R.I.P. Joseph Campanelli
It’s with a touch of sadness, this week, that I note the passing of Joseph Campanelli of Brockton, Massachusetts. Those of you familiar with the history of the ranch style will know the name.
Around the same time that the Levitts were making history building the now-famous Pennsylvania Levittown and other developments, Joseph Campanelli and his brothers were making their own mark in eastern Massachusetts with the ranch style houses we know as the “Campis.”
During the 1950s and 1960s, the Campanelli brothers built over 8,600 Campis, primarily in Peabody, Beverly, Framingham and Natick. By today’s standards, the original Campis look fairly small and unremarkable; however, at the time they were built, these homes were considered the epitome of the American dream of homeownership. Most of the one-level houses had three bedrooms and just a single bathroom, but they featured all the latest amenities a growing family might want: electric appliances, built-in kitchen cabinets, and an attached garage.
Times change and many of the Campis have too, growing up or out with the families that inhabited them: those attached garages became family rooms and space was added for another bath or bedroom, but the essential character has remained unchanged. The Campis remain popular today for the same reasons they were when the Campanelli brothers built them: they’re still affordable, and with those single-level floorplans, still flexible enough to house another generation or two of growing families, or their aging parents. I have no doubt that Joe Campanelli’s durable and practical contribution to the ranch style will be around for some time, yet.
Rest in peace, Mr. Campanelli, and thank you.
For anyone wanting to read more about the Campi and the history of the ranch style, visit Roots of the Ranch at our website.
