Carver Court facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Carver Court
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | Foundry Street and Brooks Lane, near Coatesville, Caln Township, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 66 acres (27 ha) |
| Built | 1944 |
| Architect | Louis Kahn Oscar Stonorov George Howe |
| Architectural style | International Style |
| NRHP reference No. | 16000310 |
| Added to NRHP | May 31, 2016 |
Carver Court is a special neighborhood in Caln Township, Pennsylvania. It was built a long time ago, in 1944, during World War II. This housing area is important because it shows us about the lives of African American families in the Coatesville area during that time. Carver Court was designed in a cool, modern way called the International Style. Because of its history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2016.
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Why Was Carver Court Built?
During World War II, many people worked hard to help the country. The government needed more homes for workers, especially those in important jobs like making steel. Carver Court was built as public housing for African American steelworkers and their families. These workers were very important for the war effort.
Most of the people living here worked at the Lukens Steel Company. Others worked at the Coatesville Veterans Administration Hospital.
Homes for War Workers
Carver Court was built on what used to be a race track. The homes were arranged around a big, open space. There were 89 homes in total. Some were one story, and some were two stories. Even though they were public housing, these homes were quite modern for their time. They had carports for cars, special storage areas, and even yards. This was not common for public housing back then.
Carver Court is located next to the Coatesville Area High School. It is separated from the main town by a big road called the Lincoln Highway and Amtrak train tracks.
Famous Architects Designed Carver Court
Some very famous architects helped design Carver Court. These include Louis Kahn, Oscar Stonorov, and George Howe. They were known for their modern designs.
Carver Court was first called the Foundry Street Defense Housing Project. But soon, people held a contest at a local school to pick a new name. It was renamed in honor of George Washington Carver, a famous scientist. Carver Court was officially opened on September 4, 1944.
The homes were originally made of wood with flat roofs. Today, most of them have vinyl siding and sloped roofs. At first, people rented these homes. But in 1955, the government sold them to private owners. The people already living there had the first chance to buy their homes.
Understanding Segregation at Carver Court
Carver Court was built during a time when racial segregation was common in the United States. This meant that people of different races were often kept separate.
In 1942, the city leaders in Coatesville asked for separate housing for black and white workers. Most government housing projects at that time were segregated. For example, another housing project called Lincoln Highway Defense Housing (later Brandywine Homes) was built at the same time as Carver Court. But it was only for white steelworkers and their families.
According to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, these separate housing areas were built because of a long history of racial separation in the Coatesville area.
