One of FDR's plans was to create a community for blue collar workers and their families. The community was intended to house government workers during the war effort. This was to be a co-op community funded by the federal government. The name of the community was to be Greenbelt. The site for this community was in suburbia Washington, D.C. Included in this site were all the amenities a family needed and more. Plans included a number of apartments and homes of varying sizes. A total of nine hundred-ninety two living spaces were created.
Plans also included tree lined pathways that went under roads so children could play safely, a library, recreation center, school, gas station, and small village square with all the amenities of a big town. These were some of the things included in $97 million dollar project. In order to improve unemployment conditions the construction would all be done through manual labor. No machines were included in the building process what so ever. Many of the workers were minorities who were bussed in everyday for work. The apartments and homes were built of wood, concrete, and steel. The project got underway in October of 1935 and was completed in 1937.
For that particular time in history there was one interesting feature that came attached to many of the homes A garage. The attached garages were small, no more than 10' by 12'. They were constructed of concrete and wood. Their shape is a basic square. Through out the community there are also other garages, also made of masonry. The unattached garages are larger than the others. They were more rectangular, made of concrete with wooden doors, and have room for a couple of cars. The function was to house the family car. Each home was only awarded one space, but why?
One car. Who could imagine? In the early days of Greenbelt many people didn't even own cars. In that period of time the car was a luxury. Many wealthier people who owned cars had garages. When Greenbelt was on the drawing board the intentions were to give everyday people the best life possible at the lowest cost possible. This was achieved in many aspects including the garage. For people who lived in Greenbelt the automobile was a big investment. Cars at that time were extremely expensive, compared with today's availability and economy. The garage was important in that it helped keep the value of the car, by protecting it from the natural elements that cause rust and deterioration.
Aside from the expense of a car, there was only the need for one car. In Greenbelt the women were obligated to fulfilling household chores. This was part of the "New Deal" in Greenbelt. Women stayed home all day. They prepared meals, watched over the children, did laundry, carried out other gender roles of that period. They had no use for an automobile. Everything they possibly needed was within walking distance and available a the town square. Men used the car to commute between work and home. The gender roles were known before the construction had even begun. The government was aware of the roles in the household. They knew that the garage would be a great amenity, but one was definitely enough.
Richard Nixon was our newly elected President. Our country's national security was again threatened. Over 500,000 troops were mobilized half way around the world to the jungles of Vietnam. The year was 1968. Since the time of the Great Depression the economy made vast improvements. World War II and the mass mobilization of citizens helped boost the economy. WWII also changed the role of women. During WWII with so many men away at war, women were excused from their duties at home to respond to the needs of their country. Women became the manpower and worked in factories building aircraft, tanks, and other war toys, while the men fought one of the greatest wars in our country's history.
After World War II the nation remained strong. Although many of the women were relieved of their war time duties when the men came home, it was still a significant break through for women. The success of the War and America's victory made us the most the powerful nation. People believed in the government, until 1968. Anyway the economy at this time was still doing well and new homes were being erected all over the country.
About 450 miles north of Greenbelt, in 1968, in a small water front village on Long Island, known as Oyster Bay, a new house was under construction on the corner of Melbourne and Sewanheka streets. A group of about seven men from Weitz-Mann Contracting Co. were hired to complete a four bedroom, center-hall, colonial revival. The men used large machines to move land, mix cement, deliver wood, and pave the driveway. This house was to take the place of a house which previously occupied the site, but burned down. Included in the blue prints was a two car garage. The job was completed within a year.
A two car garage was pretty normal for those days. The husband and wife usually each had their own car. The men used the car to commute back and forth from work. Women, well many of them still weren't really working at that time, at least those who were married. Many of them did attend college and were a lot more independent and involved in outside activities than they had been in the past.
Shopping centers and malls started to gain popularity. Many of these malls and shopping centers were located on main arteries and outside of town, therefore women almost always drove. The car was also helpful in the process of transporting back all the items from the store. Women could leave the store with an excess of six bags. One big trip a month was sufficient. You could always freeze stuff and heat it up another night.
Everything was ready made so it was not necessary for women to stay indoors all day preparing a meal. Such commodities as the dishwasher and washing machine were helpful in freeing up time. Even children were becoming involved in clubs, sports, and other after school activities. Since women now had more free time and a car available, they could drive to see their children participate in these activities, as well as form car pools with other mothers.
The design of the garages of the Greenbelt Community where indeed sufficient for the early times of the community. Today these structures remain erect. They are no larger than they were in 1937. What is larger in Greenbelt is the amount of cars in the community. Today parking is limited. Cars crowd the twelve main streets. Members of the community are given just one assigned spot for a car. This does not help due to the fact that most families in the community probably own more than one vehicle. The garages that I saw did still house cars, especially the larger unattached garage.
The garage was intentionally built to protect two vehicles. It is made of wood, sheet rock, and cement. It contains enough room for two family vehicles. There is also a crawl space above that is used for storage. At present, the garage serves many different purposes.
The right hand side of the garage contains a cabinet full of paint, pesticides, and other cans useful around the house, but not to the ozone layer. Next to the cabinet, against the wall, is a shelf full of flower pots and other outdoor amenities. Then on the right further into the garage, against the wall and next to the door leading into the house, is another shelf. This shelf contains food and soda. A mid-sized Volvo is parked in the garage on the right side as well.
Facing the front of the garage, against the back wall, there is a cabinet which is occupied by bags of chips and party mix, basically all snack foods. Then to left of that is another cabinet in which a thermos and coolers are stored. To left of that is a shelf which contains nuts and bults, more paint, WD-40, carburetor fluid, and basically anything else you would need to repair an engine.
Against the left wall and nearest to the house is a work bench. This area is filled with all type of saws, electric drills, electric sanders, an electric grinder, a vice, and a work horse. Hung up against the wall next to the work area are outdoor extension cords, a weed wacker, and a leaf blower. To the left of the work bench is a full sized refrigerator which is used to store food and cold drinks. To the left of the refrigerator is a large chest filled with baseball bats, gloves, footballs, basketballs, and other recreational items. In the center where the other vehicle would go are about four bicycles and a lawnmower. Finally, before you exit through the left side garage door, there is a cradle for outboard engines off a boat. Two outboard engines are resting on the cradle.
Suspended by hooks on the ceiling is a large piece of plywood. This suspended make shift storage area is lined with fishing rods. There are also water skis and tubes up there as well. Not to mention a sleeping cat and a pair of oars. That is all that is left except for the crawl space which is above the work bench.
The crawl space is the area between the ceiling and roof of the garage. It is big enough to stand in. Stored up there are old bikes, sleds, and other larger toys. Mostly all the older stuff that no one uses any more.
The role of the garage during the early years of Greenbelt was only to store a vehicle. Not everyone had a car, let alone a garage. If they did have an automobile they only had one. One must also remember that people didn't have a lot back then. There were no television commercials to entice the public into purchasing automobiles, because there were no televisions. Machines didn't entertain, people entertained themselves and entertained for others. People were active in outside activities and clubs. Sara Brownlow's project describes the certain activities that Greenbelter's used to do to pass time.
Now the garage is as common as the car. The garage of today is evidence of consumer trends and the material culture. People buy more than they have room for. Most families store the good car in the garage and leave the others outside. Many people use the garage to store lawn equipment, childrens toys, and bicycles. Technology is moving faster than ever and everybody wants to be up to date. Space is important to our society.
The kitchen is associated with the female of the household. Women have always had a distinguishable place in the home. This was evident both in the 1930's and 1960's. It is a stereotype that has been placed on the female gender. To learn more the kitchen and womens roles you might want to take a look at Harmony Loube's project. She describes the different tasks that women completed in the kitchen.
The male has never always had a room to call his own, until the garage. Today many men find the garage to be sanctuary. It is an area were they can take things apart, make a mess, and not get into any trouble. That is if they now what they are doing. The garage is dull, cold, and desolate. It is a rough and tough enviroment full of powerful equipment. Just ask Tim the Tool Man Taylor.
Information and Research Materials Used For This Page Include the Following:
"The Model CitY, Greenbelt Maryland." Presented by the Resettlement Administration.
Information On the Colonial Revival was provided by Susan Donovan. She is the daughter of one of the owners of the Weitz-Mann Contracting Co.
The Greenbelt Museum. This museum offers an inside look at life in the early Greenbelt Community. Tours are available and given by members of the community.