In 1839 shortly after the close of the Black Hawk war, Antoine LeClaire, the most conspicuous figure in the founding and early history of Davenport, opened his first addition to Davenport and built in the center of it at Second and Main Streets a three-story brick hotel, the LeClaire House, famous in those early days. In the 50's the stores from the hotel east to Brady Street, called LeClaire row, were built. In 1863 the property was bought by Charles Viele, the hotel being called the Newcomb House and the sores Viele Block. In 895 W. C. Putnam bought the half block and at his death in 1906 left the property in trust for the benefit of the Davenport Academy of Sciences.
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