Our History
Annually
During the course of the year, Friends of Leclaire volunteers take care of gardens at Leclaire Park, host booths at the Goshen Mark and Route 66 Festival, man’s a Leclaire Park water station for the Bonifest 5K Run each May, hold numerous “park clean-up” days, donate and plant a tree at Leclaire Park or at the Children’s Museum each Arbor Day, host a band concert at Leclaire Park featuring the Edwardsville Municipal Band, and, of course, host Leclaire Parkfest every fall on the third Sunday in October. In addition, FOL produces four issues of their award-winning newsletter each year, each with the story of a historic Leclaire home.
Below are some highlights from the organization’s history:
1989
Betty Maloney of the Goshen Preservation Alliance starts the Leclaire Centennial Committee with a list of members of the Leclaire Neighborhood Association and with an ad in the Edwardsville Intelligencer inviting interested persons to a meeting in April 1989.
1990
The Leclaire Centennial Committee facilitated and coordinated activities of various organizations, with the main event being the June 16th Centennial Celebration on the anniversary of Leclaire’s founding.
The committee under the guidance of Editor Robert Blain, published a book chronicling the village’s 100 year history entitled, “The Historic Cooperative Village of Leclaire, Edwardsville, Illinois.” Following the Centennial, a video on the history of Leclaire was produced by Robert Gill.
1991
An organizational meeting is held by members of the former Leclaire Centennial Committee in April 1991 to form a group to promote the Leclaire neighborhood. The name of Friends of Leclaire is suggested by James Fralinger. Janet Foehrkolb and Jean Hughes become the organization’s first Co-presidents, Diane Jacober, Secretary and Mary Blain, Treasurer.
The first Friends of Leclaire Newsletter was published in October 1991. An Old-Fashioned Picnic was held in October, marking what would become the annual celebration of Leclaire Parkfest.
1992
Friends of Leclaire is officially incorporated with the State of Illinois as an educational, not-for-profit organization.
The first Leclaire Parkfest is established to educate the public about Leclaire's social and architectural heritage and the benefits of historic preservation. Parkfest later develops into one of Edwardsville's longest running and most successful community festivals. Proceeds continue to support educational research and park improvement programs.
1993
Jim Fralinger in association with Friends of Leclaire lead efforts to support the Leclaire Water Tower rehabilitation project after it is threatened with demolition. The structure is stabilized and partially restored, helping to save an iconic community landmark.
1996
Friends of Leclaire leads efforts to raise money to assist the Edwardsville Parks Department in purchasing a fountain for Leclaire Lake. $8,078.70 was raised from donations; the fountain added to the serene setting of the park, as well as helped to aerate the lake.
1997
As a part of its educational mission, Friends of Leclaire revises and expands their 1990 history of Leclaire. The new volume “A History of the Cooperative Village of Leclaire” is nearly double in size.
1999-2003
Friends of Leclaire participated in discussions regarding the development of the N.O. Nelson factory complex that will become a new satellite campus of Lewis and Clark Community College. LCCC brings in architects to suggest historically sensitive design changes for the complex. Careful planning and successful completion of this project re-established the Nelson complex as a viable part of Leclaire’s historic north end.
2001
Friends of Leclaire raises funds for new playground equipment in Leclaire Park.
2004
Concerned that the expansion project on the western portion of Franklin Avenue would increase traffic and reduce the road's historic character, Friends of Leclaire opposes plans for the proposed road connector between Troy Road and relocated Route 159. While the expansion is eventually approved, Friends of Leclaire worked to ensure a compromise that considered the historic nature of the neighborhood including the use of v-gutters, the planting of large hardwood street trees, and the retention of a four-way "Stop" at the intersection of Franklin Avenue and Longfellow.
2006
Friends of Leclaire successfully applied for a historic marker commemorating Leclaire’s unique history from the Illinois State Historical Society. The marker was installed in April, 2006.
2010
Friends of Leclaire installed and contributed financially to a memorial garden and landscaping on the south end of Leclaire Park.
2012
Friends of Leclaire unveils a new web site featuring more educational material on Leclaire and N. O. Nelson. With the website comes a new look for all FOL publications, including the newsletter.
Will Krause coordinated the project with Adam Celuch of Inlandesign. The updated logo was designed by Sherrie Hickman, owner of Creative Options Graphic Design.
2013
Volunteers paint the Leclaire Park gazebo on Madison Avenue.
2014
The Illinois State Historical Society held their annual meeting in Leclaire with FOL providing a program on the history of our unique neighborhood.
With the help of FOL volunteers, Edwardsville’s Historic Preservation Commission updated the National Register application for Leclaire.
2015
Volunteers painting the picnic pavilion on the NW corner of Leclaire Park.
FOL hosted a Luminaria Event in December at Leclaire Park.
A framed poster providing a history of the Leclaire Schoolhouse was designed and printed by FOL volunteers for the Children’s Museum.
2016
Friends of Leclaire applied for an ENERGI Grant, using funds to have assign designed and built for Leclaire Park. The back side of the sign gives a brief history of Leclaire Park.
FOL celebrated the 25th anniversary of Leclaire Parkfest.
The Friends of Leclaire celebrated their silver anniversary with a free Ice Cream Social at the annual Leclaire Park band concert.
The FOL website was updated and improved.
2017
Friends of Leclaire coordinated with surveyor Jeff Pauk to obtain a new survey of Leclaire Park.
2018
FOL applied for an ENERGI grant and matched funds to build a new garden in the area north of the restrooms.
2019
FOL sponsored a new exhibit and play area at the Children’s Museum that celebrated the school’s origins…an old-fashioned classroom. Sherrie Hickman of Creative Options Graphic Design created a wall mural for the exhibit.
2020
COVID-19 caused the cancellation of public events, but volunteers continued with work in the park and the production of educational materials.
2021
Parkfest returns Sunday, October 17th.
See More
Annual Reports
Contact Us
Friends of Leclaire
P.O. Box 644
Edwardsville, IL 62025
(618) 656-1294 friends@historic-leclaire.org