The Washington times., 1924-03-08
zEPP MOVES To
NEWOFF|CES
At CIRCLE
Increased Business Forces
Lewis Homes Service
Into Larger Quarters.

=
Five years ago the housing
situation in Washington had reached
an acute condition. a shortage
existing that was impossible to
meet. The ready-cut house had
been flourishing for some time
in the more rural districts. At
for housing in the city, a num-
cut homes sent their most able
local builders and home building
After these high-powered agents
Of the various districts had spent
some months in endeavoring to
place homes in washington, they
found that they were trying to
sell One-third Of q completed home
without being in position to
show the prospective builder how
to procure the other two.thirds
and were therefore unable to
show the prospective home builder
any particular reason why he
should attempt to build a homo Of
A few people, under the ex-
treme emergency that existed, tried
out this plan OF home building, but
with Indifferent success, az the
advantages they might gain through
this system were offset by the
prejudiced antagonism and lack
Of cooperation they experienced
in obtaining the other two.thirds
nj THAR nnYnOlaf0d hnrnA
Among other concerns of this
character the Lewis Manufacturing
Company, Of Bay City, Mich,
originators of the ready-cut idea had
representative in the field, a
Mr.. Lloyd, who was very eff.
ficient salesman. At this time Guy
8. Zepp was an operator in the
BODYBUILDING field. He vas ex.
periencing the usual difficulties
that every home builder was hav-
ing in obtaining suitable material
and delivering homes for a reason
able cost. Mr.. Zepp became in
tereSted in the plan furnished by
the Lewis Manufacturing Company,
and through the cooperation Of
Fulton r. Gordon, a prominent
suburban specialist, erected nine
Of these homes in Chevy Chase
Grove. During the erection Of the
houses. Mr.. Zepp became so con.
verted to this plan Of construction
that he attempted a representation
for this company. At this time the
ready-cut house was still in the
experimental stage, was looked
upon as substitute for a real house,
was frowned on by most money
lenders and held in coY1ternrt nv
many builders. But the Lewis
Manufacturing Company was q
conservative organization and pro.
gressive. It was and is principally
owned by two lumber kings. Ross
and Wentworth, Of Bay City, Mich,
under the management Of two
young, energetic men, Mr.. J, p.
Dixon. general manager, and Mr..
George w. Messick, assistant man.
ager, both possessed Of vision
and determination to make their
product national and one above
criticism. Through the cooperation
Of Mr.. Zepp and other pioneer
representatives they weeded out
local objections, overcame weak.
nesses, invited and met honest and
conservative criticisms and today
this concern stands prominent in
the manufacture and furnishing Of
exclusive home building materials
and plans. In the past year they
have made a most radical depart
ure from their old system in that
while they still adhere to the
ready-cut principles, so far az they
are sound, they give still more at
tention to the service Of enabling
each home builder to carry out his
individual ideas and to build him
self or herself and their personality
into their home.
After Mr.. Zepp had struggled
several years with hs problem he
found that the greatest difficulty