FHA Sponsors Home Remodeling Program for Delense Areas

Washington, D. C., Aug. 28.-"Repair for Defense," a theme stressing property preservation and the remodeling of homes in defense areas, will be the basic appeal of a new repair campaign sponsored this fall by the building industry, financial institutions, and the Federal Housing Arlnrinistration.

To convert old homes into defense housing and to prepare the "home front" for its job as the bulwark of America's defense, articles and advertisements in newspa.pers and magazines, announcements over radio stations, wilr<low and transportation posters, local demostrations, bor,f<lels, and other means of public education are being nrade ready throughout the nation.

Brand new provisions of FHA's property repair ('fitle 1) plan will back up the new drive with proper firrancing facilities. Federal Housing Administrator Ablrer f[. Fergusoin, commenting on the 1941 program, sairl: "'J.'his effort of the building and allied industries to do the big job of housing workers in our defense industries finds the m;rchinery already organized and running ef{icierrtly-thanl<s to seven years' experience in a. nationwidr: 1lr ogram of errcouraging constructive home improvemerrls."

The 1941 program, aimed exclusively ;rt defense pro,luction areas, will encourage the conversion uf old houses irrlo multiple-family dwellings or rooming ol boarding residences.

While the building industry is believed ready to construct as many new homes as required in such communities, it is realized that every available home already built should be utilized. Needed housing can be supplied quickly and economically from large well-located homes which are not being fully used. This is described as a sensible "short cut" to additional defense housing.

The new program will make strong use of the slogan "Defense calls for Home Repairs." Builders, contractors, financial institutions, material manufacturers, dealers, and others will cooperate to spread this theme from coast to coast through national and local advertising. The entire program is modeled after previous successful campaigns by the building and allied industries.

All who participate will be entitled to educational material supplied by the Federal Housing Administration without charge. This material includes: l3ill boarrl poster-A colorful "24 sheet" bearing the slog;rn "[)efense Calls for Home Repairs."

A new emblem featuring the slogan "Repair for Defense" supplied by the FHA in mat form to newspapers for use in advertisements of building material dealers, contractors, lending institutions, etc.

Window stickel'-Featuring the same emblem, attractively printed irr color. Approximately I7'xlZ'.

New willdow displays-A colorful streamer, poster and side llicces for featuring the new repair program in dealers' windows. Included in this material are a winclow slrelmer (68"x16") and two vertical side pieces ((fr'xl6lt). This complete assortment is known as Wirr<low Display No.6.

A ltew st:ries of newspapcr advertisements featuring home repair and remodeling on the FHA Pay-out-of-Income l.'lir.rr. FHA will supply copy themes and mats of ilhrsttations to newspapers on request.

"l)caler Guide." A manual of information on the new 'l'itle I provisions and how FHA repair loans may be tttade and handled. This manual also outlines the new " Defense Calls for Home Repairs" program.

A new printed folder-"Remodeling Demanded by Defense Housing Program" (FHA Form No. 818). This folder, prepared for dealers and contractors, gives a picture of the present opportunities for repairing and remodeling larger houses into smaller living units.

Folder-"Defense Calls for Home Repairs." FHA Form No. 810 suggests what to do to make a home rentable and up-to-date.

Revised folder for dealers and general public. The FHA publication, "Improvements Eligible for Financing with FHA-Insured Loans" (Form FHA 145), has been revised and re-issued with the new Title I terms. This folder is designed primarily for dealers but may be used also for distribution to the general public.

Motion Picture-"'We Americans." a Technicolor short starring Frank Craven.

Radio dialogues-The FHA will supply a series of twelve S-minute dramatic radio dialogues that may be sponsored by local advertisers interested in selling home repairs.

This 1941 program, in which thousands of business concerns are expected to cooperate, will continue through the fall season. Many items of tie-in material are available through local media such as newspapers, radio stations, motion picture exhibitors, transportation advertisers, etc. Requests for booklets, window display material, dealer helps,. etc., should be addressed to the Division of Education, Federal Housing Administration, Washington, D. C.

FHA Deputy Administrator Holds Conference on "Repair for De(ense" Progt.m

The national emergency has multiplied demands for modern housing and "the FHA will continue to do all it possibly can to assist with construction of needed small homes in defense industrial areas," is the word brought from Washington, D. C., by Franklin D. Richards, deputy administrator of the Federal Housing Administration.

Mr. Richards was in San Francisco recently to conduct a zone conference of FHA directors and executives on new regulations designed to encourage the building and repair of houses in defense industrial areas. In attendance, with the Northern California district ofEce as host, were housing officials from Los Angeles, San Diego, Reno, Portland and Seattle.

"The Federal Housing Administration is proud of the important part it is playing in the defense housing problem," declared the deputy administrator. "'With the cooperation of realty developers, builders and private lending institutions, modern housing rapidly is being provided for the everincreasing army of workers in defense areas."

Second only to the construction of new homes in carrying forward the national defense program, in the opinion of Mr. Richards, is the rehabilitation of old homes and the conversion of large existing structures into multiple family dwellings.

"To assist with this important part of our defense housing program, FHA now is insuring loans in amounts from $2500 to $5000 to finance such improvements in areas where industrial activity has over-taxed housing facilities.

"These repair-for-defense loans are repayable, out of income, over periods as long as five years, and the new liberalized FHA terms, just announced, make them the lowest cost loans ever available for this type of financing."

The housing executive stated that although some delays and difficulties already had been experienced in securing materials in certain communities, FHA contemplates no serious shortage in designated defense areas, either for construction of new homes financed under Title VI or for the repair and conversion of existing dwellings under the newlyenacted section of Title I.

"Proper housing is a vitally important defense activity," Mr. Richards pointed out, "and in the final classification and assignment of priorities, undoubtedly it will be recognized as such."

Although a slowing up in the building of large and costly single family houses may result, due to shortage of materials, the FHA official said stimulated construction activity, both in home building and repairs, may be expected in defense areas where housing accommodations urgently are needed.

Back From Oregon

George Swift, of the Swift Lumber Co., Long Beach, with Mrs. Smith and their son Alton returned about a week ago from a vacation trip to Rogue River, Oregon.

Gives Service Worthy of REDWOOD

Selective logging, accurate milling, proper curing, careful gradingjust what you would expect from PATCO Redwood unexcelled facilities. Add PALCO Dealer coop eration and you have PALCO Servic+-worthy of REDW@D. r$Thether it is dimension, shingles, siding or PATCO \fOOL-or all of them in a mixed caryou'll find the PALCO REDWOOD man right on the job.

\f. A. Blanchard Pagses On

Willard Arthur Blanchard, president of the Blanchard Lumber Company at Burbank and North Hollywood, passed away Thursday, September 4, following a short illness. He was 75 years of age.

Mr. Blanchard was born in l\lt> rencie, Michigan. In 1911, he sold out his l.umber interests in Kansas and came to Southern California to establish a retail lumber business. With his brother Roscoe, who was connected with the lumber business in w. f,. Elcachcrrd Colorado, the Blanchard Lumber Company purchased the yards of the Suburban Lumber Company at Burbank and Lankershim, W. A. taking over the management of the Burbank yard and Roscoe becoming manager of the Lankershim (now North Hollywood) yard. The company was incorporated in t923.

Mr. Blanchard was active in Burbank civic afiairs. He served as mayor from 1914 to t922, and was a former president of the Burbank chamber of commerce and library board.

He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Maude Stevens Blanchard; a son, W. Judson Blanchard, treasurer of the company and manager of the Burbank yard; a daughter, Mrs. Neal Bruce; two brothers, Roscoe W. Blanchard, vice president and secretary of the company and manager of the North Hollywood yard, and W. M. Blanchard of El Monte; and two sisters, Mrs. J. L. Barton of Detroit, Mich., and Mrs. C. S. McDuffee of P-asadena. Funeral services were conducted from the Presbyterian Church, Burbank, September 8.

Hoo-Hoo Club No. 39 Meets Sept. 15

President Tom Branson invites all lumbermen to attend the first meeting following the summer vacation of East Bay Hoo-Hoo Club No. 39 at Hotel Leamington, Oakland, on Monday evening, September 15.

There will be a big show, including several acts of topnotch vaudeville.

Officers and directors for the coming year will be elected and installed.

Plywood Concern Sponsors Recreational Centcr for Soldiers

Just because a Grays Harbor former World War officer saw some soldiers bathing in the chilly waters of the Satsop River one evening last month a big recreational center, complete with showers, radios, piano, magazines, ping pong and pool tables, and athletic equipment, was quickly prepared for the soldiers' use.

The soldiers were the boys engaged in the war games on Grays lfarbor, and the ex-officer was E. W. Daniels, president of Harbor Ply,wood Corporation, lfoquiam, Wash., who realized the discomfort of trying to get clean outdoors in cold water and decided to do something about it.

Mr. Daniels got busy and rented the "Punchbowl," Aberdeen athletic club house, for the three weeks the war games were to continue; sent a Harbor Plywood Corporation crew to clean out the club house; had new showers installed and existing ones repaired, and arranged for the soldiers to use the club's boxing and wrestling equipment.

Rallying to the support of the idea, help came from the Veterans of Foreign Wars organization, other civic groups and individuals, thus adding to the comfort of many boys in their rough and ready temporary war games camp.

Ernie Pieper Wins State Golf Tide

Ernie Pieper of the Cheim Lumber Company, San Jose, won the California amateur golf championship, September 7, at Pebble Beach, when he defeated Bob Gardner of San Diego in the final, 4 and 2 on the 34th green.

This victory climaxed a l4-year quest for the State golf crown. Since 1927 he has missed only one tournament and for 11 of the past 12 years he has qualified for the match play. In eight of those years he has been at least a quarter finalist, and he was runner-up for the title in 1931.

Back From Northwest

Nat Thompson, son of "Tommy" Thompson of T. O. Thompson Lumber Co., Bell, Calif., returned recently from a trip to the Northwest. He visited a number of mills in the Klamath Falls and Eugene districts and was much interested in the opportunity for learning more about the production of Pine and Fir lumber. He came back by way of the Redwood Highway.