Gordon‑Van Tine: The Kit Home Company You've Never Heard Of!

Aug 8, 2025

Sears Modern Homes and Montgomery Ward’s Wardway grabbed the headlines, but many early kits were milled by Gordon‑Van Tine. In this special episode of This House, Ken traces the company from an 1866 Davenport sawmill to a national brand that supplied Sears, launched its own ready‑cut homes in 1916, partnered with Wardway, and ultimately sold an estimated 54,000 houses under its own name, plus materials for ~20,000 Wardway homes. Join our Membership program:    / @thishouse   Public Domain Photos from: Library of Congress Assets from: Envato Elements Music from Epidemic Sound