After World War II ended, the United States entered an impressive period of prosperity. Returning soldiers set their eyes on the suburbs, and the Lustron Corporation was established to meet their demand for housing. The company’s old homes remain popular after nearly eighty years, and I found one in Straughn a couple weeks ago.
Lustron built modular homes of enameled steel from an old airplane factory in Columbus, Ohio. The homes were inexpensive, arrived by truck, and were swiftly erected atop a concrete slab by a local team of builders. It was a tricky job: each Lustron house used more than 3,300 individual components1!
Lustron houses were available in four colors and floorplans. Straughn’s appears to be a Westchester Deluxe in Desert Tan. Every element, inside and out, is steel! When the home was installed in 19492, its owners used magnets to hang paintings and cleaned house with a hose and carnauba wax. Beyond the convenience, the Westchester Deluxe featured seven closets, pocket doors, and built-in metal bookcases, china cabinets, and vanities3.
Unfortunately, Lustron Corporation didn’t last long. Despite ample funding and widespread acclaim, production fell significantly short of its ambitious targets. Lustron declared bankruptcy in 1950 after only delivering about 2,500 homes, 5% of what it promised.
It’s remarkable that so many remain across Indiana! Read everything I’ve ever written about Lustron houses here.
Sources Cited
1 Davis, R. (1993, March 7). Some Lustrous ‘dream homes’ remain intact. The Muncie Star. p. 3.
2 Henry County Office of Information & GIS Services. (2024). Parcel ID: 028-03317-00. Henry County, Indiana Assessor. map, New Castle, IN.
3 Â Heuchert, E. (n.d.). Lustron Homes. Minneapolis Historical [Minneapolis]. Web. Retrieved March 13, 2024.Â
In the last week I drove past the one on Broadripple Avenue in Indianapolis. It is looking pretty forlorn these days.