Today in Wheeling History: February 4—La Belle Iron Works, a historic factory complex and national historic district, was established in Wheeling (1852).
La Belle Iron Works, also known as La Belle Cut Nail Works, was established on February 4, 1852, by Bailey, Woodward, and Company, a group of 22 ironworkers and nailers. Located just south of Wheeling, West Virginia, the four-acre site was strategically positioned near the Ohio River and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company. The founders named the mill after the French name for the Ohio River, La Belle Riviere, meaning "beautiful river." In 1859, the company expanded by purchasing the Jefferson Iron Works in Steubenville, Ohio, adding 40 cut nail machines to the original 25 at the Wheeling site. By 1875, La Belle Iron Works was incorporated and employed approximately 900 workers, operating 167 cut nail machines. Wheeling became known as the "Nail City" due to its dominance in the cut nail market. However, the Great Nail Strike of 1885-1886 and the rise of wire nails led to a decline in the industry. In 1920, La Belle Iron Works merged with Wheeling Steel and Iron Company and Whitaker-Glessner Company to form Wheeling Steel Corporation. The plant continued operations until 2010 and was demolished in 2017. La Belle Iron Works remains an important part of Wheeling's industrial history, with its legacy preserved through historical records and artifacts.
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://tinyurl.com/57825zpk), Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/bdedjcxc), Archiving Wheeling (https://tinyurl.com/4z3x7dyx)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Library of Congress
La Belle Iron Works, also known as La Belle Cut Nail Works, was established on February 4, 1852, by Bailey, Woodward, and Company, a group of 22 ironworkers and nailers. Located just south of Wheeling, West Virginia, the four-acre site was strategically positioned near the Ohio River and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company. The founders named the mill after the French name for the Ohio River, La Belle Riviere, meaning "beautiful river." In 1859, the company expanded by purchasing the Jefferson Iron Works in Steubenville, Ohio, adding 40 cut nail machines to the original 25 at the Wheeling site. By 1875, La Belle Iron Works was incorporated and employed approximately 900 workers, operating 167 cut nail machines. Wheeling became known as the "Nail City" due to its dominance in the cut nail market. However, the Great Nail Strike of 1885-1886 and the rise of wire nails led to a decline in the industry. In 1920, La Belle Iron Works merged with Wheeling Steel and Iron Company and Whitaker-Glessner Company to form Wheeling Steel Corporation. The plant continued operations until 2010 and was demolished in 2017. La Belle Iron Works remains an important part of Wheeling's industrial history, with its legacy preserved through historical records and artifacts.
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://tinyurl.com/57825zpk), Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/bdedjcxc), Archiving Wheeling (https://tinyurl.com/4z3x7dyx)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Library of Congress
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