Madeira’s historic Miller House Museum is opening for tours twice a month. Built in 1922, this Sears Roebuck kit house, operated by the Madeira Historical Society, presents an accurate slice of life as it was from the 1920s through 1950.
Acting as a private residence until 1998, the home — a Sears Crescent model — was purchased from the Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalogue and constructed on-site by the patriarch of the family. Sears began selling complete, mail-order kits with all materials necessary to construct a home in 1908 and continued up until 1940. Their first specialty catalogue for the DIY homes, Book of Modern Homes and Building Plans, featured 22 styles ranging from $650-$2,500 — eventually expanding to 447 different styles.
Only 70,000-75,000 of these actual Sears homes were sold (there were other copy-cat kits available on the market), and the Miller House is one of the authentic Sears structures. Visit the home on your own or take a docent-led tour.
1-4 p.m. the first Saturday and third Sunday of the month. Free, but donations accepted. 7226 Miami Ave., Madeira, 513-561-9069, madeirahs.org.
