Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-07
DETROIT FAMILY
STARTED IN TENT
Put Half of Savings, $40, in
Lot and Later Erected
House.

On a cold and windy day In April
1923, truck pulled up to q vacant LOT
in Detroit, deposited two trunks, two
grips, folding bed, tent, q woman
and two children and drove away. This
was the family of Alfred G. Taylor TAX
| ing the first step toward home owning
in a metropolis filled with comfortable
fats.
Mr. Taylor and his wife were never
to sit by a bright fire and pick out
house plans as artists often picture such
scenes Mr.. Taylor was still at work
as a crane operator at an automobile
plant at SIS a day when Mrs. Taylor
was making an unsuccessful attempt 70
pitch the tent against the high wind. A
| week earlier, their total wealth amount
ing to $40, they had put $40 on lot,
assumed $50 note payable in 80 days
to complete the down payment, and
cast covetous eyes on four-room house
standing on an adjacent lot.
This tremendous" transaction left
the Taylors with just 81. Pay day was
two weeks distant, the $50 note doomed
large before them, but modern Mrs.
Taylor, age "a, had made the family
plans. They would live on their hold
ings, in a shaky tent, until they could
buy the house so I'VE would have a
suitable home for our children
Made Good Note on Lot.
I'VE made good our note on the lot,
bought SIS option on the house, paid
$l25 on it in July and moved in on July
Is" writes Mrs. Taylor in the National
Association of Real Estate Boards con-
test for the best letters on How I Got
My Home" In the meantime they lived
in the tent. Alphabetically, this con-
testant confeSSeS that they borrowed
$40 and pawned my husbands watch"
but this was the only outside help we
had"
The house cost 1895. the two lots we're
priced at $4,000. In September Of this
year the Taylors made their final pay
ment They own the property free and
clear" mo one ever started on less
writes Mrs. Taylor.
In line with President Hoover'S recent
declarations that a resumption of home
building would greatly aid in returning
prosperity by circulating money and
putting unemployed building trades
workers and manufacturers to work, the
Real Estate Association has attempted
through its contest to show the public
that people ordinarily called poor can
have homes If they want them.
Transaction Unsolicited.
No real estate salesman ever visited
Mr.. Taylor of Detroit CARRIED in overalls
in the plant. The Real Estate ASSocla-
ton claims no credit for the Taylor
achievement. They wanted suitable
home for their children; they went
about getting one without soliciting or
urging The day they visited the sub
division they left half of all they pos
sessed with a real estate salesman, and
when all you possess is $40 and pay day
is IA days distant, half of all you pos
sess is large, large sum.
The Taylor letter is one of 1000
that are puzzling the brows of the con-
test judges who have only six prizes to
distribute, reports the association.
Probably 80 per cent of these letters are
from people who began the hometown
ing venture with very small sums. Con-
testantS were required to emphasize the
financial arrangements, the association
hoping thereby TO secure first-hand data
on this important phase Of the under
taking.