THE ANN ARBOR NEWS, ANN ARBOR, MICH.

Willow Run Housing Is Well Under Way

WILLOW RUN WAR APARTMENTS: Soon to be ready for occupancy by war workers are these portable "houses." They are the first of 480 “war apartments" that are being set up for operation by the Federal Public Housing Authority just north of the giant Ford bomber plant at Willow Run. The "war apartments” are also known as expansible trailers or expansible houses and are a new type of dwelling unit. Each one of the expansible houses will accommodate two two-person families, and 960 families will thus be housed in the settlement. The dwellings are laid out along streets which will be blacktopped, and sewer and lighting connections are provided by the FPHA. The grounds are to be landscaped, and each “house” will have siding at its base to conceal the 12 wooden posts on which it rests. The community will also be provided with eight buildings in which the wives can do their laundry. The expansible trailers are made by the Palace Travel Coach Corp. of Flint.

WILLOW RUN DORMITORIES: Nearing completion on Michigan Ave. north of the Willow Run bomber plant are the dormitories being built by the Federal Public Housing Authority for the use of war workers. Typical of the whole project are the buildings pictured above, which are really the wings of two separate dormitory units. The project, comprising 15 dormitories, each with four wings, represents an innovation in federal housing policies, because the dormitories are to be operated not as a barracks, but as a hotel and are to be managed by Clifford Taylor, a hotel manager. Known as Willow Lodge, the project includes two community buildings and it is variously estimated that Willow Lodge will accommodate from 3,000 to 3,500 persons, about 1,000 of them women. Just north of the dormitories is a settlement of "expansible houses." North of those will be built 2,500 pre-fabricated homes. In addition to this, there will be a trailer park for private trailers.

THEY COME BY TRUCK: Looking the size of an ordinary trailer, an "expansible house” is picked up by a crane which will swing the dwelling over and place it gently upon the posts which are to support it. From the time a truck arrives, it takes 45 minutes, without rushing, to have the "house” set up and expanded so that it can accommodate two families of two persons each. Essentially, these dwelling units are trailers which can be expanded to triple their original size after they have reached the site. They are built so that after the war, when it is again possible to obtain tires and wheels, they can be folded up and hauled away to wherever they can be useful. The expansible house above is being unloaded at Willow Court, a community of 480 “expansible houses” which is being built just north of Willow Run. Many residents of Ann Arbor have seen these units without knowing what they are, because almost all of the "houses” are trucked on US-23 through this city.

CENTRAL WASHROOMS: To save money and critical materials, no washing facilities were built into the dormitory rooms at Willow Lodge, the big government-operated "hotel” just north of Willow Run. Sanitary facilities have been placed in the central section of each building, one on each floor. In addition to the wash bowls and mirrors pictured above, there are showers and even one or two bathtubs. Officials do not anticipate the traditional boarding house line-ups for the use of the wash bowls, because there are enough shifts at Willow Run so that not all the residents will be leaving or coming home at the same time of day.

HOME FOR TWO PERSONS: This room, only partly furnished when the photograph was taken, is a double room in one of the hotel-style dormitories at Willow Lodge. Each double room is to have two beds, two chairs, two chests, two closets and a mirror. Instead of having a chest, the single rooms are to be equipped with chiffo-desks, which are combination chests and desks. Bedding, of course, will also be furnished. As the photograph shows, the rooms are not large, but each dormitory has a lounge and there will also be two community buildings with soda bar, beer bar, ping pong room and other recreational facilities. Single rooms are to cost $5 and double rooms $7 a week. Applications for residence are now being taken at the Willow Lodge offices on Michigan Ave. just east of Ypsilanti.

EXPANDING A 'HOUSE': Workmen begin to lift up the outside wall of an "expansible house” which is being set up for the use of workers at the Willow Run bomber plant. When the trailer is being transported, the outside roof, floor and walls are folded flat against the inner section of the "house.” First step in expanding the dwelling is to lift up the outside roof, which is swung on a hinge insulated with felt. Then the two end walls are swung open as easily as a couple of doors. Next step is to drop down the outside floor, which is hinged at the bottom. Then, as shown above, the outside wall, which is hinged to the floor, is lifted into position and the dwelling unit is practically ready for use. After one side of the dwelling has been expanded, the men go to work on the other side. Each of these Willow Run "houses” is divided down the center into two dwelling units, and each unit Is approximately 22 by 10 feet. Man in foreground is Field Engineer William Herbert.

DORMITORY CORRIDOR: This picture gives an idea of the length of each of the four wings that compose the individual buildings at Willow Lodge. Three of the four wings have two stories, and the fourth has only one. The wings are constructed of wood, but the central portion of each dormitory contains the building’s heating unit and is constructed of building blocks and is separated from the wings by fireproof doors. This photo was taken from the doorway of a fireproof door and shows the whole length of the dormitory corridor.

THE COMFORTS OF HOME: This is an interior view of a partly furnished "expansible house" which is one of 480 which are being set up just north of Willow Run for the use of workers at the Ford bomber plant. This dwelling unit consists of one-half of an "expansible house" after it has been expanded. The day bed comes with the "house," and the rest of the furniture is provided by the Federal Public Housing Authority. Built into the inner wall of these units is a small bathroom (at left of daybed), which contains, in addition to a shower, a 30-gallon hot water heater fired by fuel oil. Visible is the three-burner, over-type cook stove, which is fueled by gasoline. In the left foreground is the heating unit, a fuel oil space heater. Also built in are an icebox, shelves and a small wardrobe closet. All a family needs to occupy this unit are cooking utensils, tableware, and bedding. The FPHA has not announced what the rental of these units will be, but it is expected to be $30 a month or lower.