If they aren’t the same set of plans with only slight modifications, then these two houses are at least designed by the same architect.
I drive past this one all the time on Howard Ave. on my way to work. I always look at it and think what a diamond in the rough it is. The house is very handsome with its unique styling.
Then recently I was driving down Parent Ave., when I passed this house and had instant deja vu… It’s not identical, and they are reverse layouts to each other, but they are pretty near close enough.
There is no way that these two houses came off of different drafting boards… If not twins, at least brothers. 🙂
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Good eye!
Sears catalog homes, perhaps?
I noticed the same situation on Askin or Randolph I think.. I'll have to look out for it next time and tell you exactly where.
They may be kit or catalogue houses - they often "flipped" the plans to suit the owner (or the lot). I don't know if there are Sears homes in our area. Apparently here in Canada Eaton's also had catalogue homes but I've never been able to find any information about them. The Alladin company also made kit homes.
It would be interesting to find out - there are lots of original Sears plans on the internet to compare these houses to.
I've driven past the one on Howard many times - I wonder whether it still has any original features inside?
Jane, Interesting about Eaton's, I didn't know they were in the house market too...
As for the condition of the Howard house, I have no idea. It is a duplex, and it has two number plaques from the 1937 renumbering. So if it was built as a single family home like the one on Parent, it wasn't unaltered too long before it was converted to a two family unit.
Mike, let me knowif you locate the two on the west side, it would be interesting to see those.
Jane, yes there are Sears homes in the area - Walkerville for starters. My cousin lives in one. I've enjoyed looking at those online scans from the old catalogues.
Wow, what a difference curb appeal makes on two houses: while both are very similar structually, they look so different cosmetically. They probably cost very close to the same amount to to build, yet the one on the bottom looks like it's worth 50-100% more.