Establishing an historic landmark at 34-18 Mishawaka Ave

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The typical Lustron house was a 1,025 square foot house built of manufactured steel parts. In order to produce such a house a host of assembly equipment, including sheet metal stampings for wall, roof and ceiling panels, and the procelain enameling process were employed. Any problems related to thermal conductivity inherent in a steel house were avoided by using fiberglass insulation and rubber gaskets. For efficient heating, a radiant heating system eas installed in the chamber above the ceiling. Additional features in a Lustron home were built -in cabinets and storage facilities, an automatic dishwasher and a washing machine. These manufactured steel houses were geared to meet the needs of the middle income group which comprised one third of the housing market at the time. All 3000 parts of a Lustron home were loaded on to a special trailer designed to accomodate the 12.5 ton house, in a manner that parts were unloaded at the site in the order in which they were needed for assembly. A group of thirty -seven factory built site features were involved in assembling the house. The trailer functioned as an on site warehouse until the house was completed. Lustron homes used 280 hours of factory work with an estimated 350 hours of site assembly. Lustron homes went on the market in early 1949. By this time the general housing crisis had been partially resolved and a period of recession followed postwar inflation. However, variable land, utility and foundation costs prevented a nationwide standardized price for Lustron homes. What was originally a $7,000.00 house became a $10- 12,000.00 house. The failure of Lustron in 1950 -51 may be attributed to the following factors: 1. High production costs leading to rising prices. 2. Difficulties with organized labor. 3. Problems generated by the diversity of local building codes. 4. The inadequately financed distribution system. 5. The unsuitability of bank mortgaging procedures when applied to a prolonged building /installation process. 6. Difficulties in raising capital, when short term loans did not accrue. 7. Lack of a guaranteed and sustained market to support the continued production of Lustron homes. Clyde and Clara Oldham owned the property from 1949 -1955. Oldham was an insurance salesman by profession. He was born in Urbana, Illinois on October 31, 1889 and came to South Bend in 1940. In 1923 he married Clara Gallagher in Peoria, Illinois. He was a graduate of the University of Illinois, Champagne and was a member of the Urbana Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; a charter member of the Urbana Conservation Club; and was a member of the Riverpark Businessmen's Association. According to city directories, by 1960 the property was owned by Robert S. and Lorraine J. Yarbrough. He was employed as a music instructor at the Gemeinhart Company and at Witmer Studio. By the late 1960's William and Geneva Evans were owners of the property. Mr. Evans was employed by South Bend Public Transportaion. On July 6, 1972 the property was transferred to Donald E. and Clara R. Brennan. From 1973 until 1992 Donald E. Brennan operated the Indianapolis Life Insurance Company at 3418 Mishawaka Avenue. That company's current mailing address is P.O. Box 6305 South Bend, IN 46660.[5]