Somehow, I can't let go of the idea that the Customliner crumbled into obscurity six years ago. Is there no one but me who sees some historical value in the life of one prefab home?
Well, maybe.
At any rate, my next step is to add some pictures to this humble blog. At best, maybe I can find some pictures of the Customliner under construction in the D.C. Armory. At least, perhaps some pictures of comparable homes and events in the D.C. area around the same time.
I've already spoken to the photograph librarian at the D.C. Public Library. She thinks they might have some photos of the 1955 Washington Home Show in their collection. She suggested I contact her after the holidays to arrange an appointment.
Suggestions from readers are also welcome!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Inside A National Home
I was finally able to reschedule my visit with Virginia Clarity this week, and go inside a National Home!
As expected, Ms. Clarity’s house has seen many changes since it was built in 1955. A living room has been added, as well as a mud room in the back. The original living room now serves as the dining room, and the “dining el” has been removed in favor of a larger kitchen. Wooden kitchen cabinets long ago replaced the original, which were made of white metal.
The original windows, with the exception of one, have also disappeared. That includes the “window-wall,” which was meant to enhance the “indoor-outdoor living” idea. Ms. Clarity noted that condensation often formed on the window-wall, causing the wooden slots below to rot.
The Clarity home was the least expensive model offered in Herndon Woods. It has one bathroom and no garage or carport, and no basement. (Compare this with the more luxurious Customliner, which featured a remarkable 1 ½ baths and carport.) Ms. Clarity had previously told me she purchased her house to be closer to her parents, but I hadn’t realized that the house built by her father is right next door! On the other side of that house is one once owned by her brother.
Viewing neighboring homes from Ms. Clarity’s back yard, it’s easy to see that the developers’ intention to blend the houses into their wooded setting has survived. It’s a grey winter day, but, even with the leaves off most of the trees, it's easy to miss the other houses perched at different angles in the distance. Many of the trees standing today were also here when ground on Herndon Woods was first broken.
Sadly, Ms. Clarity predicted that her house will eventually be torn down for something new. Any chance of saving the homes for their historical value? Probably not, she predicts. With the arrival of the Customliner’s replacement and other newer homes, the integrity of the original subdivision has been lost.
Getting into my 21st century car, I come upon an unexpected link to the Herndon of the Fifties: Ms. Clarity’s driveway, which once backed onto a simple country road, is now off one of the town’s busiest streets! With some careful maneuvering, I’m able to turn the car around so I can exit head first.
As expected, Ms. Clarity’s house has seen many changes since it was built in 1955. A living room has been added, as well as a mud room in the back. The original living room now serves as the dining room, and the “dining el” has been removed in favor of a larger kitchen. Wooden kitchen cabinets long ago replaced the original, which were made of white metal.
The original windows, with the exception of one, have also disappeared. That includes the “window-wall,” which was meant to enhance the “indoor-outdoor living” idea. Ms. Clarity noted that condensation often formed on the window-wall, causing the wooden slots below to rot.
The Clarity home was the least expensive model offered in Herndon Woods. It has one bathroom and no garage or carport, and no basement. (Compare this with the more luxurious Customliner, which featured a remarkable 1 ½ baths and carport.) Ms. Clarity had previously told me she purchased her house to be closer to her parents, but I hadn’t realized that the house built by her father is right next door! On the other side of that house is one once owned by her brother.
Viewing neighboring homes from Ms. Clarity’s back yard, it’s easy to see that the developers’ intention to blend the houses into their wooded setting has survived. It’s a grey winter day, but, even with the leaves off most of the trees, it's easy to miss the other houses perched at different angles in the distance. Many of the trees standing today were also here when ground on Herndon Woods was first broken.
Sadly, Ms. Clarity predicted that her house will eventually be torn down for something new. Any chance of saving the homes for their historical value? Probably not, she predicts. With the arrival of the Customliner’s replacement and other newer homes, the integrity of the original subdivision has been lost.
Getting into my 21st century car, I come upon an unexpected link to the Herndon of the Fifties: Ms. Clarity’s driveway, which once backed onto a simple country road, is now off one of the town’s busiest streets! With some careful maneuvering, I’m able to turn the car around so I can exit head first.
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