'Kit Homes' in Monrovia

A kit home on Encinitas.

Monrovia is home to an as-yet unknown number of "kit homes," houses that actually came in a kit for the owner to assemble, often from catalog retailers such as Sears or Montgomery Ward.

In the latest issue of the Monrovia Historic Preservation Group's newsletter, Sylvia Dohnal writes that they were developed in 1906 by Aladdin Homes of Bay City, Michigan, and were popular for about 30 years.

She writes that in Monrovia there are two on El Nido, as well as models on Myrtle, Encinitas, Ivy, Primrose, Palm, Lime, Canyon and Wildrose. And likely others.

- Brad Haugaard