Sears, Roebuck & Company Catalog Home (Model # 2021 Concord)
ORIGINAL PHOTO OF OUR 1918 SEARS HOUSE
John & Mary (Lunz) Husler purchased Kansas land
from Frank & Maggie Hammake in the Spring of 1909.
Prior to 1918, the Husler family lived on the land calling a
dugout & a granary home until a suitable house could be built.
John Husler ordered a Concord house (Model #2021) from a Sears, Roebuck & Company Catolog.
Sears sold Concord Models from 1911 to 1922. Concord kit homes cost between $815.00 to $2,546.00.
Model #114 sold from 1911 - 1916 ~ Model #2021 sold from 1917 - 1922
More than 75,000 Sears Kit Homes were built across the United States from 1908 ~ 1940.
John Husler House Paint Colors: Dark Gray ~ White Trim ~ Black Hinged Window Screens
John & Mary (Lunz) Husler purchased Kansas land
from Frank & Maggie Hammake in the Spring of 1909.
Prior to 1918, the Husler family lived on the land calling a
dugout & a granary home until a suitable house could be built.
John Husler ordered a Concord house (Model #2021) from a Sears, Roebuck & Company Catolog.
Sears sold Concord Models from 1911 to 1922. Concord kit homes cost between $815.00 to $2,546.00.
Model #114 sold from 1911 - 1916 ~ Model #2021 sold from 1917 - 1922
More than 75,000 Sears Kit Homes were built across the United States from 1908 ~ 1940.
John Husler House Paint Colors: Dark Gray ~ White Trim ~ Black Hinged Window Screens
JOHN HUSLER
In 1863, John Hussler was born in Landau, Germany.
His surname changed when the family registered at Ellis Island.
John Husler died in 1940 at age 77.
John H. Meyer purchased the Husler house on 01-26-1946.
John H. Meyer died in 1954 at age 65.
Paul Bernard Meyer, Sr, youngest Meyer brother,
inherited the Sears house through the estate.
Owners, Paul & Christina (Gales) Meyer, rented the house
from 1954 through 1960 to various local familes.
Renters: Bernard & Marcellus Koett, Tom & Mavis Bradley, and Richard & Sophia Schartz.
John Husler Burial Place
John & Mary (Lunz) Husler Buried In Nearby Cemetery.
John Husler Born 1863 ~ Died 1940 ~ Age 77
Mary Husler Born 1867 ~ Died 1932 ~ Age 65
Sears, Roebuck & Company Catalog
ORIGINAL AD
FROM SEARS, ROEBUCK & COMPANY CATALOG
OF OUR HOUSE.
1918 Sears Shipping Label
Shipping labels were found throughout our house attached to the lathe.
Sears shipped house kit supplies via 2 railroad boxcars from Chicago.
Sears shipped approximately 30,000 pieces of building supplies,
750 pounds of nails, 27 gallons of paint, & 27 gallons of varnish.
Each model came with Blueprints & a 75 page Instruction Book.
Kit Houses Were Not Built By Sears.
After kit supplies reached a nearby train depot, horse drawn wagons delivered all supplies to the farm.
1960 SEARS HOUSE
Photograph by my mother.
Dad & Mom married in 1960.
Basic interior repairs were made and the Sears house became home.
Dad raised livestock cattle & farmed his family land for 50 years.
Mom taught private piano lessons in the Sears house for 20 years.
Exterior House Colors: White / Pink Trim
(Colors chosen by Grandmother )
1982 PAINTING ~ SEARS HOUSE
Christmas Gift To Our Parents.
(Painting is currently displayed in Dad's childhood farm house).
2006 SEARS HOUSE
In 1990, Dad relocated to his childhood farm house.
For Nearly TWO Decades,
Our SEARS House Remained Unoccupied.
In 2007, the deteriorating house was sold to oldest daughter and son-in-law from Texas.
With a new vision in sight, plans were made to save our SEARS house by son-in-law, Al.
2009 SEARS HOUSE
2007
1. Chimney Flue Restored ~ Garland Mansel & Trent Sallee
2. Roof Replaced ~ Terry Long
3. North & South Porches Demolished ~ Don Troyer & Al
2008
4. Original Horse Hair Plaster & Lathe Removed ~ Al
All Original Clapboard Siding, Entry Doors, & Windows Were Removed.
Unfortunately, Siding, Entry Doors & Windows Decayed Beyond Repair.
2009
5. Rebuilt Front Porch ~ Al
6. Removed Load Bearing North Wall ~ Chad Erway, Alan Youngers, & Al
7. North & South Porches Rebuilt ~ Jack Bush, Don Troyer, Preston & Al
2009 - 2010
8. Windows ~ C & V Home Improvement (Provia)
9. Entry Doors ~ C & V Home Improvement (Provia)
10. Siding ~ C & V Home Improvement (Alcoa Mastic)
2010
11. New Front Porch Lighting ~ Al
12. Central Air/Central Heat ~ Davis Plumbing & Electric
13. New Kitchen Lighting ~ Al
14. New Septic Tank ~ Davis Plumbing & Electric
15. Completely rewire entire house, removing original knob & tube wiring ~ Al
2011
16. Push Button Light Switches (Reproduction)
17. Brass Cover Plates (Vintage)
18. Added new waste & vent plumbing ~ Al
2012
19. Fiberglass Insulation
20. Tongue & Groove Beadboard (192 Boards)
21. New Toilet (water closet)
22. New Shower
1. Chimney Flue Restored ~ Garland Mansel & Trent Sallee
2. Roof Replaced ~ Terry Long
3. North & South Porches Demolished ~ Don Troyer & Al
2008
4. Original Horse Hair Plaster & Lathe Removed ~ Al
All Original Clapboard Siding, Entry Doors, & Windows Were Removed.
Unfortunately, Siding, Entry Doors & Windows Decayed Beyond Repair.
2009
5. Rebuilt Front Porch ~ Al
6. Removed Load Bearing North Wall ~ Chad Erway, Alan Youngers, & Al
7. North & South Porches Rebuilt ~ Jack Bush, Don Troyer, Preston & Al
2009 - 2010
8. Windows ~ C & V Home Improvement (Provia)
9. Entry Doors ~ C & V Home Improvement (Provia)
10. Siding ~ C & V Home Improvement (Alcoa Mastic)
2010
11. New Front Porch Lighting ~ Al
12. Central Air/Central Heat ~ Davis Plumbing & Electric
13. New Kitchen Lighting ~ Al
14. New Septic Tank ~ Davis Plumbing & Electric
15. Completely rewire entire house, removing original knob & tube wiring ~ Al
2011
16. Push Button Light Switches (Reproduction)
17. Brass Cover Plates (Vintage)
18. Added new waste & vent plumbing ~ Al
2012
19. Fiberglass Insulation
20. Tongue & Groove Beadboard (192 Boards)
21. New Toilet (water closet)
22. New Shower
2010 SEARS HOUSE
All NEW SIDING, WINDOWS, & ENTRY DOORS
BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES
REFURBISHED CHIMNEY FLUE BY Garland Mansel & Trent Sallee
NORTH SIDE
DEMOLITION NORTH PORCH BY AL & JOHN (brother-in-law)
ENCLOSING NORTH PORCH
ENCLOSED NORTH PORCH PROVIDES LARGER KITCHEN
WEST SIDE
SOUTH SIDE
DEMOLITION SOUTHWEST ENCLOSED BACK PORCH BY AL & DON
REBUILDNG SOUTHWEST ENCLOSED BACK PORCH
REBUILT SOUTHWEST ENCLOSED BACK PORCH WITH LAUNDRY-MUD ROOM
EAST SIDE
RETURN OF DIAMOND SHAPED WINDOW
NORTH SIDE
SEARS LUMBER FRAMING STENCIL MARK
Lumber in a Sears kit house was pre-cut, so a saw was not needed.
Our Sears kit framing lumber was southern yellow pine, cut square with no knots or splits,
To aid in construction, lumber was stenciled with identifying marks.
Sears stencil codes were usually a letter followed by 1 to 3 digits.
Sears stencil ink could be blue, black or red.
Photo: BLACK Stencil Code In Our Sears House
REPRODUCTION PUSH BUTTON SWITCHES
1. Original Knob & Tube Wiring Removed.
2. Original Push Button Switches Removed.
3. House Rewired by Al.
4. Reproduction Push Button Switches Installed.
5. Vintage Brass Cover Plates For Switches & Outlets.
INTERIOR TONGUE AND GROOVE BEADBOARD
192 Boards: Each One Measured & Cut, Sanded, Primed, & Installed By Hand.
BATHROOM (Original Butler's Pantry)
ORIGINAL CLOSET BECOMES BATHROOM SHOWER
CHINA HUTCH WALL UPDATE
1918 SIGNATURE UNCOVERED
Blue Signature Uncovered ~ Southeast Side Of House
Signature Found Under Original Shiplap Siding
Autograph by John Husler's Son, Louie Husler ~ Age 10
INTERIOR SIGNATURE UNCOVERED
Lottis Bendle Signature
Uncovered Autograph Written On Indoor Stud
Stud located behind door jam between dining room and bedroom.
Mr. Bendle mostly likely helped Mr. Husler build the kit house.
Summer 1968
We Were All Raised In The SEARS House From 1961 - 1986.
Each of us came as newborns and left upon entering college.
Sitting On Steps Of Northwest Corner Porch.
We 3 girls loved growing up on a farm in our SEARS house!
(Porch Now Enclosed For Larger Kitchen Addition).
Security Measures
Security Measures Installed In The SEARS House.
LIFE IN A SEARS HOUSE
For nearly 100 years now, the SEARS house has provided sturdy shelter no matter the season.
No farm is complete without a cattle tank swimming pool or a snowman wearing dad's cap.
Our porch is still a favorite place to relax, drink a cup of coffee, and count our many blessings.
Many pets have occupied our farm and pictured below is our dog, Ginger, with her litter of puppies.
No farm is complete without a cattle tank swimming pool or a snowman wearing dad's cap.
Our porch is still a favorite place to relax, drink a cup of coffee, and count our many blessings.
Many pets have occupied our farm and pictured below is our dog, Ginger, with her litter of puppies.
WINTER SUNSET KITCHEN WINDOW
Come And Retreat To This Quiet Place,
Far Away From Worldly Distractions.
Where Prairie Winds Sweet Whisper,
Oh Weary Soul Come Find Rest In Thee.
Restoreth Hope And Strengthen Faith In Thee,
Oh Rays Of Heavnely Sonshine Replenish Me.
A HUGE THANK YOU!
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE FOR MAKING THIS ALL POSSIBLE:
My HUSBAND, AL ~ For His Determination & Love Of Our SEARS House.
My DAD, JERRY ~ For His Giving Heart & History On Our SEARS House.
My Youngest Sister, ANGELA ~ For Her Photographs & History On Our SEARS House.
John Husler's Grandson, ED ~ For Original Photographs & History Of Our SEARS House.
Our Kansas Friends, The UNRUHS ~ For Sharing Their 1914 CONCORD SEARS House With Us.
Childhood Friend, JEANNIE SKALSKY ~ For Suggesting The Website & Blog On Our SEARS House.
Our Kansas Friends, The KINGS ~ For Sharing Their Identical Floor Plan House With Us.
My Brother-In-Law & Nephew, Jeff & Andrew ~ For Mowing The Grounds Around Our Sears Home.
ALL OF OUR FAMILY ~ For Their Tireless Hours Of Work On Our SEARS House!
My HUSBAND, AL ~ For His Determination & Love Of Our SEARS House.
My DAD, JERRY ~ For His Giving Heart & History On Our SEARS House.
My Youngest Sister, ANGELA ~ For Her Photographs & History On Our SEARS House.
John Husler's Grandson, ED ~ For Original Photographs & History Of Our SEARS House.
Our Kansas Friends, The UNRUHS ~ For Sharing Their 1914 CONCORD SEARS House With Us.
Childhood Friend, JEANNIE SKALSKY ~ For Suggesting The Website & Blog On Our SEARS House.
Our Kansas Friends, The KINGS ~ For Sharing Their Identical Floor Plan House With Us.
My Brother-In-Law & Nephew, Jeff & Andrew ~ For Mowing The Grounds Around Our Sears Home.
ALL OF OUR FAMILY ~ For Their Tireless Hours Of Work On Our SEARS House!