With its proximity to the cultural hub of New York City and its quieter suburban and rural landscapes, Connecticut was fertile ground for artists and writers in the period of Modernist movements between 1913 and 1979. Many of these cultural figures are well known through biographical and critical studies. Creative Places seeks to show how place played a significant role in creative work, and how in turn the artists and writers influenced communities in Connecticut.
132 Mohegan Avenue, New London
- Winslow Ames House
- Winslow Ames
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One of two adjacent pre-fabricated steel houses built by Ames in 1933 during a period of interest in prefabricated structures. Ames and his family lived in the house briefly.
- Description of Significance/Historical Narrative
- From the National Register nomination: The Winslow Ames House is significant as an example of the idealistic concept houses of the 1930s. In this period, new building materials and technologies seemed to offer the hope of revolutionizing the way American homes were built, thereby alleviating the shortage of affordable housing. The Ames House, an example of the prefabricated 'Moto Home' sold by American Houses, Inc. of New York City, embodies many of the leading ideas of the period, including the use of prefabricated modular panels that were pre-finished, both inside and out; welded steel structural frame; cellar-less concrete foundation; and central service core. The goal of all these features was to create a relatively inexpensive house, one that would be largely manufactured off-site. In this way, great economies could be achieved through standardization and mass production. The Winslow Ames House's use of the International style, which was derived from the European designs of the Bauhaus school, provided both a futuristic appearance and further cost savings.
- Date of Construction
- 1933
- Historic Designation(s)
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- National Register Individual