Tuesday, August 30, 2011

LeClaire, Iowa - My Favorite Little River Town & Home...

I know you all hear a whole lot about the little town I call home.
I must admit.... I am a bit smitten.
Hopefully you will see why.


Our Little River Town


Mississippi Riverfront



Historic Downtown LeClaire
 
I grew up in LeClaire and trust me....it's the last place I ever thought I would live as an adult.
Like most small towns when your young all you can do is dream about getting out!
Funny......how life changes you.  
Our little town has come a long way the past several years.
I've come a long way too. 
 I never knew how much I would grow to appreciate where I'm from.
This small town has helped mold my small town values and appreciation for the simple things.


Dwellings

I'm sure if you follow our blog you may have hear me mention Dwellings a time or two.
My big brother Michael owns Dwellings.  It's a home decor and accessorie store.
Several years ago Michael moved home from Chicago where he worked for
Marshall Fields and opened his shop in LeClaire.
I truly do not know how different our lives would all be if it wasn't for Dwellings.
He moved home to help be there for parents when my father had some health issues.
I ended up living back in LeClaire shortly after he moved back and met my husband Travis
who is also from LeClaire a few years later.  Now our entire family is all wrapped up in this little town.
Michael had his shop, Travis does most of his construction business here, my Mom volunteers for everything under the sun.   I help Michael when I can and volunteer at the town events.




Dwellings Fall 2010

Fall 2010
I love Fall in LeClaire.  It is one of my favorite times of the year.
The stores decorate the store fronts.
The street lamps have fresh corn stalks picked from the local farmer's fields.
We have a Fall Market Days, Apple Festival and a Witches Walk during the fall season.


Grasshoppers








The Primitive Cottage

This is my Aunt Tammy's store The Primitive Cottage. 
 Tammy and her friend Julie opened their little country store about a year a go.
This is actually the original building where Dwellings was first opened.



LeClaire is also home to the famous American Pickers.
Mike Wolfe, Frank Fritz and Danielle Colby-Cushman
For the last two years Michael has been a big part of the annual
American Pickers Festival in town that is sponspored by the History Channel.


city hall


library

The town library is actually the same building where my grandfather was one of the
 first business owners in LeClaire.  He owned and operated Omar Printing where my
Dad and Mom both worked along with many other family members. 

For me that is the best part of living in a small community.
And what I love most about this town.
Everywhere you turn there is a story...a memory....a legacy to leave behind.



This is my most cherished memory of all.
9.12.2009
Mr. and Mrs. Travis Corson
We were married on the LeClaire Riverfront with all our friends and family as guests.

And of course..........
I look forward to the opportunities and future that lies ahead for my family and I in my little river town.
As you know we will soon be embarking on our next major renovation of our new home
right here in LeClaire.  I hope you will follow along on our journey.


our new renovation project

And who knows.....maybe I have even convinced you
 to come to visit LeClaire, Iowa someday!

7 comments:

  1. Carrie - I popped over from Centsational Girl's Link Party and just wanted to let you know that I enjoyed reading your post about Leclaire! It looks like such a happy, quaint little town. I wish I could visit Dwellings and some of the other stores you mentioned!

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  2. Oh, the Pickers' Festival sounds like so much fun! Your town reminds me of the "old towne" area in my town! I have to agree with you about being a kid dreaming about "getting out." Ha! Visiting from Centsational Girl's Hometown linky today. :) Hope you'll stop by and see me. :)

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  3. What a charming little town. I lived in Cedar Rapids for a few years, but never heard of LeClaire...too bad because I would have liked to have visited.

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  4. So so charming, I LOVE it! Thank you so much for sharing, I especially loved the wedding image, how wonderful! Thank you for linking up today!
    xo
    Kate

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  5. So sweet to have such family ties in your home town! I am putting you on my list of towns to visit in the US! So charming!

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  6. This was so fun to read. I got all mushy & teary eyed. You are so sweet and such an asset to our charming river town. So many wonderful things to come in your life in LeClaire. I can't wait to see what happens.

    Donna

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  7. I used Omar Printing for 12 years, from 1971 to 1983. They printed my weekly publication for me and many other things. Were your grandparents Al and Dottie Hall?

    I have some pictures of Omar Printing on my flickr photo page. Here is one:
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/alan-light/5681277289/

    Enlarged:
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/alan-light/5681277289/sizes/o/in/photostream/

    You say that the existing library building is the same structure as Omar Printing, but it looks different to me. The old building was mostly larger cement block, not brick, and had diamond shaped bumps all over the outside walls. I'm just curious. I've long wondered if Omar was demolished and replaced by the library, or if the same building was renovated.

    If you search flickr.com for Omar Printing you will find a dozen or so other photos from those old days.
    http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=omar%20printing

    Best wishes, Alan Light

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I love your comments! I appreciate each and every cottage visitor and hope you willll come back again soon! Carrie

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