PHOTOS: Fire Destroys Haish Shop

Haish Spreader Factory Fire | Photo courtesy of Joiner History Room, DeKalb County Archives

We are continuing to share Jacob Haish-related images from the Floyd Ritzman Collection. The Joiner History Room has generously allowed me to share these images on this website.

These photos capture a fire that completely destroyed Jacob Haish's manure spreader factory in 1914. The May 20, 1914, edition of the Sycamore True Republican called the fire the "heaviest fire loss in the history of DeKalb." 

According to the article: "All of the contents of the big shops, which included some 200 completed manure spreaders, and a great amount of other products and raw materials, were completely destroyed." To read the complete article, click here.

Haish Spreader Factory Fire | Photo courtesy of Joiner History Room, DeKalb County Archives

Haish Spreader Factory Fire | Photo courtesy of Joiner History Room, DeKalb County Archives

Haish Spreader Factory Fire | Photo courtesy of Joiner History Room, DeKalb County Archives

Haish Spreader Factory Fire | Photo courtesy of Joiner History Room, DeKalb County Archives

Haish Spreader Factory Fire | Photo courtesy of Joiner History Room, DeKalb County Archives

Haish Spreader Factory Fire | Photo courtesy of Joiner History Room, DeKalb County Archives

Haish Spreader Factory Fire | Photo courtesy of Joiner History Room, DeKalb County Archives

Haish Spreader Factory Fire | Photo courtesy of Joiner History Room, DeKalb County Archives

Haish Spreader Factory Fire | Photo courtesy of Joiner History Room, DeKalb County Archives

- - -

From the Joiner History Room website: "Over 700 photos from the Floyd Ritzman Collection which are part of the Northern Illinois University Digital Library are now available on Flickr at https://flic.kr/s/aHskqwXroS. This collection of photos, taken in and around DeKalb County, was formerly part of the Taming the Wild Prairie website. Thanks to Matthew Short at NIU for making these historical photos available."

According to the Joiner History Room's website, "Floyd R. Ritzman (1885-1975) was a teacher and administrator in the DeKalb public school system. His passion was photography." Special thanks to the Joiner History Room for allowing me to share these images.

PHOTOS: Jacob Haish Mansion

We are continuing to share Jacob Haish-related images from the Floyd Ritzman Collection. The Joiner History Room has generously allowed me to share these images on this website.

The below photos capture the Jacob Haish mansion in all its glory, and later, at its demise.

Jacob Haish home in 1930 | Photo courtesy of Joiner History Room, DeKalb County Archives

Residence of Jacob Haish, 1901 | Photo courtesy of Joiner History Room, DeKalb County Archives

Jacob Haish home in 1941 | Photo courtesy of Joiner History Room, DeKalb County Archives

Haish house being razed in 1961 | Photo courtesy of Joiner History Room, DeKalb County Archives

Haish house being razed in 1961 | Photo courtesy of Joiner History Room, DeKalb County Archives

From the Joiner History Room website: "Over 700 photos from the Floyd Ritzman Collection which are part of the Northern Illinois University Digital Library are now available on Flickr at https://flic.kr/s/aHskqwXroS. This collection of photos, taken in and around DeKalb County, was formerly part of the Taming the Wild Prairie website. Thanks to Matthew Short at NIU for making these historical photos available."

According to the Joiner History Room's website, "Floyd R. Ritzman (1885-1975) was a teacher and administrator in the DeKalb public school system. His passion was photography." Special thanks to the Joiner History Room for allowing me to share these images.

PHOTOS: Jacob Haish's employees

Over the next few blog posts, I will be sharing some incredible Jacob Haish-related images. These images are part of the Floyd Ritzman Collection, and the Joiner History Room has generously allowed me to share these images on this website.

The below photos capture some of the hardworking men "behind the scenes" in Jacob Haish's empire. Although they are not named, the faces of Haish's employees are captured below: the first photo shows some of his factory employees in 1910, and the second photo shows the engine room's work force in 1901.

Haish Factory Employees, 1910 | Photo courtesy of Joiner History Room, DeKalb County Archives

Work Force in Engine Room of Haish Plant, 1901 | Photo courtesy of Joiner History Room, DeKalb County Archives

From the Joiner History Room website: "Over 700 photos from the Floyd Ritzman Collection which are part of the Northern Illinois University Digital Library are now available on Flickr at https://flic.kr/s/aHskqwXroS. This collection of photos, taken in and around DeKalb County, was formerly part of the Taming the Wild Prairie website. Thanks to Matthew Short at NIU for making these historical photos available."

According to the Joiner History Room's website, "Floyd R. Ritzman (1885-1975) was a teacher and administrator in the DeKalb public school system. His passion was photography." To learn more about Ritzman, click here.

Special thanks to the Joiner History Room for allowing me to share these images. Stay tuned for more!