LeClaire Historic District, Historic district in Edwardsville, US.
LeClaire Historic District is a residential neighborhood in Edwardsville featuring structures from the late 1800s arranged according to a deliberate layout that spreads across several blocks. The buildings include homes, public facilities, and shops organized around planned streets that remain intact today.
The district was founded in the 1890s by a manufacturer who wanted to create a new kind of worker community based on principles of shared prosperity. His approach drew inspiration from examples in Paris and incorporated ideas about fair distribution of wealth.
The area reflects how an intentional community placed learning and shared knowledge at its heart. The street layout and building arrangements still show where residents gathered and exchanged ideas across different social backgrounds.
The district is best explored on foot since the streets are walkable and buildings are visible from the sidewalks. Comfortable shoes help, and there are several entry points where you can start your walk through the area.
What set it apart was that non-company employees could also become residents and receive the same services and utilities. This open approach to community membership was unusual for a factory settlement and showed an experimental mindset about shared living.
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