Sears Homes (or Sears Modern Homes) were purchased from the Sears and Roebuck catalog between the years 1908-1940. They were ready to assemble homes with all the current amenities to date such as indoor plumbing, heat and electricity. These homes were typically shipped by train to rural areas and assembled by the buyer with the help of family and friends. Throughout the programs 32 year history, more than 300 different home designs were offered. Over time the market for these declined and by 1940 they were discontinued. During the 1940s all sales records were destroyed and the only way to find one of these houses today is literally one by one or by stories passed down. Approximately 70,000 of these homes were sold in the United States but it is currently unknown how many still exist. It is believed that the Astoria House is one of these homes.