The first 50 houses were begun in 1933 and completed in 1934. Called the Hodgson Houses, they were pre fabricated by a manufacturer who had originally designed them to be vacation summer cottages in New England. They were made of Oregon cedar over pine frames. The siding was of cedar and the roofs were metal with standing seams. As such, they were poorly insulated and of light construction, ill-suited for the harsh winters to be found in Preston County West Virginia.
All Hodgson Houses were one story high, had complete basements, and were painted white. But, they did vary in style. In all there were four types, designated by the letters I, T, L, and H, to indicate their general floor plans.
From the very beginning, each of these houses was provided with electricity, indoor plumbing, and coal fired furnaces. Later, a controversy was created, principally because most people in rural West Virginia, at that time, did not have such convenience, when the homes were also furnished with refrigerators and washing machines.
The Hodgson House was the first of three styles. The Wagner Houses and the Stone Houses followed.
I Style
H Style