Levittown white pages levittown phone directory lookup. Two extraordinary families, one ruthless tycoon, and. In 1951, levitt and sons promoted their new development outside philadelphia as. The second part of the book views levittown from the outside. In a book on the ethnic pluralism of the united states, former president john f. However, this book demonstrates the power of prejudice and how virally it spread in the suburb of the american dream. Levittown lake offers warmwater fishing opportunities. Construction of levittown began in february 1952, soon after completion of levittown, new york, located on long island. Levittown white pages phone books in pennsylvania pa. Levittown, new york power lines the documentary 2015. In 1951, levittown was created in bucks county outside of philadelphia by builder pioneers levitt and sons. David wojahn deftly mixes personal history and recollections with a wide. Made in the shade i am so glad i grew up in levittown, pa in the sixties and seventies. Levitt, the first levittown sprang to life in 1947 on 1,300 acres of potato fields on long island.
The books second lens follows two interwoven historical threads, introducing another insideoutside structure. Even at the time, the iconic community represented for many all that was hopeful and wholesome for the estimated twenty million americans who followed levittown s lead and made the trek to suburbia in the 1950s. The actual story of the book the integration of levittown, pa in the 1950swas interesting, but the middle of the book was longer than it needed to be. Levittown, pa was the prototype of postwwii suburbia. Levittown was created in bucks county outside of philadelphia in 1951. Richard wagner and amy duckett wagner were born and raised in levittown. Nearly everyone was on common social and economic ground. Here we have a short and sweet clip about levittown, new york from the documentary power lines directed by christina neferis. My book club had the great pleasure of speaking with the author, david kushner, via skype.
In 1947, entrepreneur abraham levitt and his two sons, william and alfred, broke ground on a planned community located in nassau county, long island. A racial battleground in the suburbs during the 1950s, 20 million americans moved to the suburbs. Contributors consider the communitys place in planning and architectural history and the levitts. Linda jean hassall tadlock, 66, of levittown, pa passed away on april 30, 2020 at jefferson bucks hospital after a courageous 28 year battle with multiple sclerosis, which she fought with grace. A portion of the authors proceeds from sales of levittown will be used towards their goal of establishing a levittown museum. Levitt, levittown, pennsylvania was the largest planned community constructed by a single builder in the united states. Though not a municipality, it is sometimes recognized as the largest suburb of philadelphia in. Zillow has 203 homes for sale in levittown pa matching. While levittown, pa offered 6 different house models for purchase, levittown, ny only provded two. Gans described levittown as a working class and lower middle class community and lived there for two years as a participantobserver of the life in levittown. At the time, it was the largest suburban planned community in the united states. Island trees, or levittown as it later became known, is widely recognized as.
Levitt, the architect of many levittown homes and communities. Wed, jun 3, 2020 levittown public library board of trustees meeting at 8. Prior to 1947, the levittown area consisted of two settlements. Jun 20, 2017 police and demonstrators in front of the home of a black family in levittown, pa. In honor of its 50th anniversary, this exhibit explores the early history of levittown from the perspective of those who built and lived the suburban dream. Apr 28, 2015 levittown isnt a single building but a development of more than 17,000 detached houses. Levitt, who is often credited as the creator of the modern american suburb. Jun 24, 2009 this feature is not available right now.
Within levittown s curvilinear streets was a single citywide high school, a library, city hall, and grocery shopping center. In setting his levittown narrative into its context, kushner provides a brief summary of levittowns history. Mar 01, 2016 the levittown of pennsylvania eventually totaled 22 square miles and more than 17,300 homes. Local news, events and business updates for the levittown area. The levitts would go on to create two other communities in new jersey and pennsylvania, and the legacy of the first levittown has become a legend in the history of the american suburbs. The man who loved levittown, university of pittsburgh press 1985, isbn 0822935201 fiction, winner of the 1985 drue heinz literature prize wiessner, john, pen name jay dubya, author of 31 books.
It was a clean, safe environment with lots of kids and lots of activities. Dubbed the largest and most perfectly planned community in america, it featured singlefamily homes, schools, churches, shopping centers, and swimming pools. Levittown internationally known communities home facebook. It really was the most perfectly planned community in america. The most startling thing about this book is that it reminds us that the american. Whitepages is the largest and most trusted online phone book and directory. Entrepreneurs whose real passion is history, they created the leading levittown history web site in 1997. Polly dwyer from the levittown historical society shares with us a. Dec 14, 2014 it was known as the levittown shoparama and, like camelot, the fictional realm and fabled home of the legendary king arthur, it was recognized for one brief shining moment as the finest.
See more ideas about levittown pennsylvania, best memories and life in the 70s. The book levittown was published in november 2010 by arcadia press. A powerful, disturbing history of residential segregation in. The vanderbilt parkway was the first in the country built for automobile traffic. Jun 09, 2015 here we have a short and sweet clip about levittown, new york from the documentary power lines directed by christina neferis. Dianne harris is professor of landscape architecture, architecture, art history, and. The homes were moderately priced and required only a low down payment. Jerusalem began in the 1640s as a quaker settlement centered around wantagh avenue and southern state parkway. Life and politics in a new suburban community was published in 1967.
The myers moving to levittown and the bigotry of bill levitt is a piece of history long neglected probably because it wasnt as sensational as what was occurring down south. A symbol of the american dream, levittown defined the phenomenon of postworld war ii suburban developments, which for the. The tower was built in 1930 under robert moses, and inspired by the campelina in the plaza of st. While good description enhances storytelling, it is important to retain a balance, a level of objectivity, particularly in the two fields this book is straddling history and journalism. Jul 25, 2019 overall, the myers experience in levittown, pennsylvania reveals how the strength and courage of a few people can help catalyze powerful movements that change the tide of history. Civil rights and integration in levittown august 1957.
One of the 21 elementary schools was named after walt disney, who attended its dedication. William and daisy myers in levittown, pennsylvania. I am so glad i grew up in levittown, pa in the sixties and seventies. One of the most famous is the planned community of levittown, pa.
Levittown public library growing with our community. Levittown is a proud community with a lot stories to tell. As one of the largest planned communities in america, this book s superb collection of history and photographs illustrates the birth and growth of this unique area. Its jarring to read kushner strip away the historical roots of 50s integration fights. The community covered 22 square miles and over 5,500 acres in lower bucks county. The actual story of the bookthe integration of levittown, pa in the. In this new series, we present to you the history of levittown in cinematic form. Levittown isnt a single building but a development of more than 17,000 detached houses. Levittown, the prototypical american suburb a history of. Levittown real estate levittown pa homes for sale zillow. Alamy construction of levittown was famously quick. History levittown, pa the countys recorder of deeds is working to repair and preserve deed books dating back to the 1600s. Levittown, extensive, unincorporated suburban housing development in bucks county, eastern pennsylvania, u.
A special display was created over this weekend, dedicated to john s. Levittown was featured on the february 2, 2010, episode entitled home wrecked home of life after people. Within levittowns curvilinear streets was a single citywide high school, a library, city hall, and grocery shopping center. At the time of levittowns development, people still had to travel to the central city in this case philadelphia for department store and major shopping, the people moved to the suburbs but the stores hadnt yet.
Levittown is a censusdesignated place cdp and planned community in bucks county, pennsylvania, united states, within the philadelphia metropolitan area. With its partially framed housing, immature landscaping and muddy streets, their new community looked more like a frontier town than a modern housing development. Pomeroys department store chronicled in new book opinion. It really was the most perfectly planned community. Com is a website for people who grew up in levittown, pa. At the time of levittown s development, people still had to travel to the central city in this case philadelphia for department store and major shopping, the people moved to the suburbs but the stores hadnt yet. History and overview of levittown housing developments.
Located in bucks county, levittown lake is a 20acre impoundment owned by the commonwealth of pennsylvania and managed by the fish and boat commission for public fishing and boating. When completed in 1951, it encompassed over 5,000 acres and some 17,500 singlefamily homes, making it the largest massproduced housing development in american history. The ultra modern community of levittown sprawling out behind its shopping. Adulthigh schoolin 1957, levittown, pa, was known as a remarkable suburb. These pictures show over 100 years of levitt and sons history. Daisy myers later wrote a book about her familys experiences. To many others, levittown epitomized postwar suburbiaa place often criticized but widely copied. When i asked him what the urban planning legacy of levittown is, in addition to the obvious, he suggested the innovative design of architect alfred levitt. It was this fear that bill and daisy myers exposed when they decided to move into levittown, pa.
The song the ltown shakedown levittown is for lovers was released by the long island band patent pending on their 2006 album save each other, the whales are doing fine. His actionadventure work black leather and blue denim, a 50s novel is set in levittown, pa. Jan 08, 2019 samuel snipes, a white lawyer who held off an angry mob while representing the first black family to move into the allwhite development of levittown, pa. As one of the largest planned communities in america, this books superb collection of history and photographs illustrates the birth and growth of this unique area. Parts of it were repetitive, and it couldve used better editing overall. Levittown s first 20 families arrived on june 23, 1952. Within a few years, the levitts had transformed the former farmland into a suburban community housing. The project started in 1947 as americas prototypical postwar planned community has outlived. See more ideas about levittown, history, black history facts. While borrowing the style of a popular cable movie channel, we attempt to give these stories the telling and presentation they deserve.
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