In 2016, CILF initiated the effort to save, restore, and relocate a gem of Peoria’s manufacturing history: the LeTourneau “Carefree Home.” Manufactured in Peoria during the 1930s, these mostly steel homes addressed widespread housing shortages. Now fully restored and open for visits at the Wheels O’ Time Museum in north Peoria, the LeTourneau Carefree Home continues to need your support. Please join us preserving this important example of innovative design and manufacturing. Donations from the link below will go towards the continuing preservation of the LeTourneau Carefree Home. CILF always ensures that your information is secured by PayPal.
To donate by check, make your donation payable to CILF Steel House Project
and mail to Central Illinois Landmarks Foundation; PO Box 495; Peoria, IL 61651.
The Project to Save the LeTourneau Carefree Home
R. G. LeTourneau was one of America’s great inventors and industrialists of the 20th century. He opened his construction equipment factory in the Averyville section of Peoria in 1935. As he recognized that the Great Depression had created a housing shortage for his employees, LeTourneau developed the concept of the Carefree Home, a compact steel house. Several hundred of the houses were built at his factory until production ceased as World War II approached and steel became scarce.
The steel homes featured many innovations. They were perhaps the first air-conditioned homes (albeit a primitive system). Brochures proclaimed, “It must be air conditioned, insulated not alone against cold and heat, but against, storm, dust, termites, flood, flame, and other foes. And it must be a trouble-proof house—a house requiring a minimum of maintenance—a Carefree House.”
The homes were located in Peoria, East Peoria, and Peoria Heights. About 30 of the structures still exist today, with a significant cluster located near the Peoria Heights water tower.
One of the LeTourneau’s homes remained at the LeTourneau factory site and was used as a manufacturing office until the early 1980s. Heavy equipment manufacturer Komatsu, who now owns the former LeTourneau factory, generously agreed to donate the structure to the Central Illinois Landmarks Foundation. The structure was restored and moved to the Wheels O’Time Museum facility in northern Peoria in 2017, where it serves as a significant exhibit honoring the creativity of LeTourneau and the company’s employees.
The project was a collaboration of Central Illinois Landmarks Foundation, the Peoria Historical Society, and Wheels ‘O Time Museum. Supporters and benefactors included firms and labor groups who donated funds and services to help accomplish the task.
The project, while honoring one of Peoria’s great industrial figures, has made a major contribution to the museum scene in Peoria. The project demonstrated what can happen when community resources focus on coming together to make something great happen.
Further reading about LeTourneau and his visions can be found at these links:
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