Perfect Architecture: Sears and Roebuck Houses in Wisconsin

media release: Wish there was a way to get a crash-course on the most unique aspects of Wisconsin history in one place? Look no further than History Sandwiched In, where scholars, historians, authors and community members from across the state join together to hold engaging discussions on wide-ranging historical topics of interest. All History Sandwiched In events are free and open to the public. Capacity will be limited to 60 persons per talk. Advanced registration is recommended to ensure your spot. 

Apr 7 – Jim Draeger presents Perfect Architecture: Sears and Roebuck Houses in Wisconsin 

Join architectural historian Jim Draeger as he discusses the emergence of the houses-by-mail phenomenon in the late 1800s, a fascinating chapter of our state’s building history. As a new century approached, companies offered blueprints by mail, with Sears and Roebuck selling millwork and house plans in 1895. By 1908, Sears offered complete homes through mail order catalogs, eventually become the largest supplier of mail-order houses in America, and claiming, over more than three decades, to have sold over 100,000 homes! All this and much more will be shared in this visually driven and engaging presentation.