Part 3/15:
The Sweet Spot: Linking Railroads, Mail-Order, and Home Construction
At the start of the twentieth century, America was on the cusp of a housing revolution. Improved railroad networks connected remote areas, allowing for the shipment of entire homes from factory to farmland or suburb. Meanwhile, catalogs like Sears’ made house plans accessible to the masses via mail order, sparking a new era where anyone with a plot of land and some courage could create a sturdy, modern home at an affordable price.