The REAL Reason Sears Catalog Homes Disappeared from America

Video Description

The Real Reason Sears Catalog Homes Disappeared from America #sears #americahistory #nostalgia #backtoyesterday There was a time when buying a house was as simple as flipping through a Sears catalog. In this video, we uncover why Sears catalog homes disappeared from America, tracing the rise and fall of one of the most fascinating chapters in U.S. architectural history. Between 1908 and 1942, Sears, Roebuck & Co. sold more than 70,000 mail-order homes through their catalogs. Buyers chose their dream model, sent in an order, and weeks later, an entire house — every board, nail, and shingle — arrived by train, ready to assemble. These “kit homes” built America’s middle class, shaping neighborhoods that still stand today. So what went wrong? From the Great Depression to evolving building codes and changing tastes, we’ll explore how these once-beloved homes vanished from memory — even as thousands quietly remain across the country. You might be living next to one and not even know it. Join us as we step back in time to rediscover how Sears turned home ownership into a mail-order miracle — and how the dream eventually faded. Don’t forget to like, share if you’ve ever spotted a Sears home, and subscribe for more nostalgic deep dives into forgotten American history. 00:00 Intro 00:37 THE ORIGINS OF MAIL-ORDER HOMES 03:51 THE ARRIVAL OF SEARS MODERN HOMES 08:25 THE GOLDEN ERA OF SEARS MODERN HOMES 11:18 WHY AMERICANS CHOSE “DO-IT-YOURSELF” OVER CONTRACTORS? 14:24 THE AMAZING VARIETY AND MODELS 16:38 THE TURNING POINT: WHEN EVERYTHING STARTED TO FALL APART 19:11 WHAT REMAINS TODAY 21:44 THE IDEOLOGICAL VALUE BEHIND SEARS HOUSES 23:49 FROM MEMORIES OF THE PAST TO CONNECTIONS IN THE PRESENT 25:34 A BYGONE ERA AND THINGS THAT WON'T BE REPEATED 27:06 “DENSITY” ZONES OF SEARS HOMES ON THE US MAP 28:47 A SILENT BUT "SPEAKING" LEGACY #nostalgia #memories #americahistory #lifeinamerica #goldenage #1960s #1970s #1980s Subscribe: youtube.com/channel/UCuJBQl-_LZcFepZ_SFyhXbA COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER Back to Yesterday does not fully own the material compiled in this video. It belongs to individuals or organizations that deserve respect. We use under: Copyright Disclaimer, Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976. "Fair Use" is permitted for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching. scholarships and research.