Sitcom Suburbs

I've driven up and down Millersport Highway many times and never noticed how little variation there was in the homes between Eggert and Bailey. What I saw was undoubtedly "little boxes" in about three or four different styles with some minor variations, in some cases exact copies, of each. In the above photo, with minimal searching, the first and fourth house in the picture, starting from the left, are exact copies of each other, setting a trend that continued down the street, some right next to each other. It's just fascinating how much people wanted to buy their own home in the post WWII era.

However, even though these cookie cutter homes are bunched together on this stretch of Millersport, I think it accomplished the objective of house, yard, and neighborhood, seeing as how the lot sizes are even pretty average by today's standards, the neighbors are close by and the family has ample space in their own quarters. Depending on what each family values home, yard and neighborhood, then that would determine the extent to which these Millersport homes satisfied the ideals of the sitcom suburbs. The developers sure used the lots they had to fullest, leaving land untouched. That being said, I think today's suburbanites have a little different idea as to what their land should be as well as their home and neighborhood. Land values are high in today's suburbs, but that is because the more land one has, the more valuable the property and the house is. The new suburbanites, many of whom have lived in the suburbs most or some of their lives , see a need for more land because that is what most post WWII homes were lacking, a nice chunk of land, maybe 3/4 to 1 acre. With that amount of land it is possible to put a pool and swing set and maybe even a patio and still have room for a good football game. Often, with a large plot of land, people can have the freedom to build a bigger house, which keeps with the original ideals, but molds them to fit the current times. As far as neighborhoods go, some people dislike being close to neighbors, or anyone for that matter, and some people can't get close enough with their neighbors. I think this particular example of proximity between homes is a good example of not too far and not too close.

Overall, the Millersport homes are still viewed as starter houses for many modest families who are new to married life and/or parenthood. They are moderate and give a nice taste of the home as a place of peace and relaxation, land where the children can play, and neighbors whom one can ask to watch the children or two eggs for a cake. Those same ideals are still in place today, but just modified to be bigger and a little better to fit the changing times of today and the future.