It is located half way between the villages of hempstead and farmingdale. Full demographic report of levittown, pa population including education levels, household income, job market, ethnic makeup, and languages. Levittown public library growing with our community. See more ideas about history, black history facts and ap us history. Bucks county courier times one oxford valley, 2300 east lincoln highway, suite 500d, langhorne, pa, 19047 do not sell my personal information. 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. Levittown memorial education center 150 abbey lane levittown, ny 5164347140 a replica of the kitchen in an original levitt home on display at the.
Its origins, its transformations, and its prospects. People wait in line to view a new levittown house on new yorks long island. As of the 2010 census, the cdp had a total population of 51,881, making it the most populated cdp in nassau county and the second most populated cdp on. Levittown historical society and museum, levittown, new york. Levittowns kitchen of the future originally appeared in pennsylvania trail of history. The walt disney elementary school, levittown, pa, circa 2006. 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, formerly island trees, is a hamlet and censusdesignated place cdp in the town of hempstead in nassau county, new york on long island. Green acres development, which included a dozen houses built around wolcott road in the mid1930s levitt development, which included 17,447 houses built between 1947 and 1951. The first levittown sprang to life in 1947 on 1200 acres of potato fields on long island. Nevertheless, many levittowners were deeply devoted to their community, schools, and swimming pools, and resented the condescending attitudes of the princeton types, in the words of longtime resident gordon parker.
Parts of it were repetitive, and it couldve used better editing overall. Levittown, the prototypical american suburb a history of. However, this book demonstrates the power of prejudice and how virally it spread in the suburb of the american dream. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our. Kushner weaves the story of the builders of the levittown developments with one account of rampant racism in levittown, pa, in the late 1950s. Wiessner, john, pen name jay dubya, author of 31 books. Building the suburban dream levittown 50th exhibit site by the pa state museum levittown relics by tom krawiec personal history site levittown, pa on wikipedia site general info by tom krawiec personal website levittown memories by margaret hollenczer spatafore personal website. Levitt, the first levittown sprang to life in 1947 on 1,300 acres of potato fields on long island. Island trees, or levittown as it later became known, is widely recognized as. One of the 21 elementary schools was named after walt disney, who attended its. 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. She is survived by her loving husband james spadaccino with whom she. To many others, levittown epitomized postwar suburbiaa place often criticized but widely copied. The volume offers a fascinating profile of this planned community in two parts.
Encyclopedia of greater philadelphia levittowns pennsylvania. Saturday, march 14, 2020 at the galzerano funeral home, 3500 bristoloxford valley road, levittown, pa 19057. The community covered 22 square miles and over 5,500 acres in lower bucks county. Additional photographs of crowds protesting the meyers family move to levittown, pa, can be found in the philadelphia evening bulletin photograph collection. History levittown, pa the countys recorder of deeds is working to repair and preserve deed books dating back to the 1600s.
However, this book demonstrates the power of prejudice and how virally it spread in. Fascinating to me, since i lived practically around the corner from the drama but dont recall anything of it. In 1951, levittown was created in bucks county outside of philadelphia by builder pioneers levitt and sons. Levittowns very existence, in fact, owes to a rare act of american socialism. The society is a nonprofit educational institution dedicated to preserving the legacy of. Pomeroys department store chronicled in new book opinion. Jun 24, 2009 1918 influenza pandemic survivor interview. I have lived in pennsylvania my entire life including a short time in bucks county and did not know this story. Perri spadaccino of bristol passed away peacefully april 15, 2020, with her family by her side. Dubbed the largest and most perfectly planned community in america, it featured singlefamily homes, schools, churches, shopping centers, and swimming pools. A racial battleground in the suburbs during the 1950s, 20 million americans moved to the suburbs. His actionadventure work black leather and blue denim, a 50s novel is set in levittown, pa.
Levittown, pa demographics and population statistics. Vincent lucera obituary levittown, pa bucks county. A symbol of the american dream, levittown defined the phenomenon of postworld war ii suburban. History of bucks county before william penn arrived, dutch and swedish settlers were in the area with bristol probably the first permanent settlement in the 1660s. Levittown yellow pages phone books in pennsylvania pa. Vintage book covers, vintage comic books, vintage comics, pulp fiction book. Levittown was featured on the february 2, 2010, episode entitled home wrecked home of life after people. Promoters touted the region, just northeast of philadelphia, as americas ruhr valley. Levittown, pa and the northern promised land that wasnt.
A symbol of the american dream, levittown defined the phenomenon of postworld war ii suburban developments, which for the. 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. History and overview of levittown housing developments. Entrepreneurs whose real passion is history, they created the leading levittown history web site in 1997. His new coffee table books bucks county adventures vol. 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. To speed production and cut costs, levitt offered just two basic house types. Levittown historical society and museum home facebook. Mar 01, 2016 the levittown of pennsylvania eventually totaled 22 square miles and more than 17,300 homes. The levittown of pennsylvania eventually totaled 22 square miles and more than 17,300 homes. Levittown, pa was the prototype of postwwii suburbia. Regarding the 1950s controversies over discrimination that the author mentions, my impression is that it was more of an issue in levittown, pa, than in first levittown on long island. The authors mention of the role of anticommunism as justification for discrimination is interesting, though i would suppose it played a lesser role in levitt. Stackpole books and pennsylvania historical and museum commission.
Levittown actually consists of four developments information from levittown historical society. Jan, 2020 such is the case on the lower side of new hope where history is going up, buffing up or relocating in the 297yearold tourist village. Zillow has 198 homes for sale in levittown pa matching. Two extraordinary families, one ruthless tycoon, and. Following the policy of its developer bill levitt, levittown, pa was built in 1952 as an exclusively white suburb population size. Building the suburban dream levittown 50th exhibit site by the pa state museum levittown relics by tom krawiec personal history site levittown, pa on wikipedia site general info by tom krawiec personal website levittown memories. See more ideas about levittown pennsylvania, best memories and life in the 70s.
A portion of the authors proceeds from sales of levittown will be used towards their goal of establishing a levittown museum. A powerful, disturbing history of residential segregation. Police and demonstrators in front of the home of a black family in levittown, pa. One of the most famous is the planned community of levittown, pa. Such is the case on the lower side of new hope where history is going up, buffing up or relocating in the 297yearold tourist village. 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. A powerful, disturbing history of residential segregation in. The scale of the project attracted national attention and made levitt and sons a household name.
Begun in 1952, after the completion of an identically named community on long island, the second levittown soon eclipsed its new york counterpart in scale and ambition, yet it continues to live. 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. Within levittown s curvilinear streets was a single citywide high school, a library, city hall, and grocery shopping center. Expanding the american dream suny series in the new cultural history. Adulthigh schoolin 1957, levittown, pa, was known as a remarkable suburb. To learn more about the levittown communities in pennsylvania and new jersey, see suzanne lashner dadyanims essay on the encyclopedia of greater philadelphias website.
Richard wagner and amy duckett wagner were born and raised in levittown. Second suburb uncovers the unique story of levittown, pennsylvania, and its significance to american social, architectural, environmental, and political history. Oct 24, 2016 additional photographs of crowds protesting the meyers family move to levittown, pa, can be found in the philadelphia evening bulletin photograph collection. There isnt that much narration, and the shots of shopkeep after shopkeeper juts makes these 2 films dull as a doornail. Levittown kitchen kitchen the land of penn and plenty. 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. Search our online phone book to find phone numbers, addresses, and more.
The society is a nonprofit educational institution dedicated to preserving the legacy of levittown. Bristol became an economic center and the county seat 17051725, although the county remained closely tied to the economy of philadelphia. 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. In popular history books such as the late newsman peter jennings the. Levittown real estate levittown pa homes for sale zillow. At the time, it was the largest suburban planned community in the united states. Levittown, long island, became the most famous american postwar suburban. One of the 21 elementary schools was named after walt disney, who attended its dedication. Levittown white pages phone books in pennsylvania pa. Jun 20, 2017 police and demonstrators in front of the home of a black family in levittown, pa. Nevertheless, many levittowners were deeply devoted to their community, schools, and swimming pools, and resented the condescending attitudes of the princeton types, in the words of. The book utilizes many archival sources to back up the facts. There isnt that much narration, and the shots of shopkeep after shopkeeper juts makes these 2.
Get instant criminal history, financial history, addresses and contact info. Mar 06, 2020 principal kara haggerty reads the beloved dr. Levittown, pa patch breaking local news events schools. These 2 films, one for doylestown pa, the other, levittown basically use the same voice overs, but with different images, to tell of that same thing. Carved from eight square miles of bucks county farmland northeast of philadelphia, levittown, pennsylvania, is a symbol of postwar suburbia and the fulfillment of the american dream. Levittown white pages levittown phone directory lookup. Whitepages is the largest and most trusted online phone book and directory. Relatives and friends are invited to call from 10 to 12 p. Like levitts long island development, pennsylvanias levittown benefited from the federal veterans administration program to. Philadelphia, pa 19104 friends of bolton mansion 85 holly dr, levittown, pa 19055 burlington bristol bridge 348 conover st, burlington, nj 08016 liberty bell center 526 market st, philadelphia, pa 19106 new jersey state house tours 125 w state st. Integrating levittown one nation, many americans project onmap, greater egg harbor regional school district the desegregation of levittown in bucks county, pennsylvania well illustrates this story. Overall, the myers experience in levittown, pennsylvania reveals how the strength and courage of a few people can help catalyze powerful. Little boxes it is a oneclass community on a great scale, too congested for effective variety and too spread out for.
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