| John Nelson Elementary School |
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| Nelson School 1914 |
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1908-2008
John Nelson was Born April 5, 1830 in the parish of Karrakra, Westergoland, Sweden. At 22 years old Nelson left Sweden for America. The voyage took six weeks. After arriving in New York City, he traveled to Chicago, Elgin and Sycamore, where he worked in wood turning and model making.
At a mechanical exhibit in Chicago, Nelson saw a circular type knitting machine that he later said"did a poor job making a sock'" With financial help from machinery manufacturers Ralph Emerson and W.A. Talcott, he started Nelson Knitting Company. His invention of the Nelson Knitting Machine revolutionized the way socks were manufactured and his name became known world wide. The "Sock Monkey" is a doll that is made from of the Nelson socks with the red heel. The "Sock Monkey" is a lasting tribute to the Nelson Knitting Company.
The knitting machine wasn't Nelson's only invention. He holds many other patents including a guide for circular saws. In 1881 a school was built and named after John Nelson. The school burned down and was rebuilt at a different location in 1908. It remained John Nelson School.
John Nelson died of typhoid pneumonia on Sunday, April 16, 1883 at just 53 years of age.
After his death, his sons took over running the businesses that Nelson had started. In 1893, the Nelson Hotel was opened at the corner of S. Main and Chestnut Streets. It was built mainly by William Nelson and named to honor his father. The hotel had 300 rooms and was built at a cost of $250,000. It was demolished in the 1950s.
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| NELSON SCHOOL--1908-2008 |
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The first Nelson School, built in 1881,
was destroyed by fire. It was built on
9th Street.
Nelson School was rebuilt in 1908.
It houses 550 children with Bilingual
and English classrooms. |
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| The Original Sock Monkey |
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Rockford's Sock Monkey has been a favorite of many generations of children and adults. It was originally created from the red heeled socks made at the Nelson Knitting Company in Rockford, IL.
You can find these lovable monkeys across the 50 states. |
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| Barbara Gerry posses with "Nelson" a large sock monkey-a tradition popularized by her great-grandfather, John Nelson. |
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