:: July 24, 2003
This guy is documenting his entire house on the web, simultaneously redefining, "mi casa es tu casa." I am amused, touched and inspired.
He's got great stuff. Take a stroll through his bathroom and see his reading material, check out his old matchbook collection; or see and listen to the sheet music on his music stand; or notice he uses Bounty paper towels. The material content of a total stranger's existence is available on-line, for you to enjoy! Isn't that what the web is about? I think it is, people! ::
:: June 25, 2003
Via Shelter: the Recent Past Preservation Network, whose mission is "to promote the preservation of buildings from the recent past and help others who are trying to do the same. Too often we lose important buildings that are less than fifty years old, buildings that are considered 'out of style,' or buildings that are declared 'non-contributing' to history at the civic, state, or national level. It is our goal to educate and inform the public and politicians about the value of structures from the midcentury and beyond."
Their National Windshield Survey page organizes buildings by type. Everything from residential cottages to stadiums is documented, with special attention to endangered structures and ongoing preservation projects. Who knows, maybe you can pick up a fly tiki-style house at rock-bottom prices, and preserve some history while you're at it. ::
:: June 23, 2003
A small collection of old cookbooks with some sample recipes at Girlygirl Clothing. Also, a history of aprons. ::
:: June 13, 2003
During a little insomnia late last night I saw an episode of Extreme Homes on HGTV with a segment on Lustron houses, post-war manufactured houses made entirely out of steel. The exterior and interior walls were made of porcelain-enameled steel panels, making for easy upkeep. You couldn't paint, but the homes came in cool mid-century pastels like surf blue and maize yellow and salmon. Wall decorations had to be hung with magnets. Much of the furniture and appliances were built in, like a dishwasher that converted into a clothes washer.
The Lustron Corporation experienced a rapid demise, but due to their durability, many of their houses remain today -- 35 of them in Lombard, Illinois alone. Naturally there are plenty of fan sites and news stories on the web; there is even a documentary on them. If you live in or near the midwest, there may be a Lustron house near you to examine up-close.
Shelter, a fascinating weblog "document[ing] a personal journey from chronic illness, confinement, and the threat of death in the polluted environment of a decrepit American East Coast to the sanctuary of a simple and practical non-toxic home," has a story on the Lustron from a unique perspective that concludes: "The homes are usually destroyed more often then they are sold, their oddness making them difficult to sell. Real estate agents and land developers are typically ignorant of their history or collectors value -- though that may be changing rapidly." ::
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