Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 52, Number 137, Decatur, Adams County, 11 June 1954 — Page 9

Stratton Civic Group Is Active In All Affairs Grabill Is Head « Os Organization Os Home Owners j The Stratton Place Community Association. Inc., which includes all lot owners in Stratton Place. i» perhaps one of the most active civic groups in northern. Indiana. All lot owners automatically are association members and the annual dues are $6.00. Th* association has numerous committees, each with a specific activity td supervise. One comniittee checks construction, plana of each proposed new house in the area. . A. ' A This is done to make sure that al) building restrictions in the deed are adhered to, as to state of the residence; material and set back lines, and other restrictions. Another committee has charge of children's activities; another plans Christmas yard and home decorations; another handles street and light improvements and also keeps contact with the city A council. There are nine directors, named at the annual election. Present directors of the association include: „ ? *- * ■" Gail Grabill, Robert Hoch, Robert Smith, Harry Knapp. Lyle Mullonee. Donald Norquest. James Cowens and Harold Baker. GrabiU is president of the association and other officers include: Vice-president, Robert Boch; secretary. Robert Smith and treasurer, Harry Knapp. Women of the association also have several committees and enjoy a series of annual parties and get-togethers. Plans-for the coming summer season are underway, officers stated today and will be announced soon. Several projects are planned for the summer and autumn months. Members of the association as individuals also are active in Deeatnr etab activities and the Lincoln parent-tegchers association. 'Trade-in' Method Adopted By Builders Policy Increases Home Purchasing Trade in your old home on a new one. Those words summarize one of the most sweeping changes that has come about in recent years in the merchandising of homes. The "trade-in plan’’ as it has come to be known in the home building field, is being adopted by builders in many sections of the country as a basic part of their policy in merchandising new homes. Widely credited as one of the originators of the trade-in plan is John R. Worthman, who after several years of successfully applying the practice in his own business, announced it nationally at the 1954 convention in Chicago of the National Association of Home Builders. The idea was considered new to the public and the Wall Street Journal as well as many newspapers and magazines throughout the country heralded the news to the nation at large that people could now trade their used homes as they trade in their used cars. In the May 1954 issue of the National Real Estate Building Journal; Mr. fy’ortltman. In a fourpage feature article, gives the details of the plan and relates his own experiences for the benefit of builders and brokers throughout .. the country. _.. .......... A. He points out that there is a large “forgotten group” of poten tial home buyers — mostly the parents of the last 20 year crop of newly weds — who have homes in good condition, clear of debt, yet too large and too out-of-date for their needs. It is believed that fully 50 percent of these people would buy new homes if they could dispose of their old one. • Trade-in is the answer. Three different types of tracing are explained by Mr. Worthman. Under one plan, the home builder guarantees the purchaser of a new home a “minimum price” he will receive for his old home. If the old home sells for more than the guaranteed price, as it invariably does the owner gets the difference. Another plan is a straight tradein. Under this plan the home builder accepts the used home .of’ the man for whom- he is building a new house and disposes of ft for cash or trades it on another merchantable home.

DECATUR DAILY' DEMOCRAT-- *

First Section B Work ' ■•••- > ■ 1 I Starting road construction in Section B. Stratton Place, more than a yeari ago. Yost Construction Co. breaks ground for new streets . and sewers. • -''"D ' i, ... Concrete Sewer Construction :A,.;'/ SA?JI BLJE * 9 ' ■PjbJh > This photograph shows some of the large concrete sewer tiles used in connecting the new sewer with the Section A -sewer, which runs direct from Stratton Place to the river. First House Is Started J.v' W ■" ■ x t . ~ I Above is pictured the Robert Ypst home in Section B at the time of the start of construction. The Yost family now occupies the new home, Which is one of the most modern in all of Stratton Place. ' ■" - — . - s e-

Air Conditioning Home Units Varied Pointers Are Given For Home Purchasers You can. take your pick of air* Conditioning units this year. There- are window units; central systems,"some that cool only, others that provide year-round conditioning, even-pint-size conditioners you can lug around with you which work off your car battery or plug into any 110-volt socket; Yes, air-conditioned comfort is here. It’s only a matter, of choosing the right air conditioner for your home. Uaturally. when you buy an air conditioner, states Household magazine, you wapt the unit that does the best job of cooling your home, at the least cost to you. i This choice, whether a complete. system or room unit, will be influenced by many considerations. And. you’ll wantrto discuss your specific problems with your deal 1 er hefore making any finaj. deci-

sion. 4f yours is an average, one-story house, with standard insulation and no special heat problems — such as large unshaded glass areas —the two main factors will be heat and humidity, according' to the magazine. They will influence the amount of cooling you need, and therefore ‘ the size of unit. What’s more, they will greatly affec toyur choice of the type of air conditioning that is best for you. Because of the severe winters in the midwest and east central tateaS of the country, your best bet is a year-round system, with both heating and cooling. If you -'have forced-air heating, you can probably add a cooling unit, using the same ducts. The average cost will be between 1800 to SI,OOO, unless you run into some complicated installation * problems. In the north central states, unless your house is extra large, or I has inadequate insulation, a 1%i HP unit should take care of the average home, the magazine says. Operating costs for the season will he considerably lower than those in southern climates which run sl3 to |H> a month.

Decatur, Indiana, Friday, June 11, 1954.

New Area Os Stratton .- • "A’ * ' Place Is Opened For Construction Os Homes ■. . . ' • v* -A . ‘' * w • .? ■ >•’

—_--- : . Worthman Achieves National Note In Home Building Field

John R. Worthman, original sponsor and developer of Stratton Place, a former resident of Adame county, has achieved national distinction- in the subdivision, and home building fields in which he has been active for the past 30 years. He is president of John R. Worthman. Inc. of Fort Wayne and is an officer and director of several other business organizations. Mr. Worthman is currently serving as vice president of the National Association of Home Builders and is a member of the National Executive Committee. He has served- on the national board of directors for many years. He is the past president .and one of the organizers and founders of the Home Builders Association of Fort Wayne and a member of its hpard of directors. He also helped form the Indiana Home Builders Association and is a member of its board of directors. An active realtor, he is a past president of the Fort Wayne Board of Realtors and is an active participant in the district and state programs of the Indiana Real- Estate Association. Widely known for his many civic activities, he is a past president of the Lion's Club, a past president and member of the, board of directors . q£ the Citizens' Civic Associatim*. and a member of the board of the Salvation Army. Directs Movie Production Mr. Worthman was named by Presidept Dick Hughes of the NAH & a* technical director for the production of the SIOO,OOO full length dramatic movie titled “Million Dollar Castle" which has just been completed by Galbreath Motion Picture Studios of Fort Wayne. The film depicts in dramatic plot form the difference Iretween homes and living conditions at the turn of the century and now. ft features several Hollywood stars including Beulah Bondi. Walter Abel, Kent Taylor and Bonita Granville. It was directed by Harold Daniels', of Hollywood. The NAHB will make the movie available for public service, television showings, and to club, church, educational, school, college, convention and trade association meetings. Selected By Magazine The distinguished eubdivider has participated in the last several convention programs of the National Association of Home Builders at Chicago and has received a number of outstanding/-awards for excellence in home building and merchandising. One of his most recent honors came last fall when he was awarded first prize from the Indiana-Illinois area for the best home merchandising plan and was one of twenty builders so selected throughout the United States. He is a regular contribuStorage WaH Can Be Used For TV Set Disposal of a bulky television set, which frequently raises a major decorating prob lem in the home, can be handled easily bymaking space for the bulky equipment in a storage wall. - These popular money-arid-space savers, frequently z used as room dividers,- or extending along windowless walls to the full width or length of a room, may include , several open or closed units with space for practically any type or n quantity of articles. . Their flexibility is almost lim- ■ itless and they can be moved with minimum effort from room to j room or even to another house. ; says Georgia-Pacific plywood en- ( gineers. Storage walls designed to . meet the storage space problems | of every family, particularly one j whose members have several hob- j bies can be constructed easily at ( low cosi with standard size GPX < plywood panels. This material is j strong enough to permit compart- ] ments up to four feet wide with- ] out intermediate bracing of the ( back panel, due to the warp reals- - lance of GPX. It can be left in its j natural smooth finish or painted. (

tor to tfete magazines in the building and real estate fields. John R. Worthman, Inc., was recently selected by Better Homes and Gardens from among home builders in the midwest area to build their, prize designed l house of 1954 entitled "A Home for All America." The home is now being constructed in the Woodhurst Addition. Fort Wayne, and will be featured in the September issue of the magazine. Local Realtors Are Handling All Sales Strickler; Kent Heller Are Agents Three well known Decatur real estate men are handling the lot sale of Section B Stratton Place. John R. Worthmhn, developer of the addition said today. -.Charles Kent, Kent Realty and Auction Co. and Gerald Strickler, of the same company have had more than 12 years Decatur real estate selling experience and have been associated as partners in the Kent Realty and Auction Co. shw-e its organization th W. Associated with Kent and Strackkr'are Don S. Blair. Wells county and Mrs. Pauline Haugk, of this city. The other local realtor handling sales is Robert H. Heller, who has also been in the real estate and insurance business in Decatur for more than 10 years. The Kent Realty and Auction Co. office is located at 119 South Second street and Bob Heller. Realtor is located at the Heller building on East Monroe street. Colors Important For Home Planners Stylist Suggests Care In Purchases By IRMA DUTRIEUX Color Stylist. The O'Brien Corp. You can make color in your home “sing” by the way you" combine one' color with another in decorating. Make up your mind that your home is going to be cheerful, colorful and livable — then take the time and trouble to learn a few basic principles of decorating. Decorating a home is simplified if you make a careful analysis of yourself and your family before you begin. Take a pad and pencil and snake notes of your preliminary' plans. Ask yourself—‘'Who will use the room?” “What is it to beusedfor’” “WMt do “you want your room to express’" Character and personality ex pressions may lie grouped into Uw following divisions: masculine or feminine, formality or informality, comfort or luxury, welcome or aloofness, cheer and gayety or reserve and serenity. You may call it your decorative purpose, and when once decided upon, you have taken your first and most .important step. The mood or spirit you want your home to express, determines the color schemes you will select and the type of furniture you should buy. For many people the decorating problem is almost entirely one of refreshing and renovating the color schemes and furnishings already in use. If this is your case, thoughtful planning is even more important. Add to your notes a list of each piece of urniture you think you may be able to work into your decorating plan. The articles on this list are the sign posts which point out the color harmony pattern which your decorative scheme will follow. Remember—in. every carefully p’anned room lies the possibility qf a great triumph.

Developer Worthman ?■ ’ fl H 7 jc ' ; Jr t ** ■ wi , , Isl John R. Worthman, president of John R. Worthman. Inc., and developer of Stratton Place, while actually a resident of Fort Wayne, has become a part of this community since his acquisition of the area east of the business section, eight years ago. In addition to developing Stratton Place, he has given liberally to the Decatur Community building fund; he has given land to the city for a right of way; to the state highway department for a right of way and also has donated several acres of land in Stratton Place for a playground. Worthman also was instrumental in development and sale of the building on Monroe -street, occupied by A and P grocery and’ the eld Dr. 8. D. Beavers home across the street, which was converted into an apartment house, with offices on the first floor. Recently Worthman acquired the old Kirkland township high school building and two acres of land. He has not announced his plans for that building, located about eight miles west Os Decatur. It is the school from which Mrs. Wofthman was graduated. Business Section Good Possibility Developer Has Plans For Business> Lake A dream, which may come true in the near future, has been suggested by John R. Worthman, developer of Stratton Place in this city. Worthman said today he hoped that some day, there would be a row of business buiMitlgs along Monroe .’street, directly across from the new Community building. If the Worthman proposal is carried out, the one story brick buildings would be built from the St. Marys river bridge, east to the entrance of Stratton Place on the south side of- Monroe street. Worthman said that in all probability the structures would be limited to one story brick buildihgs. There was one - “exception, he said 1 . There is a possibility block, a larger building to bouse a modern hotel might be constructed. Worthman said he had been approached on the proposal, but that nothing definite had been decided as yet. , Construction of this row of buildings, would in no way interfere with the proposal to convert the 50 acres of lower land along the river into a lake. The lake proposal has been given to Worthman by several Stratton Place residents and the owner has said that he was very much interested in the proposal. This would include construction of a dam along tne river bank, to prevent the river from overflowing into the proposed lake. Several other proposals for use of the low land have been made Worthman said, but no definite decision will ba made until more sentiment can be obtained from Stratton Place residents as to how to best use the low land.

1 All New Lois Are Ready For Homes Utilities Are In; Streets Improved Work was completed this week on placing all utilities and other improvements in section B, Stratton Place. Each lot has a main sewer connection at the edge; electricity, gas and . water are available at each lot. The circular driveway was completed this week, with the entrance on Limberlost Trail and the exit on Stratton Way, the two main thoroughfares of the addition. The new street will he one way around the circle. Construction of some homes alf ready has started in Section B, and about half of the 55 new lots - already have been sold. The 8 street is concrete and the curl>s , are of the Circular variety so it - will not be necessary to cut into J them for driveways. Low places , in the area have been filled in and all 55 lots are ready for construc- - tion work. ° r Cost of the lots vary with the ■ sizes which range from 85 feet in > width upwards. The entire area ! was laid out by A. K. Hofer and i Son, Fort Wayne civil engineering I firm. 1 There is one area called Block A. which has not yet been laid out ■ into lots. There is a possibility s that this area will bp used for - additional playground factlftieH or • a parkway. ’ Roadway and sewer construc--1 tion was done by Yost Construe--1 tion Co. of Decatur. 1 ! Lot Prices Vary In 1 Section B Addition $2250 Is Minimum; $3450 Is Top Price Remaining lots, still available to the public In Section *%, Stratton Place range in price from 32.21 M to $3,450, according to size and location, those in charge of the lot sale announced. All lots in the new addition will be marked next Saturday and Sunday so that visitors may know » which are still available for sale . to new home seekers. About half of the 55 lots have t been sold, it was learned, and i more than adozen purchasers alI ready have made arrangements to i start construction some time this r year. r All lots are - sold locally either through Kent Realty and Auction . Co. or Bob Heller, realtor. A . system lias been set up between ' the two selling organizations, so , that when a lot is sold, it is marked off the master blueprint. In this manner, it was pointed out. there are no disappointments because of a prior sale. Every lot has all utilities gas. lights, water and sewer mains are in. Abstracts and warranty deeds are furnished for each purchaser. 4— ■'— o , <> Deeds carry restrictions as to minimum size of each home and set back lines, thus assuring all purchasers of a restricted residential area, always, it was stated. Unused Doorway Is Easily Converted If you have a little used door living foom, you can make a useful bookcase from it by a small expenditure and a few hours . work, advise Georgia-Pacific ply-I wood engineers. h Remove the door and hinges..; Put a Ripplewood panel backing tl on the doorway, and fit adjustable s shelves to" if. Stain or paint the shelves to match the walls of the : room and do the panel in a smart- i ly contrasting shade. A full length* i mirror can be hung on the back i of the panel in the room or hall 1 into which the doorway formerly i led. « <

Section 'B' Lots Are Ready For Home Erection Public Invited To Inspect Lots This Week end Stratton Place, section If, has officially become part of Decatur and will be open for public inspection Saturday and Sunday, June 13 and 13, John R. Worthman, owner and developer of the popular Decatur sulrdi vision, announced today. Fifty-five lots are included in the new section of Stratton Place and already several new homes are under construction. First to be completed is the home of Robert Yost of Yost Construction Co. The Yost residence is located on Limberlost Trail extended. Several other homes are under construction and about half of the lots have been sold. Sale of lots is under the direction of Robert H. Heller, realtor, and Kent Realty and Auction Co., represented by "fie raid Strickler and Charles Kent. All utilities are already in the new addition and sewer construction was completed prior to the paving so it would not be necessary to djg up streets and yards. Since the start pf the sectatd development a year f ago, Community Pass, the roadway which joins Limberlost Trail and Stratton Why. has been widened and improved and occupants of Section B will have ready access to the playground area and also to the main roadways out of Stratton Place. With the addition of the 55 lots to Stratton Place, there are now 133 platted lots. ' Developer Worthman said today: “ am pleased to offer this new addition to the people of Decatur and 1 pledge my continued support, to the future development of this popular section of Decatur." Stratton Place was (formally opened December 7, 1946 arid DonaldNorquest, FHA administrator, bought the first home available to War Veterans. However, when the Stratton Place area was purchased from Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Schmitt, there already was afresidence located at the corner of Porter Vista and Monroe streets and this residence was occupied by a war veteran, Ralph Reunion, then manager of the Equity store in Decatur. With the addition of section B, there still remains 57 acres of unplatted and undeveloped land along the St. Marys river. Worthman said that he has had several suggestions concerning this area. It is probable that a row of small business houses will be erected along Monroe street leading into Stratton Place proper, ft I this is done, a fill will be necessary on about four acres of the undeveloped land. There is a strong possibility that the remaining 50 acre; will be developed into a private lake with the construction of a dam along the river. If Ulis is done, pathways also will be constructed for horse back riding. A Valuable Warning Do-it-yourself enthusiasts must remember they can use paint over lacquer, warn Georgia-Pacific plywood engineers, but that lacquer cannot be applied over paint. ? s Design Unique Walls Interesting wall . and ceiling treatments can be created by imaginative householders if they have a pair of willing hands and a few simple tools. Ripplewood’s 4’ x 8’ panels, and 16" x 16” and 12” x 12” squares may be easily installed in a variety of special decorative effects, including strips squares, diamonds and combinations of panels. Its textured finish is equally at home in traditional or contemporary decor.