Ingersol Rands Valley View Houses

At the close of WWI, there was a housing shortage throughout the country. In 1919-1920, Ingersoll-Rand Co. build low cost workers homes in the Valley View development. The first houses built on Congress street were ordinary wooden frames and then the rest were built using concrete. The idea to use concrete was a suggestion from Thomas Edison to Ingersoll. Ingersoll contracted with Alpha Portland Cement to create the residences. The development also included a community center and a grocery store.