Published In:
Ann Arbor News, February 6, 1943
Caption:
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.

Published In:
Ann Arbor News, February 6, 1943
Caption:
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 hinted to the floor, is lifted into position and the swelling 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 Willor 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 Enginner William Herbert.

Published In:
Ann Arbor News, February 6, 1943
Caption:
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" and 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 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, oven-type cook stove, which is fueled by (unreadable). In the left foreground is the heating unit, a fuel oil space heater. Also built in are a (unreadable) shelves and a small wardrobe closet. All a family needs to occupy this unit are cooking (unreadable) 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.