Today in Wheeling History: September 30-- Wheeling-LaBelle Nail Company closes (2010).
La Belle Iron Works was opened in 1852 by Bailey, Woodward and Company in Wheeling to make cut nails. In 1859 they added capacity by acquiring Jefferson Iron Works in Steubenville. By 1875, the incorporated La Belle Iron Works and Jefferson Works employed about 900 making nails, helping Wheeling become the "Nail City." However, after a major strike in 1885-86, the cut nail business declined as wire nails dominated. By 1914, La Belle was Wheeling's only cut nail maker. In 1920, La Belle Iron Works merged with Wheeling Steel and Iron Company and Whitaker-Glessner Company to form Wheeling Steel Corporation. Through later mergers it became Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel. As steel declined in the late 1900s, Wheeling-Pittsburgh sold the nail works, renamed Wheeling-La Belle Nail Company, which operated until 2010 when the plant closed after 150+ years. The plant was demolished in 2017. (https://tinyurl.com/2s46tsz9) (https://tinyurl.com/2s45tkwk)
La Belle Iron Works was opened in 1852 by Bailey, Woodward and Company in Wheeling to make cut nails. In 1859 they added capacity by acquiring Jefferson Iron Works in Steubenville. By 1875, the incorporated La Belle Iron Works and Jefferson Works employed about 900 making nails, helping Wheeling become the "Nail City." However, after a major strike in 1885-86, the cut nail business declined as wire nails dominated. By 1914, La Belle was Wheeling's only cut nail maker. In 1920, La Belle Iron Works merged with Wheeling Steel and Iron Company and Whitaker-Glessner Company to form Wheeling Steel Corporation. Through later mergers it became Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel. As steel declined in the late 1900s, Wheeling-Pittsburgh sold the nail works, renamed Wheeling-La Belle Nail Company, which operated until 2010 when the plant closed after 150+ years. The plant was demolished in 2017. (https://tinyurl.com/2s46tsz9) (https://tinyurl.com/2s45tkwk)
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