Sears Kit House, Magnolia “Mansion in a Box” Rankin House in Tarkio, and Robinson House in Maryville

• The Model: The Magnolia was the most luxurious and largest Sears home, featuring two stories, 10 rooms, and a southern-style Colonial design.
• Details: It featured a grand two-story front porch with columns, a porte-cochère, and a sprawling layout.
• Cost: Sold for just over $5,100–$6,488 in the 1920s.
• Rarity: Few were sold; only a handful of authenticated Magnolia homes are known to exist today. 

• Customization: While ordered from a catalog, buyers could alter layouts, and many families customized them, sometimes mixing models.
• Quality Materials: Kits included high-quality, pre-cut lumber and premium fixtures.
• Examples: Other grand models included the “Colonia,” “Ghent,” and the “Chevy Chase”. 

Identifying a Sears Mansion Today

• Shipping Labels: Look for labeled lumber in the attic or floor joists, often stamped with numbers and letters.
• Blueprint Details: Original blueprints often have the Sears name.
• Where to Find: Many remain standing in neighborhoods across the Midwest and East Coast, often unrecognized.

Links

• Kit House Hunters
• Searshomes.com Magnolia (lots of great shots)
• Sears Modern Homes Wikipedia

Jokes about Ted Robinson in Maryville and David Rankin in Tarkio Building “Mansion in a Box” Sears Magnolia Kit home in the early 1900s.

1. Ted and David didn’t just order a house from a catalog — they ordered bragging rights with free shipping.
2. When Ted said he wanted a “mansion,” Sears asked, “Standard or deluxe?” He circled both.
3. David told the mailman to deliver the Magnolia gently — it was assembled with pride and had three extra chairs for visitors.
4. They didn’t hire a builder — they hired a weekend IKEA enthusiast with a toolbox and optimism.
5. Ted’s Magnolia came with a porch big enough to host the whole town meeting — and a spot reserved for his hat.
6. People asked David if he built the house himself. He said, “I supervised nine carpenters and one very confident neighbor.”
7. The Magnolia was so fancy that even the gas lamp felt underdressed.
8. Ted and David argued once about who had the bigger foyer. They settled it with a staring contest in adjacent doorknobs.
9. Their Sears instructions said “some carpentry experience helpful” — they interpreted that as “bring your ego.”
10. The Magnolia came with a warranty and a mortgage-sized love letter to early 20th-century ambition.
11. Ted’s Magnolia came with instructions, a hammer, and a clause: “Owner must supply confidence.”
12. David stored his receipt in the piano — it was the only thing more reliable than the foundation.
13. Neighbors called it a kit house; Ted called it “customizable prestige with free screws.”
14. When the inspector arrived, the house greeted him by name. Literally — Ted had labeled every room.
15. They didn’t have a doorman — they had a doorknob that knew who paid the mortgage.
16. The Magnolia porch was the town’s Wi‑Fi before Wi‑Fi existed: everyone gathered there to get news.
17. Ted told his wife the house was “modern.” She replied, “You mean preassembled ego?”
18. David’s Magnolia came with stained glass and a subtle hint it belonged in postcards.
19. Their mail was so important that the postman brought a ladder to reach the second‑story letters.
20. Ted bragged that the house was built to last; David bragged that his came with extra nails and bragging rights.
21. They didn’t buy curtains — they bought a stage for afternoon tea and passive‑aggressive window staring.
22. The Magnolia had a library; it also had a spot reserved for the manual labeled “How to Adult in 12 Steps.”
23. Ted said the house had character; David said it had an autobiography and footnotes.
24. When lightning struck, the chandelier apologized and kept shining — it was embarrassed to miss the social season.
25. People toured the Magnolia for the architecture and stayed for the story about two men who ordered a dream by mail.