I'm negotiating to buy a small timber framed barn in north eastern Kansas. It looks to be constructed of square sawn yellow pine. The owner, who has lived on the farm and in the area for many years claims it was a "Sear kit" that was shipped in and erected around the turn of the century. Has anybody ever heard of that or have any others comments?

Hi Bill,

Check out "The American Barn" by Randy Leffingwell (ISBN 0-7603-0109-3) where in Chapter 9 - Barn Renaissance an explanation is provided to your query.

From 1900 onwards Sears, Roebuck and company sold thousands of mail order "Honour Built" barns which were indeed constructed from top grade yellow pine with the option of cypress for siding.

Ken Hume