Kishwaukee Hospital recognizes Haish (1987)

Kishwaukee Hospital advertisement in the Daily Chronicle's "Milestone 150" | Photo by Jessi LaRue

In 1978, the Daily Chronicle published a special edition in honor of the 150th anniversary of the founding of DeKalb County. The publication features reminiscing columns, sports and culture highlights, and much more from the county's history. It is also filled with various advertisements from county establishments. The advertisement for Kishwaukee Community Hospital pays homage to Jacob Haish.

It reads:

"Building on a rich heritage...

One of this hospital's major benefactors was born even before DeKalb County was founded. He was the late Jacob Haish, leading industrialist, outstanding philanthropist, and great humanitarian. Though his concerns and benefactions were many, the barbed wire king had a special interest in health care. He left the bulk of his estate for a hospital and health care. Half a million dollars went to construct the Jacob Haish Memorial Wing, predecessor of DeKalb Public Hospital and of KCH. Later, directors of the Jacob Haish Memorial Corporation awarded $200,000 to KCH, a gift memorialized in 1981 with a dedication of the Jacob Haish Surgical Department here.

Jacob Haish was one of the earliest DeKalb County residents to support local health care. Today, we salute the memory of him and all the other generous givers through the years. We honor, too, the many citizens of today who share that concern for better health care, supporting KCH through memorial gifts, the Tree of Life, KCH 100, and other giving opportunities. We appreciate all you have done to make this hospital and its services possible. And we pledge to use your gifts as a steppingstone to build on all that has gone before. We promise, in short, to build on a rich heritage ... to provide better health care for this and all future generations.

Kishwaukee Community Hospital

Route 23 and Bethany Road.

DeKalb, Illinois 60115"

Cover of the Daily Chronicle's "Milestone 150" published in 1978 | Photo by Jessi LaRue

1955 auction of Haish's belongings

Furniture auction at Jacob Haish mansion | Photo courtesy of Joiner History Room, DeKalb County Archives

When Jacob Haish died in 1926, he left his palatial mansion to his longtime housekeeper and caregiver Anna Anderson, who resided in the home for years until her death in 1953. However, Haish's will did not state what should happen to the mansion after Anderson passed, so it was determined that the house and contents would be sold in order to fund other projects in his will, including a hospital.

An auction of the contents of the mansion was held May 12, 1955, on the lawn of the mansion, located on the corner of Pine Street and North Third Street in DeKalb. These photos from that day were provided by the Joiner History Room.

The auction announcement, posted in the May 11, 1955, edition of the DeKalb Chronicle reads:

"ANTIQUE FURNITURE AUCTION: The trustees of the Jacob Haish estate will sell at public auction at 405 North Third Street in DeKalb, Illinois, on Thursday, May 12, beginning at 1 p.m. many items of antique furniture consisting of marble top chairs, cherry tables, walnut chairs, birds eye maple bedroom set, walnut settees, walnut desk-bed, walnut clocks, mirror and some antique dishes. Whitman and Whitman, auctioneers."

Furniture auction at Jacob Haish mansion | Photo courtesy of Joiner History Room, DeKalb County Archives

A large number of items were purchased by Paul Nehring that day, and he enjoyed those items for many years with his wife Shirley Hamilton-Nehring, in their home on the Ellwood House museum grounds.

After they donated their private home to the Ellwood House museum in 2011, the museum purchased the Haish furniture so that it could be enjoyed by the public. Click here to see photos of the furniture as it has been displayed in the Ellwood House Museum's Visitors Center.

Furniture auction at Jacob Haish mansion | Photo courtesy of Joiner History Room, DeKalb County Archives