I've always loved the idea of catalogue homes. Several years ago, I did a cursory search for historic kit and plan homes in the Indianapolis area. Why? Just because. That's the kind of stuff I do for fun. Guess which one I didn't find? Mine.
Yup, the article confirms my house was built from a plan designed by the Architects' Small House Service Bureau, which was the American Institute of Architects' answer to Sears & Robuck and the like. I've looked through a book of ASHSB plans, and while the house descriptions are fun reads and chocked full of insight on the period and home details, I've not found my exact plan. And I may not. Apparently, one of the reasons to chose an ASHSB plan over competitors was because it could be altered. All a homeowner had to do was hire a local architect to make the desired tweaks, natch.
My wife and I purchased and lived in a bungalow in south Minneapolis years ago. We started digging into the history after we bought the place and found the plans in the Sears Roebuck catalog. It was quite a thrill. Since then, I have become enamored of Frank Lloyd Wright's Usonian homes. Good luck with your search.
Posted by: Baja | March 16, 2011 at 04:40 AM