Katie - Levittown
Impact of the Suburbs on the Nuclear Family and American Dream
Levittown, a community of identical 750 square foot homes built in Long Island, New York, brought a whole new meaning to suburbia. These houses provided the inhabitants an escape from the noise, pollution, and overcrowding in the city while still being close enough to benefit from the city's perks (Galyean). The new accessibility to automobiles allowed for the success of the suburbs. In addition to the escape of the negative aspects of city living, Levittown and the suburban home served as a sign of stability and protection in a time when these virtues were especially important--post World War II. These values correspond with the American Dream and hope of upward mobility.Working towards the American Dream, including the achievement of stability, home ownership, upward mobility, and family, was especially important to veterans coming back from war. The post WWII American dream varied from before. It was rooted in consumerism, which was believed to be the way to achieve upward mobility. The new dream was obtaining the perfect American household. Thus, the post war homes had much more meaning than one would originally think looking at the 750 to 800 square foot Ranch or Cape Cod style houses. Levittown strongly encouraged the nuclear family, the most important aspect of the American Dream for many. The nuclear family consisted of a mother, father, and usually two children--the perfect size family for the Levittown homes. The homes in Levittown were carefully crafted to provide safety and stability to raise children. For example, the family room was placed as far away from the street as possible so that the working man could come home from work, close out the world, and spend time with the family("Houses for a New World").The homes also emphasized domesticity, which can be viewed in the design of the kitchen. The kitchen was nestled in the back, allowing the mothers to key their eyes on the children playing in the backyard("Levittown, Pa. Building the Suburban Dream").
The price of Levittown homes encouraged the American Dream as well, allowing many people who were never before able to purchase a home to buy one. Families needed to put only $275 down if they were not veterans(Keats 274). This was sometimes still hard to scrape up however. Each house was identical with two bedrooms, one bathroom, and no basement. This simple, uniform plan allowed Levittown to be extremely affordable in addition to the division of labor and efficiency. Items purchased by Levitt and Sons in bulk and cost-effective materials such as bamboo curtains helped to drive the price down as well(Levittown, Pa. Building the Suburban Dream).The manufacturing process was divided into exactly 27 steps(United States). Each construction worker was trained to do only one of those steps. They were to do one step at each house instead of building each house individually, creating an assembly line-like process to mass produce houses. After a year, Levitt & Sons was creating 36 houses per day, which was necessary during the housing crisis occurring at this time(Galyean).
The box houses were painted as picture perfect. They were located in a carefully controlled community, simple, unpretentious, affordable to both white and blue collar workers, and were even equipped with futuristic TVs and stoves. Additionally, shopping centers, playgrounds, community halls, and schools were located nearby, perfect for any family and encouraged community. What could be better?
There were definitely ways Levittown could be better. There were also problems that came with Levittown, the most severe being racism. The first black family to buy a home in Levittown, PA (the second Levittown built by Levitt and Sons) experienced protesting in front of their home, thrown rocks that shattered their front windows, and continuous harassment(Lane). Eventually, the Myers family moved, however it was because the husband’s job required it. Daisy Myers, the wife, claims that she liked Levittown so much despite the racism. Other problems include complaints of the lack of privacy of Levittown because of the social life of the community. But that is a minor problem and is easily resolved by eliminating oneself from community interaction and activities. A final problem was the domestic role of women in the Levittown homes, although it was typical of the generation and not all women were opposed. Women were not given the opportunity to work as the men did--their duties were to cook, clean, and take care of the family.
But, overall, Levittown was positively received. The influx of houses that Levitt and Sons provided with their mass manufacturing was much needed with WWII veterans coming back and looking to settle down while the population was already increasing.The houses were relatively quick and easy to purchase, as they only required a signature and deposit (no deposit for veterans)(Lane). Levittown homes were described as getting the most house for your money, which was just what homebuyers wanted("Levittown, Pa. Building the Suburban Dream"). Their American Dream became increasing feasible with the availability and ease of Levittown homes. This mass produced suburb community of Levittown, NY (as well as the later manufactured Levittowns in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Puerto Rico) allowed the American Dream become increasingly real for many families--the homes exemplified family values, safety, stability, and signified upward mobility, which are the key components of this dream for many families post WWII and still today in 2016.
Works Cited
Images:
Aerial Photos of Levittown, Long Island, New... - Route22ny. Digital image. The Casual Observer. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Mar. 2016.
"Insulating a Cape Cod House." GreenBuildingAdvisor.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2016.
"Levittown, Pa. | Building the Suburban Dream." Levittown, Pa. | Building the Suburban Dream. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2016.
"Sears Homes 1933-1940." Sears Homes 1933-1940. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2016.
Content:
"A Brief History of the Growth of Suburbs." The Impact of the Automobile on the 20th Century. The University of Colorado, n.d. Web. 07 Mar. 2016.
Galyean, Crystal. "Levittown - US History Scene." US History Scene. U.S. History Scene, n.d. Web. 07 Mar. 2016.
"Houses for a New World: Builders and Buyers in American Suburbs, 1945-1965." Princeton University Press 53.08 (2016): n. pag. Princeton.edu. Princeton University Press. Web.
Kelley, Barbara M. "The Houses of Levittown in the Context of Postwar American Culture." Preserving the Recent Past (n.d.): n. pag. Nps.org. National Park Service. Web.
Kilgannon, Corey. "Change Blurs Memories in a Famous Suburb." The New York Times. The New York Times, 12 Oct. 2007. Web. 07 Mar. 2016
Lane, Barbara M. Housing and Dwelling: Perspectives on Modern Domestic Architecture. London: Routledge, 2007. Print.
Mcelroy, Steven. "That Family Room? It Has a Certain Star Quality." The New York Times. The New York Times, 11 July 2009. Web. 07 Mar. 2016.
"Suburban Growth." Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association, n.d. Web. 07 Mar. 2016.
United States. National Park Service. "The Design of the Suburban Home." National Parks Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2016.
