It has been such a long time since this site has tracked the endless wonders of the SAH Listserv. But today, fellow lovers of the academic and bizarre, we bring you a special treat. A letter. In the form of a mystery. Wrapped in an enigma. She knows how to find a Sears kit house, but can Rose Thornton find a man?

Hi;

I'm going to jump right in and introduce myself. My name is Rose Thornton and I've had an enduring love affair with old houses for many, many years.

Four years ago, after my marriage of 24 years went belly-up, I decided to try and turn my passionate love of kit homes into a full time job. In March 2002, after several years of both traveling and hiding out in library basements doing research, I finally published "The Houses That Sears Built".

A few weeks later, my book was quoted in The New York Times and then The Christian Science Monitor and then someone from PBS History Detectives called me and then it was off to the races. :) In the last four years, I've traveled to 22 states and given more than 200 lectures on Sears Homes.
Fortunately, this is still the work I really, really, really love to do. Nothing is more enjoyable than driving to a new city and finding their Sears Homes. (Whilst staying up late during those many months of post-divorce insomnia, I memorized all of Sears' 370 designs of kit homes.)

I've discovered that, on average, about 90% of Sears Homeowners had no idea they were living in a Sears Home until I knocked on their door and told them. And about 80% of the people who *think* they have a Sears home are wrong.

Since that first book in 2002, I've published three more titles on kit homes and hope to publish another one in 2006.

I've joined SAH in the hopes of meeting others, learning more and sharing what I've learned.

Rose Thornton

Posted in The Academy