Postcard Captures Haish Auditorium's Parade Float

This postcard was a special eBay find. At first glance, it appears to be just a parade float pulled by horses. With a closer look, you discover that it's advertising the Haish Auditorium!

Captioned "A Prize Winner, July 4, 1911, DeKalb, IL" this float was from the "Greatest Fourth in the History of DeKalb," according to the Daily Chronicle the following day. The horses and wagon appear to be parked at the corner of 8th and Lincoln Highway in DeKalb.

The Haish Auditorium (an opera house he had built, there is an incredible photo here) is referenced throughout the float: on the pennants on the wagon, "the house of feature shows," a projector on the back of the wagon, and the advertisement draped on the horse: "Compliments of Haish Auditorium. Free show this afternoon."

Thanks to Rob Glover for the newspaper articles.

Jacob Haish postcards

Jacob Haish surely left his mark on DeKalb, and although many of his contributions and buildings may no longer stand, postcards from the area preserve the image and history.

These images of vintage postcards are used with permission from Susan White Pieroth and larger versions, as well as more DeKalb cards, can be seen on her page here: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~scwhite/postcards/DeKalb_Sycamore/

Interior view of Haish Auditorium in DeKalb | Postcard courtesy of Susan White Pieroth

First Evangelical Lutheran Church postcard shows Haish mansion and fountain. | Postcard courtesy of Susan White Pieroth

Haish Memorial Library in DeKalb | Postcard courtesy of Susan White Pieroth

Haish School in DeKalb | Postcard courtesy of Susan White Pieroth

Jacob Haish Company postcard shows Haish's DeKalb factories | Postcard courtesy of Susan White Pieroth

Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Haish along with the Haish mansion | Postcard courtesy of Susan White Pieroth

For larger versions of these and many more DeKalb and Sycamore postcards, visit Pieroth's site here.