Lustron houses were among the earliest modular homes. Built entirely of enameled steel back in the 1940s, many still last today! A while back, I wrote about a trio of houses tucked away in Greenfield and Wilkinson, Indiana. Recently, I stumbled across another one, this time in Elwood. It marked my twenty-fourth Lustron visit in East-Central Indiana, and I think it might be the last one the region has to offer. If so, it’s the end of a strangely satisfying quest.

Lustron houses were the Chicago Vitreous Enamel Product Company’s attempt to capitalize on returning soldiers’ desire to move to the suburbs in the years following World War II. A Swedish-born inventor, Carl Strandlund, led the effort. The homes were cheap, came by truck, and were built atop a concrete slab. Each used more than 3,300 components¹! 

Lustron houses came in four colors and floor plans. Elwood’s is a Westchester Deluxe model -the company’s most popular- in Dove Gray. The house was built in 1949² and stands on North D Street. Inside, the home features metal walls and ceilings. Want to hang a painting? Just grab a magnet. Need to clean the place? Break out a garden hose and some automotive wax. 

These weren’t your typical postwar homes. Instead, Lustrons were packed with futuristic features that still feel a little wild today. Many came with seven closets, smooth-sliding pocket doors, and an oddball appliance that combined a dishwasher, washing machine, and sink into one unit. Westchester Deluxe models like Elwood’s took things even further with built-in metal bookcases, china cabinets, and vanities³. Everything a family needed was built right in.

Despite the early hype, Lustron’s promise of revolutionizing American housing never materialized. Though tens of thousands of homes were planned, only about 5% were ever delivered before the company went bankrupt in 1950. Rising material costs, manufacturing delays, and strong opposition from the traditional construction industry all played a part in its downfall. It was a swift and disappointing end to a bold vision, but Elwood’s Lustron still stands today as a steel relic from a future that never fully arrived.

Sources Cited
1 Davis, R. (1993, March 7). Some Lustrous ‘dream homes’ remain intact. The Muncie Star. p. 3.
2 Madison County Office of Information & GIS Services. (2025). Parcel ID: 48-04-10-303-008.000-027. Madison County, Indiana Assessor. map, Anderson, IN.
3 Reiss, R. (1978, July 23). When Lustron Lost its Luster. The Columbus Dispatch.