Homes in a Box

United States Prefabrication Housing Industry

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Sears

Aladdin Homes

Gordon-Van Tine

Wardway (Montgomery Ward)

Lewis and Sterling

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Lustron

Steelcraft

Peaseway Homes

General Plywood Corporation

Gunnison Homes Inc. National Homes Corporation

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Presented By BOB LANE

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR of the New Albany Housing Authority

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In the early 1930’s, Foster Gunnison Sr. was a successful lighting designer and manufacturer from New York who had provided lighting for both the Empire State Building and the Radio City Music Hall.

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During the 1930’s Mr. Gunnison had a interest in creating a quality dwelling, affordable for those of even modest income. He joined forces with experts in engineering, plywood production and architecture to develop a system based on concepts used in the manufacture of airplane wings.

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A structural wood frame sheathed with plywood provided an extremely strong yet lightweight panel. By standardizing the size of these panels at roughly 4 foot by 8 foot, Gunnison found he could take advantage of the assembly line manufacturing methods.

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Each panel was constructed of wood studs and bracing members that were only 1-1/2” thick with ¼” plywood glued to each side for a total thickness of 2”. The glued panels were then placed in a heated press to be bonded together. Some of the panels had windows or doors pre-installed. In addition, the floor, ceiling and roof panels were fabricated on the same assembly line.

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The panels could be assembled in a number of different floor plans. The result was a complete housing unit that could be shipped from the factory and assembled on the customer’s foundation in a very short time. To personalize these homes, prospective owners could choose from such options as room extensions, porches, garages and fireplaces.

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Gunnison was looking for a centralized location to build his homes. New Albany, Indiana seemed to be a perfect location, across the Ohio river from Louisville, KY.

In 1936 he established his new company Gunnison Magic Homes Inc.—In a vacant wood veneer factory on Charlestown road in New Albany, IN.

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To introduce his new concept, Gunnison built six test homes in a new subdivision of Louisville, KY.

Expecting a few hundred people, newspaper accounts indicated over 12,000 people toured the homes in one afternoon.

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Minutes of the weekly meeting of the Housing Commission of the Housing Authority of New Albany, Indiana, held at the office of the Housing Authority Tuesday evening, December 21st, 1937, at 7:30PM. Chairman G.W. Giles presided. Members present were: James I. Walker, Jr., Mack Harp, E.W. Gardner and G.W. Giles.

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“Resolved, that a contract be entered into with the Gunnison Housing Corporation for the erection of twenty Gunnison Prefabricated Houses on certain lots to be designated by James R. Hawkins, Architect, in Plat 592, at a cost of $56,790.00.

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“Resolved, further, that a contract be entered into with Calvin J. Brewer for the erection of twenty conventional houses, at a cost of $59,450.00, in accordance with plans and specifications prepared by James b. Hawkins, Architect, to be located upon certain lots in plat 592, as prescribed in the Plot Plan prepared by James B. Hawkins.

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By 1940, a Indianapolis Star article claimed Gunnison Magic Homes were the nation’s largest home builder. It is safe to say Gunnison Magic Homes sold thousands of homes over the course of its history. Forbes called Forrest Gunnison the “Henry Ford of Housing.”

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A newspaper article introduced a new line of Gunnison Homes, the Miracle Home. Unlike the Deluxe Home, which came in nine standard sizes ranging from four to seven rooms and retailed from $4000.00 to $8000.00, these new Miracle Homes were all four rooms. The new homes, were approved for FHA loans for $380.00 down and monthly payments of $25.60 which included insurance and property taxes.

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With the outbreak of World War II, many industries changed and began manufacturing for the war effort.

With the rationing of resources for the War effort, residential construction was no longer a feasible activity.

Gunnison helped in the war effort by producing his prefabrication system for the military and associated industries.

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The defense industry, spurred by the U.S. entry into World War II, created demand for worker housing. Prefab manufacturers offered an efficient and affordable solution. As a result of the 1942 Lanham Act, which provided funds for war housing, five prefab companies, including Indiana-based Gunnison Homes and National Homes, gained government contracts worth $153 million to provide 70,000 units of prefab housing to defense industry workers.

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By the end of World War II, the total amount of prefab units produced for the defense industry reached 200,000 across the United States.

Though this figure accounted for just 12 percent of war housing, this period of prefab construction prepared the industry to handle the post-war production levels for housing.

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In April of 1944, United States Steel acquired a 70% interest in the company making Gunnison Homes a subsidiary of U.S. Steel. Foster Gunnison remained with the company as general manager. U.S. Steel made a major investment in its newest subsidiary.

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When completed in 1946, the newest state of the art factory in New Albany, Indiana, was the largest prefabricated manufacturing facility in the world. By 1950, there were fourteen basic floor plans. The affordability of a quality product and a network of trained salesmen established them as an industry leader.

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One of the best examples of a Gunnison Home in New Albany, Indiana might be the home located at 1400 Slate Run Road and the corner of Old Ford Road. It appears this Gunnison Home has some of the original windows and other original features.

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THE END

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