Our community is a growing, ever changing environment. DeKalb County's development is based on the economic health of the business community. The Wm. H. Willennar Genealogy Center is the repository of historic images of the economic life of our community from a bygone era. Businesses, big and small, are the economic generators of our cities and towns.

Beginning in 1974 Roberta Andres, at the behest of the Eckhart Public Library Board, began a photo survey of businesses in the county. Thirty years have passed since the completion of that last effort. The time has come for us to step up and record our achievements, our legacy, and business enterprise.

Digital photographs were produced through funding provided by the DeKalb County Community Foundation's grant for the creation of a DeKalb County Photographic Business Directory.

These are high resolution digital photographs of all the businesses in the Auburn area that we were able to find. In addition to the photos in this exhibit, we have posted these images on our web site and they are linked to from Chamber's website. The Auburn-Butler Chamber will be able to post images of member businesses to their membership profiles. Individuals or businesses will be able to view our economic resources visually through the use of these online. Hard copies of the images are available in public photo files at the Willennar Genealogy Center.