Historic Residence

The Sangamon River Forest Preserve brings a unique addition to the District's already diverse resources. On the eastern edge of the property lies an early 20th-century prairie foursquare farmhouse. As a historic resource, this home tells the story of one of several families who aided in establishing Champaign County as a farming community and helped develop the area into what it is today. The Forest Preserve District is eager to preserve the house, its surrounding structures, and the land. The property will serve as an interpretive tool linking the past, present and future of families in Champaign County.

Although not the original owner of this property, Mr. P.H. Nelson obtained the land and began farming it around 1900. Soon after, he started construction on the house that stands there today. Evidence has been discovered that suggests this house can be classified as a Sears Modern Home.

Between 1908 and 1940, Sears, Roebuck and Co. ran the Modern Homes Program through which nearly 75,000 home assembly kits were distributed all over the United States. In 32 years, Sears offered a variety of 447 different homes ranging in price and style, all purchased through catalogs.

One could order, as a package, everything needed to construct a complete house, including equipment to install modern plumbing and electricity. The structures were designed in such a way that they did not require a team of trained carpenters to be assembled. This, along with innovations in mass production of materials, made Sears homes a convenient and affordable option in home construction.

Kits included a leather-bound instruction book, precut lumber, nails, fixtures, paint, shingles and nearly everything else required to assemble an entire home. Packed at a Sears warehouse, items were shipped by train to customers all over the country, filling two entire cars. Sears did not include the masonry and plaster needed for a foundation. Also, it was common for Sears to encourage customers to use local lumber for the frame, instead of having it processed and shipped which significantly raised the cost. It is believed that this home utilized a local mill, as no Sears stamps or assembly guides can be found on exposed timbers.

Assembling their own home gave families a great deal of freedom in the final appearance. Reversed floor plans, altered porches, and any variety of colors and materials on home exteriors are some common differences between the actual structure and its catalog listing. The exterior of the Nelsons’ home is sided with concrete block, a type of masonry, which they formed themselves. The tool they used was obtained through a Sears catalog and is currently being preserved onsite. Because of alterations during construction and over years of use, Sears homes are often difficult to identify.

The most recent residents of the property, Ron and Karen Cook, resided there from 1988 through 2008, when it was purchased by the Forest Preserve District. The Cooks were great stewards of the land, planting thousands of native tree species throughout the property. The efforts of the Cook family will be perpetuated by the Forest Preserve District with the hopes of restoring the groves, savannah and prairie that the first settlers of the area would have encountered. The relationship between the natural areas and the home represents two centuries of cultural and environmental change in the greater Champaign County region.

The home is currently used as a private employee residence. However, as you drive by, take note of the uniform appearance of the home, barn and small animal shelter. They are all constructed of bricks made by the Nelsons nearly a century ago.

Top of Page