Haish fountain finds second life

Remember the sidewalk and fountain that local collector Jim Hovis saved from the Haish property? Those items have recently found new life.

The fountain that once sat on Jacob Haish's front lawn is now surrounded by pieces of sidewalk from the same original location. Jeff Marshall, of DeKalb, arranged these pieces together, giving them a second life. | Photo by Jessi LaRue

Details of the Jacob Haish mansion fountain -- barbed wire. | Photo by Jessi LaRue

Jeff Marshall, Haish family descendant and enthusiast, has acquired these items and given them a new purpose. He has installed pieces of the limestone sidewalk beneath the original fountain that was featured on Jacob Haish's lawn.

Marshall, who owns his own landscaping company, was the perfect fit for putting this project together. With a little elbow grease, Marshall was able to revive some of the fountain's original color. He wanted the items to be displayed in a public place, but due to limited available options in the city of DeKalb, he installed these near his home. He encourages those who want to visit this display to contact him.

Click here to read the original story about the fountain, and click here for the original story on the sidewalk.

Haish Sidewalk Lives On

Slabs of the "Haish mansion sidewalk" are at a DeKalb warehouse. They are property of Jim Hovis. | Photo by Jessi LaRue

The sidewalk that once outlined Jacob Haish's property is still in use.

Jim Hovis, of DeKalb, salvaged the limestone sidewalk 15-20 years ago, he says, when he witnessed it being discarded in dump trucks while it was being replaced with concrete. 

The top surface of the sidewalk has obvious wear and tear, but the bottom of the limestone sidewalk is very smooth.

Local lore (and the photo below) tell that the sidewalks near Haish's mansion were a popular gathering spot, particularly for children. Stories say that the smooth, limestone sidewalks were the best in town for marbles, roller skating and more.

A photo shows children playing on the sidewalk outside of the Haish mansion. | Photo provided by Steve Bigolin

Today, slabs of the limestone sidewalk are kept at one of Hovis' DeKalb warehouses. He has also put pieces of the sidewalk to use -- they are now steps outside of the office of his company, Hearing Help Express, located near downtown DeKalb at 105 N. First St.

Jim Hovis, sits on steps that were made of the limestone "Haish sidewalks." The steps can be found near the parking lot outside of Hearing Help Express, 105 N. First St., in DeKalb. | Photo by Jessi LaRue

Haish mansion fountain

Pieces of Jacob Haish's life can be found scattered throughout the county...even in a DeKalb warehouse.

Jim Hovis, of DeKalb, is a collector of various historical and unique items, and he is the owner of this fountain, now deconstructed, which he says was once on the property of Jacob Haish's mansion.

Jim Hovis, of DeKalb, sits on a piece of a fountain that was owned by Jacob Haish. | Photo by Jessi LaRue

Hovis purchased the fountain from the auction of a home that once sat at 315 N. Third St. in DeKalb. Hovis said he was unsure of how the fountain came to the Third Street home, other than its proximity to Haish's former mansion. The auction was for the house and its contents, which Hovis purchased.
 
Hovis said he put a lot of money into the Third Street home to try to restore it, only to find out it could not be saved. Hovis then sold the house so the property could be used for the expansion of the library: the DeKalb Public Library, or as some know it, the Haish Memorial Library. 

Jacob Haish's fountain features barbed wire. | Photo by Jessi LaRue

The fountain's pieces currently sit in a DeKalb warehouse, but Hovis said he is interested in donating it to the library to be a part of its previous owner's legacy. 

The picture below shows the fountain in use at Jacob Haish's home. The image is part of a postcard that featured the First Evangelical Lutheran Church.  

Postcard image shows the fountain in use at the Haish mansion. Image used with permission from Susan White Pieroth. Larger versions, as well as more DeKalb postcards, can be seen on her page
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~scwhite/postcards/DeKalb_Sycamore/

Jacob Haish barbed wire canes

Jim Hovis, of DeKalb, holds his Haish cane. | Photo by Jessi LaRue

For many barbed wire fanatics, you've "made it" once you've acquired your very own Haish cane.

This information on the canes, below, was provided by the Joiner History Room, who had reached out to barbed wire expert Jim Goedert, of Kearney, Neb., for more information about the canes in 2005. 

Goedert said:

"These canes were given away as advertising tools during the Chicago's World Fair in 1893 and the St. Louis Exposition in 1904. In addition, a cane was placed in each boxcar load of "S" Barb that was shipped West.

We also know a few things about the canes themselves. They were made with five different shapes of brass tops. The most common is the top that is eight-sided or shaped like a stop sign. The rarest is the round top. The barbs on the canes can either be bent around the wire or stick out. For a collector this would make 10 different canes to collect. They have sold on eBay for as much as $5,000 each and for as little as $1,000."

Steve Bigolin, of DeKalb, holds his Haish cane. | Photo by Jessi LaRue

Jeff Marshall, of DeKalb, has a wealth of photos and information regarding the canes on his website here.

Haish canes on display at the Ellwood House | Photo by Jessi LaRue