Catalog Homes Delivered in LaGrange Park Preview

1

1215 Newberry Ave - Sears "Bedford"

Here is an example of The Bedford at 1215 Newberry. Built between 1926 and 1928, you can see minor remolding has occurred to the outside. Per a 2019 real estate listing, it still has 5 bedrooms.A news article from 1929 shows that the house was involved in prohibition raid. “A 200 gallon still and between 6,000 and 7,000 gallons of mash were seized by county highway police in a raid upon a residence at 1215 Newberry in LaGrange Park. The home is said to be owned by a man named Natal.”

2

214 E 31st Street - Sears "Cresent"

Built in 1925, here is The Crescent, from the 1925 Sears Catalog. The Crescent was a very popular kit house for Sears.It was offered in two floor plans (Mama-sized and Papa Sized and with an optional extra high roof (grandpa sized). Because of this, Crescents can be found in all shapes and sizes.Former resident Lt Melvin Socolfsky of the Army Air Corp served in Texas during WWII.

4

725 N Catherine Ave - Sears "Lynnhaven"

Built in 1936, here is an example of The Lynnhaven from the 1935 Sears Catalog. Exterior remolding has been minimal. Sometime between 1960-1980, an addition was put on the house so it now has 4 bedrooms and 2 ½ baths.Originally offer in 1932 for about $3,200, the Sears Lynnhaven boasts Royal Red Cedar 24-inch shingle siding and a dramatic peaked entryway.Former resident include Dr. Paul R Rodgers, the assistance superintendent of School District 102.

5

622 N Catherine Ave - Sears "Windsor"

Built in 1925, here is an example of The Windsor from the 1923 Sears Catalog. As you can see, the front porch has been enclosed and front door moved to the left. A 1994 real estate listing shows the house still only has two bedrooms, so minimal remodeling has incurred inside.Former resident include, Austin Zody. Mr. Zody was a WWI veteran, Navy Seaman, second class. He also belonged to the Masons and the First Church of Christ Scientists.

6

415 N Catherine Ave - Wardway - "Lexington"

Built in 1924, Here is an example of The Lexington from the Wardway Catalog (Montgomery Wards). Exterior brick was an option when ordering a home. Sometime between 2003 and 2018 and addition was made to the sun room. A real estate listing from 2018 still shows it has 3 bedrooms.Previous residents include:Colonel Gilbertson, a WWII veteran in the Army Reserves and served in various posts during the war. He also served in Iceland in the Army Defense Unit as Iceland had recently became independent from Denmark and did not have forces of its own.Mrs. O F Gilbertson, President of the American Association of University Women in 1957, and member of the LaGrange Home Bureau.

7

345 N Catherine Ave - Sterling "MaCherie"

Built in sometime between 1916 and 1920, this home is an example of the MaCherie -Plan C from the 1916 Sterling catalog. Originally a 3 bedroom house, a half story was added in the back during the 1930’s to make 2 more bedrooms.Evidently the MaCherie plan was so popular that International Mill & Timber offered three variations at different price points.Plan A has three bedrooms and a bath with a long central hallway. This facilitates flow from room to room and provided separate public and private spaces effectively.Plan B is two stories with two bedrooms up and two bedrooms down. Like all bungalows this is also an open floor.Plan C was the second most popular and is the largest of the plans. It features a maids room in addition to the two main bedrooms with a shared bath.

8

438 N Kensington - Sears "Langston"

Built in 1919, this is The Langston kit house from the 1918 Sears catalog. The distinctive porch posts have been covered up to enclose the porch.The Langston model was offered from 1916 to 1919. Minor changed were made to the Langston model and it was renamed to Gladstone.

9

513 N Spring Ave - Harris Homes - Kit #M1512

Built in 1921 by Herman Lelivelt, here is a Harris Kit Home. The big front porch, three bedrooms, living room and dining room are the features of this house plan, shown in the 1920s Harris Catalog. The airplane second floor pops up from the main body of the house defining it in this way. This home is cute and interesting and how the solid attention to design detail common in the bungalow style.

10

538 N Spring Ave - Gordon-Van Tine "Kirkwood"

Built in 1921, here is The Kirkwood from Gordon-Van Tine. This bungalow was an inexpensive alternative.Note, the dormer appear to have the original windows.

11

521 N Brainard Ave - Gordon-Van Tine Kit Home #605

Built in 1921, here is a mirror image of Gordon-Van Tine kit house number 605. First was offered in 1919 and only available for 10 years. From their 1926 catalog, this “Exceptionally Well Planned Suburban Home” was a very popular model for Gordon-Van Tine.One of the unusual features of this design is the large bedroom made possible by the roof construction. Notable previous residents include:WWII veteran Lt. Jack W Griffith. Lt Griffith received his ensign’s commission at Notre Dame midshipman’s school and was commissioned in the South Pacific and Alaska aboard a minesweeper.