Leo was born in Monchengladbach in 1877 and came to America in 1892 at the age of 15. Serving as president of the family flower business for about 30 years, he sold out his share in the 1920's. Leo's family lived in the Abington – Elkins Park - Meadowbrook area (north of city limits) for many years. Returning from a family trip to the Jersey shore, he and his wife Madeleine found themselves waiting for the Camden ferry to bring them back to Philadelphia and Elkins Park. Madeleine remarked that there ought to be a bridge across the Delaware for those living in the North Philadelphia area. Leo thought about that and with his brother Arthur, created The Bridge Company. In August 1926, one month after the new Delaware River (Benjamin Franklin) Bridge opened to traffic, the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge Company was established, with Charles Wright serving as its president. The bridge was the first approved under the New Jersey Act of 1925, which called for the construction of additional bridges across the Delaware River.
The Niessens were prominent in the continued operation of the Bridge. The Tacony Palmyra Bridge Company annual reports in the late 1940's showed Leo Niessen as President, Arthur Niessen as Vice President and General Manager with Leo, Arthur and Leo Jr. on the Board of Directors.
Due to his German heritage and continued ties to Germany, Leo and Madeleine found themselves under surveillance by the US Government during the Second World War. There were usually government agents sitting in a car outside their residence.
Leo participated in relief operations on behalf of German refugees following World War II. His efforts led to his being awarded the German Cross by then Chancellor Conrad Adenauer in the early 1950's.
Leo would look in the obituaries for head-of-household deaths that left children. He would create a blind trust on behalf of those children on the condition that his identity remain anonymous.
The Niessens were prominent in the continued operation of the Bridge. The Tacony Palmyra Bridge Company annual reports in the late 1940's showed Leo Niessen as President, Arthur Niessen as Vice President and General Manager with Leo, Arthur and Leo Jr. on the Board of Directors.
Due to his German heritage and continued ties to Germany, Leo and Madeleine found themselves under surveillance by the US Government during the Second World War. There were usually government agents sitting in a car outside their residence.
Leo participated in relief operations on behalf of German refugees following World War II. His efforts led to his being awarded the German Cross by then Chancellor Conrad Adenauer in the early 1950's.
Leo would look in the obituaries for head-of-household deaths that left children. He would create a blind trust on behalf of those children on the condition that his identity remain anonymous.
Leo was born in Monchengladbach in 1877 and came to America in 1892 at the age of 15. Serving as president of the family flower business for about 30 years, he sold out his share in the 1920's. Leo's family lived in the Abington – Elkins Park - Meadowbrook area (north of city limits) for many years. Returning from a family trip to the Jersey shore, he and his wife Madeleine found themselves waiting for the Camden ferry to bring them back to Philadelphia and Elkins Park. Madeleine remarked that there ought to be a bridge across the Delaware for those living in the North Philadelphia area. Leo thought about that and with his brother Arthur, created The Bridge Company. In August 1926, one month after the new Delaware River (Benjamin Franklin) Bridge opened to traffic, the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge Company was established, with Charles Wright serving as its president. The bridge was the first approved under the New Jersey Act of 1925, which called for the construction of additional bridges across the Delaware River.
The Niessens were prominent in the continued operation of the Bridge. The Tacony Palmyra Bridge Company annual reports in the late 1940's showed Leo Niessen as President, Arthur Niessen as Vice President and General Manager with Leo, Arthur and Leo Jr. on the Board of Directors.
Due to his German heritage and continued ties to Germany, Leo and Madeleine found themselves under surveillance by the US Government during the Second World War. There were usually government agents sitting in a car outside their residence.
Leo participated in relief operations on behalf of German refugees following World War II. His efforts led to his being awarded the German Cross by then Chancellor Conrad Adenauer in the early 1950's.
Leo would look in the obituaries for head-of-household deaths that left children. He would create a blind trust on behalf of those children on the condition that his identity remain anonymous.
The Niessens were prominent in the continued operation of the Bridge. The Tacony Palmyra Bridge Company annual reports in the late 1940's showed Leo Niessen as President, Arthur Niessen as Vice President and General Manager with Leo, Arthur and Leo Jr. on the Board of Directors.
Due to his German heritage and continued ties to Germany, Leo and Madeleine found themselves under surveillance by the US Government during the Second World War. There were usually government agents sitting in a car outside their residence.
Leo participated in relief operations on behalf of German refugees following World War II. His efforts led to his being awarded the German Cross by then Chancellor Conrad Adenauer in the early 1950's.
Leo would look in the obituaries for head-of-household deaths that left children. He would create a blind trust on behalf of those children on the condition that his identity remain anonymous.
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