Hidden Plainfield: March 6 home ID

This week's home.

A Hidden Plainfield commenter hit the bull's eye: the home is in the zero-block of Netherwood Avenue, between East Front Street and the North Plainfield line.

Plainfield's Foursquares, most of which appear to be from planbooks fall into two broad categories, those in which the plans only were purchased, and those in which the actual kit containing all necessary items -- numbered and ready to assemble like a Lego desing -- was shipped by rail by Sears, Roebuck and Co., or one of the other manufacturers such as Gordon-Van Tine.

An example of a Sears pattern, with a 'Spanish' appearance.
Despite differing exterior looks, the underlying plans were often uniform.

As a side note, some old-timers may remember that there was a panelized prefab home developer on North Avenue, in the building adjacent to the tall concrete silo east of Berckman Street. I was told by the current owner of the building that the panels began on the first floor and were finished on the second, where doors in the side of the building could be opened to lower the finished panels into the beds of waiting trucks below.

Gordon-Van Tine was a direct competitor to Sears in both plans and kits.

Where shall we go next week?

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• Hidden Plainfield: "Standing Foursquare" -- Includes all the comments on location.

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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