New Liberty Homes for 1934

Description

<div>Paperback magazine/booklet/catalog with color illustrated covers. The front cover has an illustration of the home titled "The Wellington" on p.17. All of the houses pictured inside are in color. The back cover is mostly yellow, and has information and pictures about three of the Liberty Garages. The covers are loose and torn away from the two staples holding the pages in place. There is a stamp on the front cover for "William J. Edell, Local Representative, 4 Church..., Rochester, NY" Size of booklet: 7" x 10"</div><div><br /></div><div>**Lewis Manufacturing Company, located in Bay City, Michigan, was one of the prominent Michigan companies that engaged early in the kit home manufacturing business. Like Aladdin, with which Lewis had very close ties in its earliest years (it manufactured Aladdin's kit homes until 1914), Lewis produced high-quality homes in its facility on the shores of Lake Huron. Lewis-Liberty Homes are an interesting hybrid in the history of the instant house.  The company started as Lewis Manufacturing in the late 1890s as a lumber and shingle company.  The company did well in the lumber and building products business.  In 1906, they struck gold--Aladdin Homes contracted Lewis Manufacturing to fabricate and ship the first Aladdin Homes.  Year by year, the orders increased.  In 1913, Lewis asked for ownership interest in Aladdin Homes, and Aladdin refused.  Aladdin awarded the contract to someone else (Sterling Homes).  The joke was on Aladdin, however, since Lewis owned all the mills, lumber, and machinery necessary to produce a pre-cut home!  Lewis Homes produced their first catalog of kit homes in 1914. A fire destroyed Lewis's lumberyard in 1925.  The company resumed operations quite quickly, though the company renamed the pre-cut division "Liberty Homes."  The company did well until the Great Depression--like every other mail order kit home company in the U.S.  Lewis-Liberty made it through on the arms of its other business interests (lumber, millwork, etc.).  Lewis-Liberty began offering mortgages in 1938 with FHA approval, resulting in a renaissance of sales. Liberty Homes continued operations throughout World War II, providing barracks, emergency housing and other war necessities.  After the war, Liberty continued to market pre-cut homes, despite the trend for mass-produced, mobile, and prefabricated homes.  The post WWII homes look like 1950s American suburban homes.  The company ceased operations in 1975, with a reported 75,000 homes sold throughout the company's 61 year history. (http://instanthouse.blogspot.com/2011/08/lewis-liberty-homes.html) <br /></div>

Subjects