Barb City Bank takes shape

Barb City Bank check, courtesy of Steve Bigolin. Click image to enlarge.

Printed in the Dec. 9, 1885, edition of the Sycamore True Republican:

"That $100,000 project has taken definite shape, and the curious as well as the interested public can have an opportunity, on Thanksgiving day, between the hours of 8 and 10, of inspecting a new bank. It is to be called the "Barb City Bank," with Jacob Haish as president, and Paul Holm as cashier.

The office furniture and belongings will be of the latest design, and everything pertaining to the outfit will be designed with special care for the comfort and accommodation of its patrons, while giving ample security for the safe keeping and accounting of all funds entrusted to its protection. Not only is the vault fire proof, but within its walls will dwell a burglar and fire proof safe of the very latest pattern, provided with a time lock and all the modern improvements that skilled labor can invent to make it absolutely secure. The vault will also be provided with a set of fire proof, securely locked, drawers, where persons desirous of depositing valuable papers, silverware, etc., can do so, having entire control of their own key. They can at any time inspect or change or look over their contents in the private room of the bank without being disturbed. To parties leaving home for a season this feature of the bank will supply a growing need.

Arrangements are made for furnishing Chicago, New York and foreign exchange, and the utmost attention will be given to needs of the people. Mr. Haish desires it understood that the most gentlemanly treatment and courtesy will be accorded all. An exchange, loan and discount business will be done on the most liberal terms. The bank will occupy the room of the "S" barb wire office, the latter moving to rooms overhead on the second floor."

Thanks to Joiner History Room for providing this article.

Artwork keeps spirit of Haish mansion alive

From September 1978 through June 1981, W. Joseph Zack, a Northern Illinois University student, was working on his thesis for his Master of Fine Arts degree. His "one-man show" captured the likeness of many of DeKalb's most famous buildings, including the Egyptian Theatre, Ellwood mansion, and the Jacob Haish mansion.

According to his thesis, "the concentration of work for my one-man show dealt with the refinement of illustrations, rendered in ink, watercolor and airbrush, and the execution of museum quality architectural models. It was also my wish to develop strong competencies in the area of architectural history."

An undated photo shows former NIU student W. Joseph Zack working on a model of the Jacob Haish mansion. | Photo at Regional History Center, taken by Jessi LaRue

Shortly after Zack's project was completed, his items were on display at both the Ellwood House Museum, and later the DeKalb Public Library. After exhibition, the items were donated to the Regional History Center at Northern Illinois University, where they remain to this day.

Of all the items Zack created for his project, he created four Haish-related pieces: a watercolor, two ink drawings, and a model, all of the Haish house. The current owner/location of the watercolor is unknown, but the drawings and model can still be viewed at the Regional History Center.

An illustration of the Jacob Haish residence by W. Joseph Zack. | Photo by Jessi LaRue

An illustration of the Jacob Haish residence by W. Joseph Zack. | Photo by Jessi LaRue

"My one-man show was ultimately a presentation of architectural illustrations and models as an art form and as an educational effort directed towards the public interest," Zack wrote in his thesis.

According to the thesis, the model was created using a variety of woods, paper and plastic products, and paints. Woods used in the model include maple, walnut, mahogany, oak, pine and more.

An undated photo of the Jacob Haish model, taken shortly after completion. | Photo at Regional History Center, taken by Jessi LaRue

The Jacob Haish mansion model today. | Photo by Jessi LaRue

Below are photos of the model and drawings. The model is not in the same condition as it was in its prime, however, it still gives a great representation of a building that no longer stands.

The Jacob Haish mansion model today. | Photo by Jessi LaRue

The Jacob Haish mansion model today. | Photo by Jessi LaRue

The Jacob Haish mansion model today. | Photo by Jessi LaRue

The Jacob Haish mansion model today. | Photo by Jessi LaRue

The Jacob Haish mansion model today. | Photo by Jessi LaRue

The Jacob Haish mansion model today. | Photo by Jessi LaRue

The Jacob Haish mansion model today. | Photo by Jessi LaRue

The Jacob Haish mansion model today. | Photo by Jessi LaRue

The Jacob Haish mansion model today. | Photo by Jessi LaRue

The Jacob Haish mansion model today. | Photo by Jessi LaRue

The Jacob Haish mansion model today. | Photo by Jessi LaRue

The Jacob Haish mansion model today. | Photo by Jessi LaRue

The Jacob Haish mansion model today. | Photo by Jessi LaRue

The Jacob Haish mansion model today. | Photo by Jessi LaRue

The Jacob Haish mansion model today. | Photo by Jessi LaRue

The Jacob Haish mansion model today. | Photo by Jessi LaRue

The Jacob Haish mansion model today. | Photo by Jessi LaRue

Thank you to Cindy Ditzler of the Regional History Center for allowing me to photograph and share these items.

More Haish mansion photos unearthed

Remember Sycamore resident Roger Alexander? As a teenager in July 1961, he took what may be some of the last photos of the Haish mansion. He shared some of his photos last year, and they were posted here.

Alexander just discovered more photos from that day in summer 1961, and they are below, posted with his permission.

Alexander said the woman who led him through the house told him that "each of the fireplaces were made from marble from five continents." 

He added, "I am sorry to say I wasn't much of a photographer back then, but they do give a feel for what was lost."

Details of the Haish mansion. | Photo by Roger Alexander

Details of the Haish mansion. | Photo by Roger Alexander

Details of the Haish mansion. | Photo by Roger Alexander

Details of the Haish mansion. | Photo by Roger Alexander

Details of the Haish mansion. | Photo by Roger Alexander

Details of the Haish mansion. | Photo by Roger Alexander

Details of the Haish mansion. | Photo by Roger Alexander

Haish Monument at Fairview Cemetery

Below are a few recent photos of the Haish monument, taken on Sept. 21, 2017 by Jessi LaRue. The Haish monument, where barbed wire baron Jacob Haish and his wife Sophia are buried, resides in the back of Fairview Cemetery, in DeKalb.

The Haish monument in Fairview Cemetery, DeKalb. | Photo by Jessi LaRue

Detail of the Haish monument in Fairview Cemetery, DeKalb. | Photo by Jessi LaRue

The urn at the Haish monument in Fairview Cemetery, DeKalb. | Photo by Jessi LaRue

The Haish monument in Fairview Cemetery, DeKalb. | Photo by Jessi LaRue

The copyright on the Haish monument in Fairview Cemetery, DeKalb. | Photo by Jessi LaRue

The Haish monument in Fairview Cemetery, DeKalb. | Photo by Jessi LaRue

Jacob Haish funds college library

The Haish Library, in Altgeld Hall, as pictured in the 1900 edition of the "Norther," the school yearbook. 

In 1895, Jacob Haish donated $10,000 for construction of a library at the Northern Illinois State Normal School, now known as Northern Illinois University. The library, seen in images below, was originally in Altgeld Hall, or the "castle" of NIU.

The college library was called the "Haish Library," not to be confused with the city library, the Haish Memorial Library, which was constructed after Haish's death.

According to documentation in the Ellwood House Visitor's Center, "this money was used to acquire almost 6,000 books during the library's first year of operation. By 1952, the library outgrew its space in Altgeld Hall and was moved to Swen Parson Hall. Once again, outgrowing the space, the 314,000 square-foot Founders Memorial Library was constructed."

A Daily Chronicle article, reprinted in a 1926 edition, stated: "Mr. Haish's gift was the nucleus of a library that is on a par with the libraries in the other four state colleges of the state ... Mr. Haish was a lover of books and wished others to realize the same joy. In giving the money for a library at the college he realized that he would afford students the opportunity of using books that they might not otherwise have been able to secure."

One piece of history was lost somewhere along the way, however. The white bust of Haish, seen in these images of the library, was somehow lost in transition from building to building, according to multiple local historians. The eventual outcome of the bust is unknown.

According to the same Daily Chronicle article, "the bust is a perfect likeness of the great man and is so located in the large room that it commands the attention of all who enter."

The Haish Library, on the campus of Northern Illinois State Normal School, now known as NIU. The white bust of Jacob Haish can be seen on the back wall. | Courtesy Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University