William and Georgia Holleman House

In the early twentieth century, you could buy a house kit from the Sears catalog. The kit included plans, instructions, lumber, and other necessary building supplies. The Holleman House is an example of the “Americus” plan from Sears. It is a modified Foursquare dwelling with Craftsman-style detailing. The porch posts are classic “Americus” features, as is the interior plan.

William and Georgia Holleman purchased an unimproved parcel in the developing Cameron Park neighborhood in 1925. Deed restrictions instructed homeowners and developers to build a house costing at least $3,000 and standing twenty feet back from the street. The Hollemans likely built the house right away and moved in with their then-teenaged daughter. William Holleman, a salesman, managed a local outlet of Armour & Company, a wholesaler of meat and other provisions. They lived in the house until 1933, when they lost it due to Depression-era debts.

ca. 1925

Images

William and Georgia Holleman House Creator: Image courtesy of David Strevel, Capital City Camera Club.
Sears Catalogue, Americus Style, 1928
Cameron Park Plat, 1915

Location

311 Calvin Road

Metadata

RHDC, “William and Georgia Holleman House,” Raleigh Historic, accessed September 24, 2023, https://raleighhistoric.org/items/show/159.