ONE CHICAGO BUSINESS THE SOLUTION TO CARLINVILLE'S POPULATION EXPLOSION WHICH
OCCURRED BACK IN 1918.
> IT IS KNOWN FOR LARGEST
COLLECTION OF SEARS MAIL ORDER
HOMES IN THE WORLD.
>> THEY WERE ALL BUILT IN 1918
TO HOUSE MINERS WHO WORKED AT
THE NEARBY COAL MINES THAT HAD
JUST OPENED UP.
THEN POPULATION IN CARLINVILLE
WAS ONLY 3,000 PEOPLE, AND
OVERNIGHT IT WENT TO 5,000
PEOPLE.
THIS WAS THE LARGEST SINGLE
TICKET ORDER THAT SEARS EVER
RECEIVED FOR HOMES.
THERE ARE EIGHT DIFFERENT STYLES
IN THE EDITION.
FIVE, THREE BEDROOM, AND THREE
TWO BEDROOM.
AND SEARS WAS EVEN SO GLAD, YOU
KNOW, SO HAPPY THAT CARLINVILLE
HAD ORDERED SO MANY, THEY NAMED
ONE OF THE HOMES AFTER
CARLINVILLE.
IT IS NAMED THE CARLIN.
>> YOU WOULD FILL OUT A FORM IN
THE BACK OF THE CATALOG THAT HAD
ANY HOUSE YOU WANTED IN IT.
YOU WOULD TAKE THAT AND PUT DOWN
EVERYTHING YOU WANTED ON YOUR
ORDER FORM.
IT HAD THINGS TO CHECK OFF LIKE
ELECTRICITY, WHAT TYPE OF
ELECTRICITY, LIGHT FIXTURES,
PLUMBING, WIRING, INSULATION,
EVEN TO THE INSULATION IN THE
WALLS, WHAT TYPE OF BOARDS TO BE
USED.
THEY EVEN CAME WITH COAL
TURNANCES.
THERE WAS A SHOOT IN THE
BASEMENT THAT COAL WENT DOWN,
YOU KNOW, TO MAN THE FURNACE.
I REMEMBER ONE OF THE LITTLE ADS
SAID WATER WATER RUNNING EVERY
WHERE LIKE YOU COULD ACTUALLY
HAVE AT THE TURN OF A HAND, YOU
CAN TURN WATER ON.
THAT WAS LIKE A BIG THING
BECAUSE PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE
INDOOR PLUMBING AND STUFF AT
THAT TIME.
EACH PIECE WAS NUMBERED AND CUT
AND READY TO FIT TOGETHER LIKE A
DOLL HOUSE.
EVERYTHING JUST LIKE A DOLL
HOUSE, WENT TOGETHER.
YOU GET A COMPLETE BLUE PRINT
AND PLANS PAGE BY PAGE PLANS
THAT WERE LIKE IN A BOOKLET.
IT TELLS YOU WHERE TO START.
THIS PIECE GOES HERE.
THIS PIECE GOES THERE.
IT WILL BE NUMBERED WITH A
NUMBER STAMPED ON IT.
I LIVED IN A SEARS HOME FOR 18
YEARS.
THIS IS THE ROSE BARRY MODEL
WHICH IS ACTUALLY THE LARGEST OF
THE TOO BEDROOM HOMES WHICH, IF
YOU CAN SAY LARGEST, IT IS A
LITTLE SMALL.
I LOVE MY HOUSE.
I WILL LIVE HERE FOREVER.
. MY BATHROOM, THE TILE FLOOR,
THE CERAMIC TILE FLOOR IS THE
ORIGINAL TILE FLOOR THAT'S LIKE
80 YEARS OLD.
FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND FROM THE
PLUMBER WHO IS HELPING US
BECAUSE WE ARE BUILDING A NEW
ADDITION, HE SAID THAT THOSE --
THE PIPES ARE UNDERNEATH THAT
FLOOR, AND THEY ARE ENCASED IN A
FIVE INCH LAYER OF CONCRETE.
THAT WAS DONE AT THAT TIME TO
KEEP THEM FROM SHIFTING OR
MOVING.
IF THE HOUSE SETTLED TO KEEP THE
PIPES STATIONARY.
THE ORIGINAL BATHTUB, THE
ORIGINAL -- IT IS A SKIRTED
CLOSET BATHTUB WHICH MEANS THEY
HAVE A SKIRT AROUND THE CLAW
FEET ON THE BOTTOM.
THAT WAS LIKE A DELUXE BATHROOM.
>> THIS IS THE CARLIN MODEL OF
THE SEARS HOME.
THIS WAS THE ONE NAMED AFTER
CARLINVILLE.
IF YOU NOTICED IT HAS THE LITTLE
BALCONY UP IN THE TOP.
THAT IS ITS UNIQUE FEATURE.
EACH HOUSE HAS ITS OWN UNIQUE
FEATURE.
THIS IS ONE OF THE LARGEST OF
THE TWO BEDROOM HOMES.
THIS IS THE LEBANON. IT ITS
UNIQUE FEATURE IS THE BUMPED OUT
FRONT BEDROOM.
AND IF YOU FOLLOW ME THIS WAY,
THIS HOUSE IS THE WARRINGTON,
ITS UNIQUE FEATURE IT IS MORE
LIKE ASSAULT BOX DESIGN, NO
ADDED FEATURES, NO BUMPED OUTS,
NO GABLES, NO ANYTHING IT IS
KIND OF A PLAIN JANE.
THERE WERE 1 R56 HOUSES -- 156
HOUSES IN THE EDITION, THERE ARE
152 STILL HERE, THREE WERE
DESTROYED BY FIRE, AND ONE WAS
MOVED TO TEMPORARY LOCATION.
THEY ARE ALL STURDY, STABLE
HOUSES.
THEY ARE GOING TO BE HERE A
LONG, LONG TIME.
>> THE CARLINVILLE CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE PROVIDES THE PAMPHLET
DIRECTING VISITORS ON A TOUR OF
THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
EVERY DECEMBER THEY OFFER A TOUR
OF THE HOMES.
FOR THE DATE AND TIME OF THE DECEMBER TOUR OF SEARS' HOMES, CALL CARLINVILLE CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE (217)854-2141.