A Delightful Sears Bellewood in Geneva

101 Woodlawn St., Geneva. Photo from Realtor site.

The Sears Bellewood from the 1932 Modern Homes catalog.

The Sears Bellewood was an English cottage sold from 1930 until 1933. 

Despite the many differences from the catalog illustration, this house in Geneva is an authenticated Bellewood. The entry vestibule has been widened, most likely to accommodate a coat closet with a tiny window. The front bedroom, which lost a window due to the larger entry, has a double window on the side wall to allow extra light. The living room window in the front is now a triple instead of a double.

Photo from Realtor site.

Finally, the second story has been built out and windows added where possible.

This is the rear of the house showing the modest addition that serves as a family room. Photo from Realtor site.

The living room with the front door to the right. Photo from Realtor site.

The living room connects to the dining room. The stairs were added more recently. Photo from Realtor site.

Photo from Realtor site.

Photo from Realtor site.

The new family room in the rear. Photo from Realtor site.

The front bedroom. Photo from Realtor site.

The rear bedroom. Photo from Realtor site.

Photo from Realtor site.

In the 1990's the attic was converted into a master suite. Photo from Realtor site.

Photo from Realtor site.

Photo from Realtor site.

Harry E. and Evelyn Johnson got a mortgage from Sears Roebuck in December 1929. Harry owned a clothing store in St. Charles.

1954 ad for Harry's store in the Chicago Tribune.

Johnson's Clothing Store went up in flames in 1958. The building was a complete loss.  

I'm unsure whether Harry reopened his store somewhere else. Today there is a small parking lot where the building stood.

The Top Three Articles of 2024

Once again the holiday season is approaching and with it, the end of another year. It's time to reveal our top three most popular articles in 2024 and what you, the readers, enjoyed most. 

1    Why Are So Many People Wrong About Their "Sears" Houses? -- Why do so many people insist their house (or their neighbor's house or their grandma's house) is from Sears when in reality they don't resemble any of the Sears models? I offer some possible reasons.

2    The Houses That Macy's Sold -- We all know about Sears Roebuck houses. But what about Macy's houses? In 1963, Macy's, along with builder All-State Properties, introduced the Leisurama summer homes. And you need to check these out!

3    Old Tyme Sears Modern Homes Advertising, 1930's and 1940's -- Let's take a fun look back at how Sears Roebuck marketed its houses in the 1930's and 1940's.

We invite you to join us in 2025 and see even more Sears homes in Chicagoland. Happy Holidays!

For the Sears house connection to "A Christmas Story", click here!

A Warm and Charming Sears Conway in Deerfield

859 Osterman Ave., Deerfield. Photo from Realtor site.

Sears Conway.

The Sears Conway was a practical bungalow that sold very well nationally.  This Conway in Deerfield is close to downtown and the train station. 

The house has a dominating gabled porch, and this Conway in Deerfield has had the gable raised. The front door is flanked by two adjacent windows. There were decorative brackets on the exterior. 

Photo from Realtor site.

The Conway had two floor plans. This Conway in Deerfield had the plan with stairs in the rear. There were two bedrooms upstairs originally, and today there are three bedrooms and a bathroom.

Photo from Realtor site.

The living room and dining room were originally separated by a wall, but today that space has been opened up. Photo from Realtor site.

Photo from Realtor site.

Photo from Realtor site.

A pantry closet was removed to grant more space in the kitchen. The door to the right goes to the backyard and the basement stairs. Photo from Realtor site.

Two bedrooms were combined on the first floor to make one big master with a walk-in closet.  Photo from Realtor site.

The first floor bathroom. Photo from Realtor site.

One bedroom upstairs has been converted into a home office. Photo from Realtor site.

There is a bedroom adjacent to the office. Photo from Realtor site.

Another home office can be found tucked in the enlarged front gable. This was originally attic storage. Photo from Realtor site.

This Sears Conway in Deerfield was built in the summer of 1927.

Libertyville Indepedent, June 1927. 

 

Peter Van der Velden and his wife, Lily, were married in 1923 and decided to purchase a Sears house in 1927. Peter was an engineer for the Milwaukee Railroad.

The Van der Veldens moved in 1942 to another house in Deerfield.