The prefab, enameled steel, Lustron homes were introduced in 1948 in response to the need of housing after WWII. Our featured home today is the dove gray two-bedroom Westchester model. The Westchester is easily recognized by its notched porch outside of the living room. You can date the Westchester design by the bedroom windows. The earliest homes had pairs of small slit windows set high on the wall. In 1949 and 1950, they changed to the larger single window design that this home has.

In most cases, like our featured home, the foundation was a basic concrete slab. Windows were casement with aluminum sashes, and the skeleton framing of the house was steel. Porcelain steel panels formed the siding, interior walls and roof. The Westchester’s exterior came in four colors: surf blue, dove gray, maize yellow and desert tan.

Lustron homes like this one sold from the factory for about $7,500. By the time a foundation, erection costs and other fees were added, the total could amount to $10,000. At a time when similar-sized frames homes were going for $6,500 complete, $10K seemed a high price to pay for a small, plain looking house. Although about 2,500 Lustron homes were sold, the company soon folded.

This Lustron has lost some of its original interior character with remodels.

Garage featured at 1627 S Mulberry St, Muncie, IN 47302

2bed
1bath

About This Circa 1949 Lustron Steel Home For Sale in Muncie, IN Under $74K

This is a rare Lustron Home. 5 were built in Muncie. Lustron homes were designed to be affordable, maintenance-free housing. They were built between 1946-1949 (this one was built in 1949). Due to the World War, there were still restrictions on the use of steel, but one of the available uses for steel at the time was housing. The demand for affordable housing was huge after the war and the US Govt. gave Lustron a loan to build these homes. Although the Lustron Corporation is a thing of the past, Lustron homes have lived up to their promise of being nearly maintenance-free. The paint was baked into the enamel tiles on the exterior walls and therefore never need to be repainted. The shingles were also made of steel and almost all Lustron homes that are still standing have their original roof (as does this home). Although comparatively small at 1, 000 square feet, the architects took extreme measures in saving space. Book shelves were built into the walls, interior doors would roll into the walls, etc.

This home is 990 SF, has 2 bedrooms, 1 full bath (with a standing shower), a covered back patio, and a 1.5 car detached cinder block garage. Much of the interior has been repainted with newer vinyl flooring. The refrigerator and range/oven is newer and the range is gas. It also has a newer exterior electrical panel. The home is currently leased month to month. The tenant can be vacated with 30 days notice. 2 new Habitat For Humanity homes are currently being built just North of this home on the same side of the street.