Closter's perhaps most Significant House is of a more recent era

The Closter historical Commission tells it right at the website when they say:

"The places that tell America’s story aren’t just the places you have to travel far to see- an appreciation of history can be had in our own communities by just taking a leisurely walk".

Such a leisurely walk in Closter will show you a lot.

The town is blessed with a number of historic landmarks - some are designated as "Historic Landmarks"; some are not. Most prominent are

But a home of a more recent era is now catching some much deserved attention. To me this property is perhaps as significant as any of those to be found in the list above.

Closter is has recently opened a World War II era house to the public.

The historic Harold Hess Lustron House on Durie Avenue is one of the few remaining homes built by architect Carl Strandlund. Strandlund’s goal was to provide inexpensive housing for World War II veterans.

The home is made of steel frames and aluminum panels.

According to an article in NorthJersey.com re-carried by MSN, only two of these types of houses remain in Bergen County, with one more in Alpine. Approximately 1,500 are left in the entire country.

The borough had been working to restore it to its original state. In 2015, it made a deal with a developer who wanted to purchase a neighboring property.

At the time, the house formerly belonging to WWII veteran Harold Hess was inhabited only by a family of raccoons that did damage to the interior of the house while it was left untouched.

The home  is now open to the public on the second Saturday of every month.

"It's an opportunity to preserve something, some of the history of our town, some of the history in the United States, and this clearly ranks among the top properties that need to be restored and continued for historical purposes," said Mayor John Glidden to News 12 in November, 2019 at the time of the opening

It is a wonderful reminder that there is much more to recall and cherish beyond just the regularly featured period of the American Revolution. Our narrative is broader and deeper. And it continues to be made daily - in places like the Lustron House - and efforts to make sure the story of the place is told and celebrated.