Some people speculate that the building is a refurbished dairy barn because there was a barn on the land when it was part of the Country Home for Convalescent Crippled Children. Others say the building was an old airplane hanger that was moved from a military base. However, it is the chapel that was rebuilt on the campus of Wheaton Academy in 1951 after being moved from Camp Ellis Army Base in Fulton County, Illinois. Dedicated March 18, 1949, LeTourneau Gymnasium has been home to Warrior athletes for almost 50 years. Built through the generosity and concentrated effort of local business leaders and the student body, Wheaton Academy opened the gym four years after moving from the campus of Wheaton College to their present location in West Chicago. R.G. LeTourneau provided the steel framework, the late John M. Oury donated the concrete sub-floor, and Robert C. VanKampen, Sr. raised funds for the wood floor. Students put on a fundraising campaign known as “Light the Gym” to pay for the electrical work. Originally, the fans entered through four doors at the north end of the building. Because of the shape of the roof, fans have affectionately begun to refer to LeTourneau Gymnasium as “The Warrior Dome.” Athletes, fans, and alumni are looking forward to the next 50 years of excitement and activity in the Dome.
Adapted from an article written by Sue Alley and published in the Press Newspaper on Thursday, April 9, 1998.
See Also...
Facilities