Considered low-maintenance and extremely durable, they were expected to attract modern families who might not have the time or interest in repairing and painting conventional wood and plaster houses. The brainchild of Carl Strandlund, founder of Lustron Corporation, the concept behind Lustron Homes was to quickly assemble homes for returning World War II veterans. Lustron homes were prefabricated, single-family homes constructed of porcelain steel. They were easy to maintain, and affordable. Popular features of the original Lustron home were a dishwasher that converted into a clothes washer, and of course the outside and inside walls could be wiped clean with a damp cloth (not to mention they could be waxed like a car). Lustron homes were made in the 1950s to help shelter the influx of GIs needing homes. It offers architectural and historical features, 1950s furniture and accessories, and modern amenities. The front and rear doors featured a single light of translucent, rippled glass. The walls contained a one-inch blanket of fiberglass wool insulation. Window surrounds were primarily ivory-colored, although early models used yellow trim on "Surf Blue" models.[12]. There is one Lustron house included as a contributing property in the Euclid Avenue Historic District at Bristol, Virginia. If you are from Ohio, you might have heard about Lustron Homes, as they were manufactured in Columbus. When the Reconstruction Finance Corporation made public Lustron’s inability to cover loan payments, it resulted in a flood of negative publicity. This is the popular Westchester Deluxe model, with pass-through between the dining room and kitchen. These little post-WW2 prefabs were remarkable, strong and long-lasting houses – definitely ahead of their time. [21] Plus another 3 in South Bend, Indiana. Later production models of the Newport use a forced-air system. Overmyer, Beverly; Coambs, Norris and Harriet Lustron House, Coambs-Morrow House; 92001165; National Register Inventory—Nomination Form, September 17, 1992, in digital files of National Park Service, Washington, D.C. Boyd, Michelle Anne. [13] In Westchester Deluxe two-bedroom models, additional tripartite windows were located in the dining area and bedrooms. Today, few of the Lustron homes remain, scattered throughout the U.S. and Ohio. For Westchester Deluxe three-bedroom models, tripartite windows were found in the dining area and two of the bedrooms, as well as the living room bay. A small group of Lustron owners are preserving the original condition of their homes and are urging others to do the same, and a significant number of entirely original Lustron homes exist. 1115 S Ohio Ave, Columbus, OH 43206. In January 2006, it was announced that the homes, which had grown "too small for most families," would be eliminated from base housing and would be given away. Ohio History Center, Columbus Picture: Bedroom of Lustron home - Check out Tripadvisor members' 16,937 candid photos and videos of Ohio History Center The interior panels were even embossed to resemble wood graining. A part of the Ohio Historical Society’s exhibit ‘1950s Building the American Dream’, opening to the public on Saturday, July 13. [5], Arguably the most popular of the Lustron homes was the two bedroom, 1,021 square feet (94.9 m2) "Westchester Deluxe" model. Although the Lustron Corporation is a thing of the past, Lustron homes have lived up to their promise of being nearly The Truman administration saw the potential of his concept and, in 1947, helped him secure a $15.5 million dollar loan from the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, a government agency formed to assist industry during the Depression. The plant equipment included presses for tubs and sinks. THE LUSTRON HOME LUSTRON CORPORATION, 4200 EAST FIFTH AVENUE, COLUMBUS, OHIO In reply refer to box 2023 N Dear Friend: Thank you for your inquiry about the Lustron Home. Big news in Columbus, Ohio, and across retro-world: On July 13, the Ohio Historical Society will open a new exhibit about life in the 1950s that includes an amazing centerpiece: A 1949 Lustron house that has been completely assembled inside the museum. This website was developed under a grant from the National Park Service and the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training. "When Lustron Lost its Luster,". However, problems with production and distribution led to the collapse of the company and less than 2,500 homes manufactured.