Madison's "Levittown" at 60

Now known as the Trillium neighborhood.

On Madison cul-de-sac, the houses are all the same, but the people are as diverse as can be. (Wisconsin State Journal, 12/22/2011)

Excerpt: The recent arrivals have helped breathe new life into one of Madison's must unusual developments, built in 1951 and modeled on the Levittown subdivision on Long Island, which was built just after World War II for returning military veterans and featured houses constructed assembly-line style.

The 137 houses on Craig Avenue and its various offshoots are exactly the same: one story, no basement or garage, two bedrooms, one bath, occupying 768 square feet. Strict condominium association requirements have kept them the same, with rules against adding on or building fences.

Eleanor Spurley, now 94, moved to the last house on the block in 1951. She was a former Army sergeant. Her husband was a former Army corporal. They raised four young kids there who slept on two bunk beds and shared one dresser.

"It was just an awesome place to live," said Jo Ann Spurley, now 64. "Every night everybody came out and played."

The original Levittown.

Levittown:  Documents of an Ideal American Suburb

History of American Suburbs:  Levittown, New York.  (From LIFE magazine)

Levittown, Pennsylvania, celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2012.

Images of America series.