Social visionary N.O. Nelson founded the village of Leclaire in 1890, naming it after Edme Jean Leclaire, who inaugurated profit sharing in France. In contrast to unsanitary urban tenement districts, Leclaire was a model cooperative village offering affordable homes, a healthful environment, free education, many opportunities for recreation and self improvement, and pleasant working conditions at the N. O. Nelson manufacturing company. To support his commitment to the “Golden Rule” Nelson implemented profit sharing and employee benefits. During the Great Depression the city of Edwardsville annexed the village. Leclaire was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

Explore these pages to find out what you can see, learn, and enjoy in Historic Leclaire.  

 Leclaire in the news

July 7, 2008

November 26, 2007

N.O. Nelson Campus fulfills vision

After four years and three construction phases Lewis and Clark Community College has seen the vision of its N.O. Nelson Campus come to life. The campus is used by Lewis and Clark students as well as Edwardsville High School students. LCCC President Dale Chapman said he believes the N.O. Nelson Campus is consistent with N.O. Nelson's philosophy. "The N.O. Nelson manufacturing center was designed in the late 1800s to be a place of conductive quality of life," Chapman said. "We have now transformed it into a wonderful place for education. None of this would have been possible without the support of the community. It is a wonderful addition to the Edwardsvile/Glen Carbon area." Chapman said more than 1,500 Lewis and Clark students are currently enrolled in classes at the N.O. Nelson campus. "We're all about offering career opportunities," Chapman said. "We have a full schedule of courses at the N.O. Nelson campus."

Chapman said there are a few programs that are unique to the Nelson campus. The Process Operations Technology program is one of the programs offered on the campus that is not offered on the main campus in Godfrey. This program is offered in alliance with Concoco Phillips and Sigma Aldrich. It will include a training space which will include a simulator that provides training on the oil refining process and the flow and pressure of oil products as they move through the plant. "These skills are highly in demand," Chapman said. "We think it is an excellent opportunity for students.

According to District 7 Superintendent Ed Hightower, there are currently 500 high school students attending classes on the N.O. Nelson Campus. "We are looking to see an increase that enrollment number second semester," Hightower said. "Half attend classes on the campus in the morning. They take core classes such as science, technology and math. Those students then go back to the high school and have lunch. The second group of students eat lunch at the high school and are transported to N.O. Nelson in the afternoon." Hightower said this schedule allows students to spend part of their day at Edwardsville High School. "N.O. Nelson addresses enrollment issues at the high school," Hightower said. "It will keep the district from having to go to the voters with a referendum for a new high school for the next five to seven years."

Hightower said N.O. Nelson also addressed the preservation of historic buildings. "It addressed a real eyesore by renovating an entire complex that was deteriorating," Hightower said. "It gives the community an aesthetic view while preserving the historic significance of the Leclaire area and the memory of N.O. Nelson." Hightower said the campus also allow high students the chance to experience a college campus. "They have the opportunity to earn due credit at a state of the art technical facility," Hightower said. 

He also said that students benefit from the N.O. Nelson Campus partnership of District 7, Lewis and Clark and SIUE. "The Partnership of the Edwardsville school District, Lewis and Clark and SIUE is something that is very special," Hightower said. You will not see this triangular partnership anywhere in the state or very few places in the country. Our academic curriculums are transparent with each other. It provides our student the opportunity others are not afforded." Hightower said EHS students that take classes at N.O. Nelson are taught by District 7 teachers. "We have Edwardsville High school teachers there," Hightower said. The district believes the campus can handle an increase of approximately 800 to 900 students at the campus.

Both Hightower and Chapman said they are thankful for the support of State Representative Jay Hoffman. Construction began at the N.O. Nelson Campus in June 2002. Phase I include the construction of a two-story, 15,000-square-foot building shared by the college and District 7, as well as a renovated 7,332-square-foot building which houses credit, non-credit adult education courses and student services.

This phase also included a two-story building which was completed in July 2003 and included three general education classrooms, four computer classrooms, a Cisco computer classroom and computer lab and faculty offices. The renovated building was completed in November 2003 and included one general education classroom, two computer labs and on Adult Education classroom. The facility also contains various office and conference space. The building houses adult education, continuing education and enrollment services.

Site work completed in conjunction with Phase I construction and renovation included the addition of 165 parking spaces, curbing, drainage, site lighting, sidewalks and landscaping. Phase II opened for classes January 2006. The Phase II construction began in 2004. It included the renovation of two older buildings on the site and combines them into one, doubling the college's classroom capacity at the site. Phase II provides an additional 20,983-square-feet of classroom and lab space.

The two-story building contains 11 classrooms including a Physics/Biology Lab, Computer Aided Drafting Lab, Engineering Technology classrooms, Electronics Lab, Computer Hardware/Software Technology Lab, Office Technology Computer Lab, and classrooms in which to teach general education courses. The second level features a loft that provides office space for faculty, as well as a general conference room.

The third and final phase was completed in 2007. Phase III construction and renovation began in 2006. It includes more classroom space, a lecture auditorium and labs.

This final phase features a 250-person conference facility, complete with full kitchen services. The facility also houses the Southwest Illinois Advanced Manufacturing partnership between the college and SIUE. The lab areas feature glass windows into the robotics and rapid prototyping areas, where visitors can view students working in the labs. Phase III will be the home of the college's new process operations technology program, which is in alliance with Cononco Phillips and Sigma Aldrich.

By ZHANDA MALONE

©Edwardsville Intelligencer 2007

October 10, 2007
Vintage Baseball Game

History will come alive. The city of Edwardsville Parks and Recreation will host a vintage baseball game at Historic Leclaire baseball field at 1 p.m. on October 20. Much like the 1989 movie "Field of Dreams," baseball from the past will return. Edwardsville will flash back to 1862.

The St. Louis Unions will play the New Baden Juniors in a 9 inning baseball game. Vintage games typically last no longer than an hour and a half.
Recreation Supervisor Deanna Obernuefemann said the community is invited to watch the game.

Obernuefemann said the idea developed after she learned about local baseball teams in Illinois and Missouri playing vintage baseball. "I contacted them to see what it would take to get them to play a game here," Obernuefemann said. She said the teams looked at Leclaire and the rest is history. Now, the date is set.

Obernuefemann teams will play an historically correct baseball game by 1862 baseball rules. The game is a gentlemen's game which means there is no yelling at the umpires, Obernuefemann said. "No complaining about bad calls." She added, "I Hope kids can come out and see baseball played with true sportsmanship."

In addition, the players will be without gloves and in recreated vintage baseball uniforms from the 1862 era. "I hope everyone enjoys the game," Obernuefemann said.

Along with the game, there will also be concessionaires of the past. The Children's Museum will have a bake sale and Washing Kettle Corn will sell kettle corn. During the game, there will also be information on baseball history at the park, such as about the changes in baseball throughout history.

Leclaire Baseball Field is located at 701 Hale Avenue in Edwardsville and is adjacent to Troy Road. Obernuefemann said the game is the same weekend as Leclaire Parkfest. She said the hope is visitors will have a chance to see a vintage baseball game in the historic neighborhood.

By ANN NICCUM of the Edwardsville Intelligencer

May 2, 2007

Historic Leclaire Lake Restocked

Once again, Leclaire Lake is full of fish.

The 115-year-old lake was filled with catfish and fathead minnows this morning.

City of Edwardsville Parks Director Robert Pfeiffer said the fish were provided by Midwest Fish Farm thanks to efforts by Kevin Starnes. "They provided the fish," Pfeiffer said.

Last spring, the lake was drained and renovated. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and a Madison County Parks and Recreation Grant helped fund the effort. The repairs were needed to improve the lake as over time it had sustained erosion and accumulated siltation. Between 20 and 30 acres of land had drained into the lake over the years.

During the clean up process, approximately 2,400 truck loads of siltation were taken out of the lake. Now that the project is completed and the siltation has been removed, the lake is deeper. Prior to the project, the lake's average depth was 4 feet. Now, it is 10 to 16 feet. The lake project was completed at the end of the summer last year. However, fish could not be placed in the lake until it was filled with water. "We waited until it was almost a full lake," Pfeiffer said. Tuesday was close enough as the lake was filled with fish.

With the final step in the lake project complete, the public may now fish at the lake.

Fishing is allowed during park hours. Pfeiffer said those fishing should follow the Illinois Department of Natural Resources regulations. "Do not keep the little bitty ones," he said. This will help keep the fish population consistent. Adults who fish will also be required to have a fishing license.

The lake is approximately 18,000 cubic feet and is located in the historic Leclaire neighborhood.

By ANN NICCUM of the Edwardsville Intelligencer