John D. and Katherine Gleissner Lustron House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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John D. and Katherine Gleissner Lustron House
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Gleissner Lustron in 2011
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 Location in Alabama
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2420 Cahaba Rd., Birmingham, Alabama |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1949 |
| Architect | Koch, Carl & Associates; Lustron Corporation |
| Architectural style | Lustron House |
| MPS | Lustron Houses in Alabama, MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 00000133 |
| Added to NRHP | February 24, 2000 |
The John D. and Katherine Gleissner Lustron House is a special kind of prefabricated house. It is located in Birmingham, Alabama. This house was built using enameled steel panels. It is a historic example of a Lustron home.
The Lustron Corporation designed and built these unique houses. This specific house is one of only three known in Birmingham. Another Lustron house, the Bernice L. Wright Lustron House, is very close by.
What is a Lustron House?
Lustron houses were only made for a short time. They were produced for just two years. In total, 2,495 of these houses were built. It's amazing that about 2,000 of them are still standing today! Many of the remaining houses have been changed over time.
In Alabama, 20 Lustron houses were ordered. However, it's not clear if all 20 were actually built. By the year 2000, only eleven of these houses remained in Alabama.
Why is This House Important?
The Gleissner Lustron House is part of a special group. This group is called the Lustron Houses in Alabama Multiple Property Submission. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historic building.
The house was added to the National Register on February 24, 2000. It was chosen because of its unique architecture. In 2015, there were plans to take down the house. Luckily, it was saved from demolition.
House Design and Features
The Gleissner Lustron House is a specific model. It is a "Westchester" model with three bedrooms. It still has its original enameled steel roof. The walls are also made of the original steel panels. Even the special "zig-zag" support column is still there.
A wooden porch has been added to the house. This new part is screened in. Lustron houses came in different colors. The Gleissner Lustron House is in a color called "Desert Tan."
