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Images of America: Pennsylvania
Levittown
Levittown was created in Bucks County outside of Philadelphia in 1951. 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.
In 1951, Levittown was created in Bucks County outside of Philadelphia by builder pioneers Levitt and Sons. Dubbed the largest and "most perfectly planned" community in America, it featured single-family homes, schools, churches, shopping centers, and swimming pools. A symbol of the "American Dream," Levittown defined the phenomenon of post-World War II suburban developments, which for the first time gave working- and middle-class families the option of affordable, detached houses outside congested urban neighborhoods. Levittown was a melting pot, attracting people from cities, rural areas, and all walks of life, including many World War II veterans with young families. Houses came fully equipped with appliances and landscaping and started at $9,000. Levittown's superb collection of history and photographs illustrates the birth and growth of this unique area, explores the community that resulted, and features residents' personal memories of the golden years.
In 1951, Levittown was created in Bucks County outside of Philadelphia by builder pioneers Levitt and Sons. Dubbed the largest and "most perfectly planned" community in America, it featured single-family homes, schools, churches, shopping centers, and swimming pools. A symbol of the "American Dream," Levittown defined the phenomenon of post-World War II suburban developments, which for the first time gave working- and middle-class families the option of affordable, detached houses outside congested urban neighborhoods. Levittown was a melting pot, attracting people from cities, rural areas, and all walks of life, including many World War II veterans with young families. Houses came fully equipped with appliances and landscaping and started at $9,000. Levittown's superb collection of history and photographs illustrates the birth and growth of this unique area, explores the community that resulted, and features residents' personal memories of the golden years.
128 pages, Paperback
First published November 15, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 6, 2017
Part of the series of Arcadia Press, books that consist solely of photographs with captions. Like many in this series, the book is poorly edited, has lots of repetition in the captions, and the sources for photos are not always given. The authors (former Levittown residents) paint an oh-so-rosy picture of Levittown life, with only a couple of mentions of the inherent racism in the community.
I lived in Levittown, PA, in the 1950s, so I loved looking at the pics. The book includes a helpful map of the sections in the development and ads for the different models of homes. So I determined my cousin was right--our home, The Levittowner, was a bit more expensive than the one that his parents bought, The Rancher. I stand corrected!
I lived in Levittown, PA, in the 1950s, so I loved looking at the pics. The book includes a helpful map of the sections in the development and ads for the different models of homes. So I determined my cousin was right--our home, The Levittowner, was a bit more expensive than the one that his parents bought, The Rancher. I stand corrected!
May 13, 2015
I love "Levittown" because I have spent about 34 of my 44 years in Levittown so it's history and writer's family and friend account were great too. It would have been nice to have some more accounts from former kids/families of other school districts within Levittown, since it covers so many.
It would be nice at it's 75th or 100th anniversary, this book is used for it's base but then request more testimonials, pictures, historical docs from families from each generation, families with multiple generations here etc. as well as (maybe) a little more about what the land was (besides farms) and what the town names were before Levittown since it does encompass many townships.
It would be nice at it's 75th or 100th anniversary, this book is used for it's base but then request more testimonials, pictures, historical docs from families from each generation, families with multiple generations here etc. as well as (maybe) a little more about what the land was (besides farms) and what the town names were before Levittown since it does encompass many townships.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews