| Chapter 4.5: Veterans: Undesirable Heroes | |
|
Home
List of Tables, Maps, Illustrations, and Figures
Chapters
1. Symbolism, Self and Urban Environment
2. Self Selection and Urban Decay
3. Woodland to City Neighborhood: 300 Years of Change
4. Invasion and Succession
5. Micrological Aspects of Urban Problems
6. Stigma and Self-Image in the Inner City |
After the end of the Second World War in 1945, there was a severe housing shortage and apartment shortage in New York City. During the war the construction of new dwelling units was at a standstill, while older buildings were allowed to deteriorate. Over 300,000 servicemen from Brooklyn returned home after the conflict and most sought to set up their own households. Many new families came on the scene as marriages took place after being postponed for the duration of the war. Due to the housing shortage, some of the veterans tried to buy Manor houses and use them for more than single-family occupancy. For the most part, the veterans were white and of various ethnic backgrounds, but to Manorites they lacked adequate social class pedigrees. The Lefferts Manor Association viewed the veterans as "dangerous," and thought that they were trying to "ruin the neighborhood." The Association bitterly fought, and won, the battle against the ex-servicemen.
There is an interesting postscript to this incident. As time passed, many Manorites began to express some regrets about keeping the veterans out of the community. Thirty years later, older Manorites who were active in the Association at that time, and who reflect on the changes they have seen in the community, are likely to admit that perhaps they were wrong: "at least the veterans were white."
|