Birthplace of Paul Dresser - Terre Haute, IN - Picture Perfect Postcards on Waymarking.com

County of site: Vigo County
Loctaion of site: 1st St. & Ferrington St., Fairbanks Park, Terre Houte
Marker erectd by: The Indiana Historical Burau
Date marker erected: 1966

Text on back of postcard:
Birthplace of Paul Dresser (1859 - 1906) - composer
of ON THE BANKS OF THE WABASH, Indiana's
State song ...1963 moved from 318 So. 2nd.
to Fairbanks Park, 1st and Farring, on Dresser
Drive. Open April through October, 2 to 4 P.M.
Wed. and Sun by appointment.
Color photo by Mitchell
Pub. by Floyd Mitchell, Bridgeton, Indiana 47836
I16741

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Marker text:

Birthplace of
PAUL DRESSER
(1859~1906)Composer of Indiana State Song, "On the Banks of the Wabash," and other songs popular in the Gay Nineties. His famous brother, Theodore Dreiser, wrote An American Tragedy and other novels.

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Johann Paul Dreiser (he would later change his name to Dresser) was born in this house on April 22, 1859. His father was a German immigrant from the Eiffel region; his mother a German-American Mennonite from Ohio. His famous younger brother, the novelist Theodore Dreiser, was born after the family had moved from this home.

Paul Dresser did not see eye to eye with his strict, religious father and he became something of a juvenile delinquent. He eventually left Terre Haute to seek his fortunes elsewhere, but returned to his home town at points throughout his life. Dresser soon discovered his talent for songwriting and settled in New York to pursue his career. In 1896 he wrote his most famous song "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away," which became the second-best selling song of the 19th century (to Stephen Foster's "Suwanee River").

Musical tastes began to change in the early 20th century, and Dresser soon squandered his fortune. He died, penniless, in 1906 and was buried in Chicago.

Physical Address: 1st and Farrington Sts., Terre Haute, Indiana, USA 47801 Related Web Site: [Web Link] Description of Postcard Location: Home has been moved from original location and now resides in Fairbanks Park, Terre Haute. Postcard shows the park location. The Wabash River flows nearby. Parking Coordinates: Not Listed

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