A Sears Home in Homewood

Sears Homes of Chicagoland reader Donald Moore alerted me to this Sears Lewiston in Homewood.

18219 Riegel Road, Homewood. Too many trees! Photo courtesy of Donald Moore.

Sears Lewiston.

There are a lot of Lewiston clones, but this house is the real deal. The architect of the Lewiston is David S. Betcone.

This shot clearly shows the original Sears door. By the way, the "S" decorative element on the chimney has nothing to do with Sears. Photo courtesy of Donald Moore.

 

A park-like yard. Photo from Realtor site.

 

The living room has the original fireplace mantel and original diamond muntin windows facing the front of the house. Photo from Realtor site.

 

This house was built in 1931. The original owners were William and Minnie Welby. They had nine children. He was a switchman for the Illinois Central Railroad.

Minnie had a heart attack at home in 1934 while playing cards with her family. William moved out of the house by 1935.

By 1940 Arthur Nelsen, wife Gertrude, and son Robert were in the house. Gertrude died in childbirth in 1941 while giving birth to daughter Joan. Arthur later remarried. He worked for Standard Oil Company of Indiana for 43 years. In 1968 Arthur and his wife, Bernice, moved to Florida.