TREVOSE IS FOR LOVERS: Welcoming committee, undated photo by JAMES PITRONE.

NEW YORK TIMES: I was focused primarily on Levittown’s response to Obama. Here, after all, was a place that needed a big change, a new dream, which for many voters Obama — with his mixed race, international background, inspiring life story and his soaring rhetoric — represents. But Levittown, while largely Democratic, is composed of many white, working-class “Reagan Democrats,” exactly the part of the electorate that has been least receptive to him — even before the controversy over the incendiary remarks by Obama’s former pastor, Jeremiah Wright.

And on matters of race Levittown has a particularly shameful history. It was billed as “the most perfectly planned community in America,” and part of the plan was for it to be whites-only: 5,500 acres, stretching across three Pennsylvania townships and one borough, closed off to blacks. The first development of mass-produced homes by Levitt & Sons, Levittown, N.Y., on Long Island, which dates from 1947, had the same exclusionary policies. William Levitt weakly insisted that he would love to sell houses to black families but had “come to know that if we sell one house to a Negro family, then 90 to 95 percent of our white customers will not buy into the community. That is their attitude, not ours.”

In 1957, when a black family, the Myers, finally did move into Levittown, Pa., after buying from an original owner, their home was besieged for several nights by a mob that numbered in the hundreds. Rocks were hurled through the windows. In seeking a court order to stop the harassment, Daisy Myers referred to “annoying practices,” which included parades of cars rolling by her home as the occupants sang “Old Black Joe” and “Dixie.” That was a half-century ago. Still, by the numbers, Levittown is not much changed. According to the last U.S. Census, just 2 percent of its 54,000 residents are African-American; about an equal percentage are Hispanic. The town’s white population includes many second- and even third-generation residents. Could Obama connect here? MORE

WIKIPEDIA: Levittown’s otherwise placid exterior was again disturbed during days of so-called “middle-class” gas riots in June 1979 in the wake of the Camp David Peace Accords that resulted in a second embargo by Arab oil-producing nations. The unrest occurred June 24-25, 1979 as lines swelled and tempers flared in the heart of Levittown at an intersection known as Five Points, a location surrounded by six service stations, two of which were severely damaged by vandalism in those riots. The two days of riots made national headlines and even was to be mentioned (although not by name directly) in an address by President Jimmy Carter to the nation that was to be delivered on July 5, 1979 [3] MORE

LIVING PLACES: Linconia [in present day Bensalem] came into being as a result of the dreams of Frank K. Brown, a caucasian farmer from the Neshaminy Falls area. Mr. Brown saw the need for black people to own land away from the city, where they could enjoy a country atmosphere. He succeeded in purchasing a farm, along with eighty acres of land which became Linconia in 1923. The name was selected by Mr. Brown because of the proximity of Old Lincoln Highway. He named the streets in the new community and designated some of the land as a park. Many residents in the township did not welcome a minority community and much was done to intimidate the early residents. The Ku Klux Klan was active in the area at that time and one of the first overt demonstrations of disapproval was a cross burning. Banks and local lending institutions refused loans for building purposes. Determined black people put shacks on their land, hoping to get the necessary money eventually to build substantial homes. Some stuck it out, many became discouraged and returned to the city, and others died trying to realize their dreams. MORE

RELATED:Barack Obama to Visit Malvern, Levittown Wednesday

PHILADELPHIA—On the heels of his six-day bus tour across the state, Senator Barack Obama will return to speak with voters in Southeastern Pennsylvania on Wednesday. At town hall-style meetings in Malvern and Levittown, Obama will continue his dialogue with voters about the need to change Washington in order to make progress on issues like health care, the economy, and education.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9 Levittown, PA

TOWN HALL WITH BARACK OBAMA
Truman High School
3001 Green Lane
Levittown, PA 19057 Doors Open: 3:30 PM The event is free and open to the public however tickets are required. To pick up a ticket please visit our ticket distribution location listed below.

Ticket distribution locations

Obama Headquarters in Levittown

7500 Bristol Pike

Levittown, PA

Tuesday, April 8

10:00 AM to 9:00 PM

***For security reasons, do not bring bags. Please limit personal belongings. No signs or banners permitted.***

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9

Malvern, PA

TOWN HALL WITH BARACK OBAMA

Great Valley High School

225 N. Phoenixville Pike

Malvern PA 19355

Doors Open: 10:00 AM

The event is free and open to the public however tickets are required. To pick up a ticket please visit our ticket distribution location listed below.

Ticket distribution location

234 Bridge St

Phoenixville, PA 19460

Tuesday, April 8

9:00 AM to 8:00 PM

***For security reasons, do not bring bags. Please limit personal belongings. No signs or banners permitted.***

Further details to be announced as they become available.

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