Arcy Steel Frame

In 1934 the Arcy Corporation built five steel frame homes on the south side of Monticello Boulevard between Newbury Drive and Burlington Road (3060 to 3100 Monticello).  Although these homes have a traditional brick façade, Arcy completely replaced the usual wooden frame with steel.  By borrowing technology used to erect skyscrapers, Arcy was able to free up the interior of these homes from the constraints imposed by more conventional construction techniques.

A 1936 Arcy sales brochure states: "Because none of the partitions in Arcy Houses are load bearing, the plans are really free — so much so that room proportions can be changed almost at will...an unusual feature, an exclusive Arcy Feature."  Arcy also claimed that their homes, being constructed of brick and steel, "are not only wind-proof, but fireproof, lightening proof and termite proof."  By using prefabrication, Arcy hoped to reduce the cost for its homes to less than $5,000, but the Forest Hill homes were completed for approximately $15,000 each in the '30s.

One of the Forest Hill Arcy homes showing the steel framework before the brick façade was added and after. From "Packaged Houses", by C. Theodore Larson, The Architectural Record, July 1937.

The Arcy houses are among the earliest homes built in Forest Hill and, are a precursor of later all steel homes, such as Buckminster Fuller's experimental Dymaxion House [Learn more ] and the more commercially successful Lustron homes [Learn more].

We are always interested in learning more about the history and architecture of Forest Hill.  If you have something to share with us about the Arcy homes, please contact our president at President@FHHO.org.

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