A Sears Hammond in Aurora

216 Ingleside, Aurora. Photo courtesy of Steve Solonickne.

Sears Hammond, from the 1931 Modern Homes catalog.

The Sears Hammond was sold from 1931 to 1940. It came standard with brick and wood siding. The city of Aurora authenticated this Hammond through mortgage records.(It's nice when someone else does the work!)

Closeup of the unique brickwork on the Hammond.

Our Hammond does not have the dentilated brick, but it does have the other details shown in the catalog illustration.

The Hammond came with curved railings.

Are these curved railings original? 

Few Sears Hammonds have been located. There are a few in Illinois other than this one, in towns like Waukegan, Rockford, and Gurnee. 

There was a Sears Honor Bilt Homes office in Aurora around 1928 to 1934.  According to the city of Aurora, the building permit for the house was issued to F.C. Gallagher, who was the manager of that office. This might indicate that the Hammond was a model home.

According to Aurora's research:

"John and Rose Simpkins built this home in 1932 and obtained financing through Sears Roebuck and Company. The building permit was issued to F.C. Gallagher, the manager of the Sears Honor Bilt Home office in Aurora. P.J. Bissing Brothers, a local contracting company, constructed the home. The Simpkins family owned the home for 45 years."

John Simpkins was a conductor for Chicago Burlington and Quincy railroad.