Lustron houses are prefabricated enameled steel houses developed in the post-World War II era United States in response to the shortage of homes for returning G.I.s by Chicago industrialist and inventor Carl Strandlund. Considered low-maintenance and extremely durable, they were expected to attract modern families who might not have the time for, or interest in, repairing and painting conventional wood and plaster houses. Lustron production ceased in 1950 due to the company's inability to pay back the startup loans it had received from the Reconstruction Finance Corporation. Over 2,000 homes were constructed during the Lustron's brief production period, and many remain in use today. Several have been added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Carl Strandlund was a Swedish-born American inventor and entrepreneur.
The Harold Hess Lustron House is a Westchester Deluxe plan Luston house located at 421 Durie Avenue in the borough of Closter in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. Harold Hess, a World War II veteran, purchased it in 1950. Lustron houses were constructed using prefabricated porcelain enameled steel. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 25, 2000, for its significance in architecture and industry. It was listed as part of the Lustrons in New Jersey Multiple Property Submission (MPS), one of three originally built in the county. After threat of destruction the house was deeded to the town of Closter.
The William A. Wittmer Lustron House, also known as the Majorie Hiorth Lustron House, is a Westchester Deluxe plan Luston house located at 19 Dubois Avenue in the borough of Alpine in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. The house was built in 1949 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 25, 2000, for its significance in architecture and industry. It was listed as part of the Lustrons in New Jersey Multiple Property Submission (MPS), one of three originally located in the county.
The Lustron Houses of Jermain Street Historic District is located along that street in Albany, New York, United States. It consists of five prefabricated homes built by the Lustron Corporation after World War II. It was recognized as a historic district and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.
The Bishop Family Lustron House is a historic Lustron house located at 26 Slater Drive in Glenville, Schenectady County, New York.
The J. P. McKee Lustron House is a historic enameled steel prefabricated house in Jackson, Alabama, United States. Designed and constructed by the Lustron Corporation, this example is one of two in Jackson. The other, the Doit W. McClellan Lustron House, is just around the corner from the McKee Lustron.
The John D. and Katherine Gleissner Lustron House is a historic enameled steel prefabricated house in Birmingham, Alabama. Designed and constructed by the Lustron Corporation, this example is one of three confirmed to have been built in Birmingham. Another, the Bernice L. Wright Lustron House, is just one house over from the Gleissner Lustron House.
The Bernice L. Wright Lustron House is a historic enameled steel prefabricated house in Birmingham, Alabama. Designed and constructed by the Lustron Corporation, this example is one of three confirmed to have been built in Birmingham. Another, the John D. and Katherine Gleissner Lustron House, is just one house over from the Wright Lustron House.
Bruce A. and June L. Elmore Lustron House is a historic home located at Asheville, Buncombe County, North Carolina. It was built in 1949, and is a one-story, side-gable-roof Westchester Deluxe two- bedroom-model Lustron house. It is sheathed in dove grey and green enamel-finish steel panels. An addition was made to the house about 1985.
The Josephine Reifsnyder Lustron House in Stillwater, Oklahoma is a historic prefabricated home. One of several Lustron houses built in Oklahoma during the post World War II housing shortage, this house is a well-preserved two-bedroom Lustron Westchester model with a detached Lustron garage.
The William Bowen Lustron House is a historic residence in Florence, Alabama. The Lustron house was purchased by William Bowen in 1949. The prefabricated, metal frame house is one of the company's two-bedroom Westchester Deluxe models. The metal side-gable roof is painted brown to mimic ceramic tile. The house is clad with blue porcelain enamel panels with white window surrounds. The left window on the façade is a bay window that projects slightly from the house, differentiating the Deluxe model from the Standard. The southeast corner is recessed, forming an entry porch. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.
The E. H. Darby Lustron House is a historic residence in Florence, Alabama. The house was built in 1949 by Elton H. Darby, one of the co-owners of Southern Sash, the Lustron house dealer in The Shoals. It is one of five remaining Lustron houses in the Shoals area and one of three in Florence. The prefabricated house has a side-gable roof covered with metal shingles. One corner of the house is recessed to form an entry porch. The house is clad in square porcelain enamel panels painted grey. The house is Lustron's two-bedroom Westchester Deluxe model, which features a shallow bay window in the living room. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.
The E. L. Newman Lustron House is a historic residence in Sheffield, Alabama. The house was purchased in 1949 by E. L. Newman. It is one of five extant Lustron houses in The Shoals, and is one of the company's two-bedroom Westchester models. The house has a metal frame with a side gable roof, and is covered in tan porcelain enamel panels. The façade has two aluminum frame windows, each made of one large pane flanked by four vertical panes, with one in a bay that projects slightly. The interior contains the original, metal walls and ceilings and built-in cabinets and shelves. An enclosed glass porch was added to the rear in the 1960s. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.
The Norris and Harriet Coambs Lustron House, also known as the Coambs-Morrow House, is a historic Lustron house located in Chesterton, Indiana. It was built in 1950, this was one of the last manufactured Lustron homes (#2329) of the 2500 sold and produced by the Lustron Corporation. The house has a Lustron two-car detached garage and is located in a pre-World War II subdivision with some homes dating before World War I. The house is a one-story ranch style with no basement. It contains three bedrooms with living room, dining area, kitchen, utility and bathroom totaling 1,200 square feet (110 m2) of living space.
The Mary H. Matthews Lustron House was a historic house at 5021 Maryland Avenue in Little Rock, Arkansas. It was a single-story prefabricated house, erected on site about 1949. It was one of four known surviving examples of a Lustron house in the state. These houses were prefabricated in Columbus, Ohio, and feature a steel frame clad in porcelain-enameled steel panels. The roof was also clad in similar panel and retained other original features.
Roy and Iris Corbin Lustron House, also known as the Corbin-Featherstone House, is a historic home located at Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana. It was built in 1949, and is a one-story, side gabled Lustron house. It is constructed of steel and is sided and roofed with porcelain enameled steel panels. It sits on a poured concrete pad and measures 1,085 square feet. A garage was added to the house in the 1950s. It is one of about 30 Lustron houses built in Marion County.
The Sample—Lindblaum House, also spelled Sample—Lindblom House and alternatively known as the Odile Babb House, is a historic house in Wakonda, South Dakota. It is the only Lustron home in Wakonda. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.
The Stradal House, on N. 13th St. in Wa Keeney in Trego County, Kansas is a Lustron house which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.
The Cassidy House is located at 4121 Canyon Lake Drive in Rapid City, South Dakota, and is on the National Register of Historic Places. This unique home is a Lustron house. From 1947 to 1950, Lustron manufactured enameled steel homes. Lustron was founded by Carl Strandlund, who was a Swedish-born American inventor and entrepreneur. All the parts for the homes were manufactured in a factory in Ohio, then they were shipped to the site where they could be quickly assembled.
