Mid-Century Modern – memories and unique style
Early 1950s Lustron all steel home - Midtown Memphis
WWII was over. The veterans returned to their girlfriends, got married, made babies in record numbers, and bought houses. With the aid of the GI Bill, GIs were able to buy compact, efficient homes to start their families. When I show those tight little 2 or 3 bedroom/1 bath homes built-in the late 1940s and early 1950s are still serviceable today; I usually refer to them as GI Bill houses. They are scattered all over Memphis, but I will take that genre up in a future post.
When I think Mid-Century Modern, I think style, big cars with fins, swag lamps, built-in ovens, and turquoise colored boomerang-shaped objects. I think of Wally and Beaver walking home through their neighborhood, moms who stayed home all day, and the Brady Bunch house.
The Mid-Century Modern style is popular again. We see more and more written about the style, with special emphasis on interiors. Here are some currently listed Mid-Century Modern homes in Memphis. Click on the images for details and a picture gallery for each listing.
Contact me for more on Mid-Century Modern homes in our area. Share your Mid-Century memories in the Comments section below.
For more information on Lustron houses in Memphis go here or here. Memphis Heritage’s Preservation Series this year focuses on Memphis Modernism. Get information about the series HERE.
About Joe Spake
Joe Spake is a Real Estate Broker and Consultant, specializing in Downtown, Midtown and East Memphis properties. He also blogs at Joe Spake's Weblog. Joe Spake's Google+profile
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