Although Sears Roebuck & Co. may be the most well-known producer of mail-order homes, Sears was not the only company in the catalog home business!
Gordon-Van Tine of Davenport, Iowa also manufactured catalog homes. From 1918 to 1931, Gordon-Van Tine manufactured exclusively for Montgomery Wards producing various "Wardway Homes":
1001 Courtland Ave.
222 N. Merrill Street
If you direct your attention to the indented rooflines and the pair of double columns, for example, similarities can be seen between the advertisement for a Gordon-Van Tine's mail-order home illustrated above and a page from Montgomery Ward's 1925 Wardway Home catalog displaying "The Priscilla" below:
"The Stratford" -- Gordon Van Tine 1929
I'm very close to buying one of these homes. I have not found any info yet on resale values, though I doubt I'll ever sell it once owned. Just curious!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your finds. I have always loved mail-order homes since I was a little kid. :)
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