Sears Homes of Chicagoland

Come explore the Sears Homes of Chicagoland with Lara. From 1908 to 1942, Sears Roebuck and Company sold about 65,000 ready-to-build kit homes through catalogs. Despite the rash of teardowns in the Chicago area, some of these houses have managed to survive…undiscovered treasures that are hidden in plain sight. You'll learn about the history of Sears ready-cut houses, what a Sears house is (and isn’t), how to authenticate one, and common misconceptions about these houses. We will explore a variety of Sears houses in McHenry County area and neighboring communities. Lara Solonickne is the creator of the viral blog Sears Homes of Chicagoland, which spotlights kit homes in the Chicago area. Lara is an architecture enthusiast who enjoys uncovering the hidden stories behind old houses. This class will also be offered remotely for those who are unable to attend in person.