LeClaire

By soettle
  • Nelson Oliver Nelson was born in Norway. He would later go on to create the Leclaire community that housed laborers in his plumbing parts factory.

    Nelson Oliver Nelson was born in Norway. He would later go on to create the Leclaire community that housed laborers in his plumbing parts factory.

    Preservation Research Office
    2013 National Register of Historic Places Form: Leclaire Historic District. Electronic document. http://preservationresearch.com/projects/leclaire-historic-district/, accessed September 26, 2015.
  • N.O. Nelson Company was founded in St. Louis. He shared the profits with employees.

    N.O. Nelson Company was founded in St. Louis. He shared the profits with employees.

    Preservation Research Office
    2013 National Register of Historic Places Form: Leclaire Historic District. Electronic document. http://preservationresearch.com/projects/leclaire-historic-district/, accessed September 26, 2015.
  • Nelson reads Sedley Taylor’s book, On Profit Sharing Between Capital and Labor. It has a huge impact on his personal business and social philosophies.

    Nelson reads Sedley Taylor’s book, On Profit Sharing Between Capital and Labor. It has a huge impact on his personal business and social philosophies.

    Preservation Research Office
    2013 National Register of Historic Places Form: Leclaire Historic District. Electronic document. http://preservationresearch.com/projects/leclaire-historic-district/, accessed September 26, 2015.
  • Nelson tells 200 employees that the company will share profits with workers.

    Nelson tells 200 employees that the company will share profits with workers.

    Preservation Research Office
    2013 National Register of Historic Places Form: Leclaire Historic District. Electronic document. http://preservationresearch.com/projects/leclaire-historic-district/, accessed September 26, 2015.
  • Shareholders meeting at N. O. Nelson Manufacturing Company to introduce the idea of a new factory that engages in profit sharing with employees.

    Shareholders meeting at N. O. Nelson Manufacturing Company to introduce the idea of a new factory that engages in profit sharing with employees.

    Holder, Bob J., and Carl Lossau
    2002 So Is Employee Involvement and Quality of Work Life Really All That New? -
    The N.O. Nelson and Leclaire Story. Electronic document. http://www.refresher.com/Archives/!holder9.html, accessed Sept. 27, 2015.
  • Period: to

    Original Neighborhood constructed (period of importance for consideration as a National Historic District).

    Preservation Research Office
    2013 National Register of Historic Places Form: Leclaire Historic District. Electronic document. http://preservationresearch.com/projects/leclaire-historic-district/, accessed September 26, 2015.
  • Edwardsville raises $20,000 for the factory building to match what Nelson will invest in the company village. The city was excited at the prospect of new jobs.

    Edwardsville raises $20,000 for the factory building to match what Nelson will invest in the company village. The city was excited at the prospect of new jobs.

    Preservation Research Office
    2013 National Register of Historic Places Form: Leclaire Historic District. Electronic document. http://preservationresearch.com/projects/leclaire-historic-district/, accessed September 26, 2015.
  • Land purchased by N. O. Nelson for the construction of the neighborhood and factory

    Land purchased by N. O. Nelson for the construction of the neighborhood and factory

    Preservation Research Office
    2013 National Register of Historic Places Form: Leclaire Historic District. Electronic document. http://preservationresearch.com/projects/leclaire-historic-district/, accessed September 26, 2015.
  • Ground-breaking for factory construction.

    Ground-breaking for factory construction.

    Preservation Research Office
    2013 National Register of Historic Places Form: Leclaire Historic District. Electronic document. http://preservationresearch.com/projects/leclaire-historic-district/, accessed September 26, 2015.
  • Founding Day event to celebrate the new company headquarters and the Leclaire neighborhood. It was named after the first profit sharing company in France.

    Founding Day event to celebrate the new company headquarters and the Leclaire neighborhood. It was named after the first profit sharing company in France.

    Preservation Research Office
    2013 National Register of Historic Places Form: Leclaire Historic District. Electronic document. http://preservationresearch.com/projects/leclaire-historic-district/, accessed September 26, 2015.
  • Factory construction begins at N. O. Nelson Manufacturing Company. The buildings are Romanesque Revival style.

    Factory construction begins at N. O. Nelson Manufacturing Company. The buildings are Romanesque Revival style.

    Preservation Research Office
    2013 National Register of Historic Places Form: Leclaire Historic District. Electronic document. http://preservationresearch.com/projects/leclaire-historic-district/, accessed September 26, 2015.
  • LeClaire schoolhouse constructed.

    LeClaire schoolhouse constructed.

    Preservation Research Office
    2013 National Register of Historic Places Form: Leclaire Historic District. Electronic document. http://preservationresearch.com/projects/leclaire-historic-district/, accessed September 26, 2015.
  • N. O. Nelson Memorial Fountain built and dedicated.

    N. O. Nelson Memorial Fountain built and dedicated.

    Preservation Research Office
    2013 National Register of Historic Places Form: Leclaire Historic District. Electronic document. http://preservationresearch.com/projects/leclaire-historic-district/, accessed September 26, 2015.
  • Crime in Leclaire was rare but not unknown. A murder-suicide occurred in 1930, for example.

    Crime in Leclaire was rare but not unknown. A murder-suicide occurred in 1930, for example.

    Friends of Leclaire
    2015 Historic Documents. 1930-1934. Electronic document, http://www.historic-leclaire.org /?nav=historic_documents, accessed September 23, 2015.
  • Citizens petition for annexation to Edwardsville. “Sewer problems” and emergency services were listed as reasons for this request.

    Citizens petition for annexation to Edwardsville. “Sewer problems” and emergency services were listed as reasons for this request.

    Friends of Leclaire
    2015 Historic Documents. 1930-1934. Electronic document, http://www.historic-leclaire.org /?nav=historic_documents, accessed September 23, 2015.
  • The neighborhood was legally annexed by Edwardsville.

    The neighborhood was legally annexed by Edwardsville.

    Preservation Research Office
    2013 National Register of Historic Places Form: Leclaire Historic District. Electronic document. http://preservationresearch.com/projects/leclaire-historic-district/, accessed September 26, 2015.
  • A rash of burglaries rocks Leclaire.

    A rash of burglaries rocks Leclaire.

    Friends of Leclaire
    2015 Historic Documents. Post-1935. Electronic document, http://www.historic-leclaire.org/?nav=historic_documents, accessed September 23, 2015.
  • Swimming banned in LeClaire Lake because of "unsanitary conditions."

    Swimming banned in LeClaire Lake because of "unsanitary conditions."

    Preservation Research Office
    2013 National Register of Historic Places Form: Leclaire Historic District. Electronic document. http://preservationresearch.com/projects/leclaire-historic-district/, accessed September 26, 2015.
  • Wagner Electric bought the factory buildings.

    Wagner Electric bought the factory buildings.

    Preservation Research Office
    2013 National Register of Historic Places Form: Leclaire Historic District. Electronic document. http://preservationresearch.com/projects/leclaire-historic-district/, accessed September 26, 2015.
  • N. O. Nelson Manufacturing Company files bankruptcy.

    N. O. Nelson Manufacturing Company files bankruptcy.

    Friends of Leclaire
    2015 Historic Documents. Post-1935. Electronic document, http://www.historic-leclaire.org /?nav=historic_documents, accessed September 23, 2015.
  • Factory abandoned by Wagner Electric; loss of remaining manufacturing jobs

    Factory abandoned by Wagner Electric; loss of remaining manufacturing jobs

    Lewis & Clark Community College
    2015 N. O. Nelson Campus History. Electronic document, http://www.lc.edu/Edwardsville-history/, accessed September 22, 2015.
  • Southern Illinois University Foundation purchased factory buildings. They housed SIUE while the new campus was being constructed.

    Southern Illinois University Foundation purchased factory buildings. They housed SIUE while the new campus was being constructed.

    Lewis & Clark Community College
    2015 N. O. Nelson Campus History. Electronic document, http://www.lc.edu/Edwardsville-history/, accessed September 22, 2015.
  • Period: to

    SIUE art department housed at factory

    Preservation Research Office
    2013 National Register of Historic Places Form: Leclaire Historic District. Electronic document. http://preservationresearch.com/projects/leclaire-historic-district/, accessed September 26, 2015.
  • Period: to

    SIUE Museum storage at factory

    Preservation Research Office
    2013 National Register of Historic Places Form: Leclaire Historic District. Electronic document. http://preservationresearch.com/projects/leclaire-historic-district/, accessed September 26, 2015.
  • Factory sold to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville by the Foundation

    Factory sold to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville by the Foundation

    Lewis & Clark Community College
    2015 N. O. Nelson Campus History. Electronic document, http://www.lc.edu/Edwardsville-history/, accessed September 22, 2015.
  • Neighborhood recognized as a National Historic District

    Neighborhood recognized as a National Historic District

    National Park Service
    2014 National Register of Historic Places Dataset. GIS Geodatabase, https://irma.nps.gov/App/Reference/ Profile/2210280/, accessed September 22, 2015.
  • Period: to

    Northern LeClaire part of TIF district. This could lead to new commercial and/or industrial development in the neighborhood.

    City of Edwardsville
    2015 City Maps. Electronic document, TIF_Map.pdf. http://www.cityofedwardsville.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={1A27CF5F-9849-4E1A-843C-3A01532A4097}, accessed September 22, 2015.
  • Factory property deeded to Louis & Clark Community College

    Factory property deeded to Louis & Clark Community College

    Lewis & Clark Community College
    2015 N. O. Nelson Campus History. Electronic document, http://www.lc.edu/Edwardsville-history/, accessed September 22, 2015.
  • Period: to

    A map from 2010 showing future land use in Edwardsville indicates that most of Leclaire will remain residential with a small commercial area in the northern part. This commercial area overlaps the TIF district that is active until 2020.

    City of Edwardsville

    2015 Comprehensive Plan. Electronic document, Future Land Use Map. http://www.cityofedwardsville.com /index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={8CD265DF-812A-49BD-B0E2-595B8F338AF6}, accessed September 23, 2015
  • The Edwardsville Historic Preservation Commission obtained a Certified Local Government grant from the Illinois Historic Preservation Commission to create a new comprehensive National Register nomination for the district.

    The Edwardsville Historic Preservation Commission obtained a Certified Local Government grant from the Illinois Historic Preservation Commission to create a new comprehensive National Register nomination for the district.

    Preservation Research Office
    2013 National Register of Historic Places Form: Leclaire Historic District. Electronic document. http://preservationresearch.com/projects/leclaire-historic-district/, accessed September 26, 2015.
  • Period: to

    Some of the school’s students come from outside of the Leclaire area, but 81% of students identify as white, 9% black, 3% Hispanic, 2% Asian, 1% Pacific Islander, and 5% identifying as multiracial. Also, 29% of students come from low income households.

    Edwardsville School District #7
    2014 Leclaire Elem School Illinois At-A-Glance Report Card. Electronic document, http://www.ecusd7.org/leclaire/, accessed September 23, 2015.
  • New building opens where N. O. Nelson Manufacturing Company once stood. It is used by Edwardsville High School District and Lewis & Clark Community College.

    New building opens where N. O. Nelson Manufacturing Company once stood. It is used by Edwardsville High School District and Lewis & Clark Community College.

    Lewis & Clark Community College
    2015 N. O. Nelson Campus History. Electronic document, http://www.lc.edu/Edwardsville-history/, accessed September 22, 2015.