This house is a Starlight model Sears kit home, and it’s one of only two known Sears homes in Boston (the other one is a Tudor-style Willard). Many Sears homes have been altered beyond recognition over the past century or so, but this one is pretty obvious. Also it’s been “authenticated”, which means someone has done research into legal records, building plans, or physical clues like stamped lumber (a guide for the homeowner on how to put things together).

The Starlight was very popular, specifically this version with the hipped dormer. 1,300 of them had been sold by 1928 (a big jump from 200 in 1920), which makes this house, built in 1925, just about as unremarkable as it gets. Doesn’t mean it’s not cute though.

Starlights came standard with a front porch to complete the bungalow look; this one (and others that I’ve seen while poking around) has been closed in, probably to add a few extra interior square feet (cause they are not big!)

Sources/more information:

I’m pretty grateful for the extensive research that other people have done because it made finding information so very easy.

A list of Sears homes in Massachusetts: Kit House Hunters, Sears Homes of Massachusetts

Starlight Background: Sears Homes, Let’s Travel Back Through Time to See Some Sears Starlights

I enjoyed listening to this podcast years ago: 99% Invisible, The House That Came in the Mail