Blame the Cold War for doing in the picket fence. Whether seeking security, embracing new technology or dodging a tedious paint job, many ’50s-era suburbanites chain-linked their lots.

But it wasn’t just the low maintenance that drew Newman’s attention; it was also the price. At $620,000 for three bedrooms and 2.5 baths, it was far more affordable than single-family homes in ...

Most picket fences are 36 to 48 inches tall and are constructed using a traditional 4-by-4 post and 2-by-4 rail fence frame, adorned with neatly spaced pickets.

A white picket fence was easy shorthand for fictional families in film and on television: Upper middle-class, prosperous, mannered. Neighborhoods wanted to reflect the kind of wholesomeness ...