Bourbonnais Grove Historical Society

The Bourbonnais Grove Historical Society has its headquarters in the George R. Letourneau Home/Museum on the Adrien M. Richard Heritage Preserve.  French-Canadian pioneer settlers George Letourneau (1831-1906) and his wife Elodie (Langlois) Letourneau (1834-87) lived in this 2300 square foot home from 1854-83 and raised their eleven children and one grandson there.  Letourneau acquired what he called a “pioneer structure” in 1854 when it was a farm house with three acres.  Earlier, it had served as a post office and general store from 1837-40, and its foundation may have been over the home of Francois Bourbonnais, Sr. which was built 1832. This home is the oldest structure in Kankakee County.  The George R. Letourneau Home Museum is the one time home of George R. Letourneau.  The Letourneaus raised six daughters, five sons and one grandson in the home.  George R. Letourneau, a contemporary of Abraham Lincoln, was the only person to have had the distinction of having been village president (first) of Bourbonnais and to also have been mayor of the city of Kankakee.  George R. Letourneau also served as the Kankakee county coroner, Kankakee sheriff and state senator.   Today the Letourneau home is a museum that contains many artifacts and is maintained by the Bourbonnais Grove Historical Society.