... in response to what are.........., posted by micha1 on Jan 7, 2002You are probably right about your assumption on "roebucker" meaning "false teeth" in this case, as Sears & Roebuck were major suppliers of nearly all durable goods not found in the "general stores" of rural America. The nickname "Roebucks or Roebucker" was also used as a slang expression when refering to many things that S & R sold, from brogans (over the ankle work shoes) to dungarees (jeans) to houses. S & R is pretty much credited with being the father of modern housing developments, having seen the need for affordable housing for troops returning from the World War, S & R purchased thousands of tracts of land near cites all over the country and then cut it up into small tracts and installed a two or three room house on them----most were two room though. I have heard old people speak of certain areas of mill towns as being in the "Roebucks or Roebuckers", all of them basicly looked the same. I have seen sections from very old Sears & Roebuck catalogs, but have not seen any listing for their houses-----I bet that would be a hoot to read, I'm sure they had a lot of options
