"Colony House in Strathearn Historical Park was one of a dozen bought to attract the pioneer settlers of Simiopolis, a grandly named speculative scheme by Midwestern investors who called themselves the California Mutual Benefit Colony of Chicago. According to the group's prospectus, Simi Valley was a great swath of rich farming land that could be grabbed up at bargain prices before the railroad arrived."
"An ad in the prospectus caused Simi Valley city historian Patricia Havens to conclude that the prefab homes came from the T.W. Harvey Lumber Co. of Chicago, whose specialty was cottages "in quantities of 10, 25, 50, 100 or more. Cost from $300 up." The colony houses had generous wraparound porches but no indoor plumbing."
"The venture quickly went under, but the houses continued to shelter generations of Simi Valley residents. One by one, the houses were destroyed, most by fire. In 1970, one of two that remained was moved to the park and restored, not authentically but in a fashion that would allow visitors to glimpse the past."
Colony House in Simi Valley exemplifies 19th-century prefabricated housing from the T.W. Harvey Lumber Company of Chicago. The California Mutual Benefit Colony of Chicago, a speculative venture by Midwestern investors, purchased a dozen kit homes to attract pioneer settlers to Simiopolis. The prefab cottages, costing $300 and up, featured wraparound porches but lacked indoor plumbing. Marketed as affordable opportunities in a paradise-like climate, the colony scheme promised five acres for $37 down. Though the venture failed quickly, the houses sheltered generations of residents. Most were destroyed by fire over time. One surviving house was relocated to Strathearn Historical Park in 1970 and restored, while another remains a private residence. The Midwest dominated America's prefab-housing industry during the early 20th century.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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