Society will feature a series of articles about various Bay Village structures and their history. The first is the history of the 459 Cahoon Road historical house located at the corner of Wolf and Cahoon roads.

This house was built as a result of a special friendship between two pair of sisters and the tremendous generosity to the City to create the first library in Bay Village.

The Cahoon sisters had two friends named Mrs. Pope and Mrs. Bailey. Mrs. Emma Paul Pope was the widow of the Cahoon sisters' minister, Rev. Pope, from the Methodist Episcopal Church in Cleveland. The other friend was Emma’s sister, Mrs. Olive Paul Bailey-Kennard. Both were widowed.

After the Cahoon sisters retired from teaching, they sold their Cleveland home and moved to the Rose Hill farm in Bay Village to live. In 1910, the generous Cahoon sisters built a house south of the barn on their farm to provide their friends with a place to live.

Located at 1371 Clague Road is a beautiful stately old home that was restored by the Westlake Historical Society. Robert Clague originally came to this area from the Isle of Man and purchased 78 acres of land around 1830. The Clague House, built in 1876, followed a log cabin and then a small frame house first constructed on the property.

Robert and his wife, Margaret, raised nine children and were known for being a very close-knit family. The last two surviving members of the Clague family, Walter and Sophronia, donated their land to the Village of Dover (now Westlake, Bay Village, and part of North Olmsted) for a park, with the provision they be allowed to live in the family home until their passing.

When the Clagues finally deeded the family land and home to the Village of Dover in 1929, Victoria Clague was against the idea and fought the dedication. As a result, her name does not appear on the Clague Family Monument located in the park across the street from the Museum. 

Christmas in the late 1800’s was not commercial – it had more to do with family, food, and the exchange of handmade gifts. Christmas trees in that time period were more simple. People often made homemade ornaments such as cornucopias of paper filled with fruit, nuts and candy. Strings of popcorn and berries were draped across the branches of trees. Beautiful shaped cookies were hung for treats on Christmas day. Often the gifts were also wrapped and hung from the branches. Also popular were molded wax figures of angels and children.

Many ornaments were made of cotton-wool wrapped around an armature of metal or wood and trimmed with embossed paper faces, buttons, gold paper wings and "diamond dust," actually powdered glass. You can experience a traditional Victorian Christmas Tree at Westlake’s Clague House Museum.

Bring your family and friends for an opportunity to enjoy the beautifully decorated tree. Bring your camera and capture a new family tradition. The Clague House (located at 1371 Clague Road) is open every Sunday through December 20th from 2 – 4 p.m., or by appointment. For more information, check our website at www.westlakeohiohistory.org or call 440-471-4090.

How many times did you go to Clague Park this year? Maybe your family enjoyed the swimming pool, played little league baseball, or enjoyed the playground equipment. Maybe you enjoyed the super 4th of July Fireworks presented by the City of Westlake. Why is the park known today as Clague Memorial Park? 

Robert Clague and family originally came to Dover Township (now known as Westlake, Bay Village, and part of North Olmsted) around 1835. They purchased a 78 acre parcel of land and built the Clague Home in 1876 which stands today at 1371 Clague Road. The Clagues were farmers that became very successful selling apples, berries, and various fruits far and wide. They were also known for helping others, and able to lend money when necessary. 

The Westlake Historical Society is proud to be working with Nico DiGiulio as he works to complete his Eagle Scout requirements. He is a freshman at Westlake High School and, as you will read, has a strong interest in military history. – Lysa Stanton, Westlake Historical Society president

Hi, my name is Nico DiGiulio. I have lived in Westlake for seven years. Scouting has always been a big part of my life. About a year ago I earned my Life Scout Award, which is the last rank before Eagle. I am now ready to take on my Eagle project.  

I have always had an interest in history, and especially regarding the military, so I met with Mrs. Lysa Stanton, president of the Westlake Historical Society who operates the Clague House Museum. I told her my interests and offered to do something for the Historical Society.

I am a history buff. Ever since I can remember, I've always had a fascination with the past. So when it came time to find volunteer opportunities to satisfy Westlake High School's community service requirement, I knew I wanted to do something that I love, and that would keep my interest.

One day last spring, my mom found an article in the Observer describing the Westlake Historical Society and its many opportunities for volunteers. The article was entitled "Do you have a heart for history?" It was as if the article was written specifically for me!

If you are wondering what first brought the New England settlers to the Western Reserve some 200 years ago, you might start by visiting the website of Cuyahoga West Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohcwogs. Just click on the “Pioneer Women” menu tab.

Cuyahoga West’s webmaster, John Noble, has posted an article that was written by local history instructor Bob Rich and appeared in a July 1996 issue of The Plain Dealer.

For the most part, New England farmers had a difficult life working the thin and rocky soils of Connecticut and Vermont.  Ohio’s Western Reserve promised an easier way of life, with cheap, fertile land and abundant game to provide them with a hearty diet. But what the settlers found here was nothing like the idyllic lifestyle that was depicted in the painting that was circulated by the Connecticut Land Company, to entice settlers to purchase land in the Western Reserve of Northeast Ohio.

As 2010 draws to a close, the Westlake Historical Society would like to thank everyone in the community for your support. Next year we will be proud to help celebrate the 200th birthday of our city and invite you to check our website for further details. Donations to the Society and Bicentennial 2011 memberships can be purchased on-line at www.westlakeohiohistory.org.

Also available is a limited-edition Christmas ornament with a drawing of the historic Clague House Museum originally penned by the late Lu Walter. Each ornament is gift boxed and is available online or at the Museum for only $14.95.

Each year the Westlake Historical Society holds a contest to find the cutest pet in Westlake. Any kind of pet is eligible: cats, dogs, parrots, ferrets, etc. In 2013 we had our first gecko in the competition. If it's a pet in Westlake, and it's cute, it can compete!  

This year, we honored the 2013 cutest pet contest winner “Toby” (an Airedale mix) by putting him on the cover of our cutest pet desk calendar for 2013. We also added the top 12 pet photos in the competition and gave them each a month of the calendar year. 

For the third year in a row, members of the Westlake Historical Society will remember some of the city's historic families by placing holiday wreathes on their graves.

We believe placing a wreath on a grave is not only a symbol of remembrance, it is a sign of respect for that person and who they were and the contributions they made to our city. We would like to extend the opportunity for you, your family, organization or business to place a Christmas wreath this year in memory of one of our pioneer families.

Volunteers from the Westlake Historical Society will continue to place the wreaths on graves in both Evergreen Cemetery and Maple Ridge Cemetery until Dec. 15 for those individuals, families or businesses who would like to sponsor a wreath.

The Westlake Historical Society enthusiastically welcomes visitors and special guests to the Clague House Museum throughout the year. Although our traditional open house season is April through October, the museum is delighted to accommodate your schedule by also opening the museum by appointment.

Although most tours are led by historical society members, occasionally we are honored to have a special guest volunteer to lead tours as well. On Sunday, Aug. 26, Capt. Guy Turner of the Westlake Police Department volunteered to be our special guest tour guide. Capt. Turner, who is also a member of the Westlake Historical Society, not only shared the history of the Clague family and Dover/Westlake, but also answered questions as well.

The hustle and bustle of holiday shopping is well underway. Since consumers are often asked to shop locally during this time of year, what is more local than your Westlake Historical Society?

The historical society has several items that are fun, interesting and celebrate Westlake's history. There are several book choices that cover everything from cooking in the early 1900s to historical coloring books. We also have a limited number of Cat's Meow replicas of local buildings such as the Clague House Museum and Old Red Brick School. The society is very fond of a limited edition Christmas tree ornament that features an image of the Clague House Museum. In addition to note cards, we also have a unique print of the Clague Museum suitable for framing.

[The third in a series of four articles on the history of homes in Dover – now Westlake and Bay Village – and the Westlake Historical Society's century-home plaquing program.]

One of the homes recently researched by the Westlake Historical Society at the request of the owner is at 2650 Clague Rd., on a portion of Original Lot 49. This home is a simple farmhouse in a gable-wing configuration with the gable facing the street. Notes and a sketch from Melanie Olm, a former historian with the Society, state that when a previous owner, Mrs. Crane, was doing a remodeling project she found an 1865 newspaper in the wall. However, Ms. Olm found that the 1860 and 1870 appraised values remained the same on the piece of land that the house is located on.

If you think houses built from kits are shoddy, cheap and obvious, think again! Between 1908 and 1940, Sears sold about 70,000 homes in 48 states through their mail order Modern Homes program, with 370 designs that you might not readily recognize as a kit home.  

Sears kit homes were shipped via boxcar and came with a 75-page instruction book. Each kit contained 10,000 to 30,000 pieces and the framing members were marked to facilitate construction. Many decades later, those same markings can help identify a home as a Sears kit home.

So if you’re wondering if that adorable little bungalow with the big eaves (or even your own house) is a kit home, read on for signs that will help you identify if it is indeed a historically-significant home.