Sears, an iconic American retailer, faces store closures amid global sales decline. The struggle pits it against modern giants like Amazon, Google, and Apple. Despite this, Sears’ legacy as a 20th-century retail powerhouse remains indelible. A significant contributor to building America, Sears thrived with innovations like its mail-order business, offering diverse products, from appliances to entire houses.

In a Reddit post, a user reveals renovating his grandfather’s home, purchased from a Sears catalog in 1916. Sears, in that era, sold around 75,000 mail-order homes, emphasizing simplicity and affordability. The specific house model, No. 137, cost $1,200 in 1916 (equivalent to $27,000 in 2016). Remarkably enduring, this Sears home, after a century, required preservation efforts, showcasing its structural soundness.

Reflecting on the past, Sears’ innovative approach to home sales resonates today, aligning with the rising popularity of DIY tiny houses. Sears’ enduring legacy prompts contemplation about what aspects of our current age will captivate future generations, questioning whether it will be our smartphones, computers, or fundamental elements often taken for granted.