Empty streets of a town in Southern Illinois
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- čas přidán 9. 11. 2022
- Empty streets of a town in Southern Illinois - We explore the empty streets of a small town with a sordid past in Southern Illinois. Steeped in legends & lore about near forgotten river pirates and counterfeiters, this town's history about its namesake will send shivers down your spine! Find out who once terrorized the Ohio River and its inhabitants here in this episode of SightseeingSally.
About me: I grew up in a small town the Midwest. Now I drive America's backroads exploring small towns, forgotten places, local history and more!
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#forgottenplaces #illinois #legends
You Didn't mention that cave in Rock was where Jimmy Stewart went back with the girl to see the cave Varmint and was Knocked in the head. That of course was in the epic movie "How The West Was Won"
I have Deer hunted in the Shawnee for forty years. Several years ago, I was sitting at a bar and ran into an old man who was in the movie. The filming of the movie was the biggest thing go on at the time and all the locals were watching the movie being made. he was seventeen at the time and they started asking the locals if anyone could swim and would be able to be knocked off a boat into the river. He was hired as an extra to be in the fight scene and was knocked off the boat into the river there at Cave in Rock.
Also the ferry street on the Illinois side begins Illinois route one which terminates 325 miles later in Chicago.
I don’t think I’ve seen this movie. Sounds like a good one and a must see! Thanks for sharing this, particularly the part about the man who got picked to be a movie extra & knocked off the boat. That was cool to read about.
How the West was Won was made in 1962, so anyone less than about 75 years old should be suspect when it comes to being an extra. Especially, in a bar. 😀😁 Historical events where there were less than 5 or 6 present, at the time, suddenly have half the town remembering that day vividly. "Because I was there, damn it". 😟😕😮😳
Thank you for the info!
Doug and Pam
@@SightseeingSally I was watching this movie one night and just knew it was in Cave in Rock.
My ancestors are from this area! I spent many of summers camping at Cave In Rock as a child
The Disney film "Davy Crockett and the River Pirates" was also filmed at Cave-In-Rock
I’m glad I can remember when it was busy little town . Several cafes. Picture show. Hardware stores. A 5&10 store . A car dealership. grocery stores, barbershop , clothing shop . Gas stations , grade school, high school and a junior high school just a little out of town….maybe even bootlegging joint or two. But we still have a bank and a post office and fire department and several churches in the community
That building with the "crystals" was my grandfather's rock shop.
Cool! We met someone from your family- it was either your dad or uncle when we stopped at the shop on the outskirts of town. I bought a couple small pieces to take home.
It was probably me. I remember meeting y'all. Me and my little brothers run the place.
Yes of course! I don’t know what I was thinking, probably should’ve had coffee this morning. 😳
Thanks for the great time at your shop. I’m enjoying my new “rocks” 😁
I lived in Southern Illinois for a few years ! You should go see Garden of the Gods , and Shawnee National Forest !
That’s my Father in Law going through the bank on his mower!! Gotta love our little small town!! Ironically our Mayor’s name is also Marty!! 😂💜
The building with the crystals in the wall used to be a Rock shop. Palmer's rock shop. They carved the stones into shapes like animals and diamond shapes to sell to tourists. Even the locals had rocks, crystals in their homes from Palmer's.
Should go to the rock and mineral museum in Marion, Kentucky. Was down in a florid mine at Rosiclar back a few years ago
Been there so many times. S. Illinois is full of history. Much of it dark.
I moved to Illinois almost 20 years ago and just recently found out about Cave In Rock, IL from a few other CZcams channels. You are the first I've seen who focused so heavily on the town rather than the cave at the state park. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the history of the town' and seeing some of the historic buildings and locations. I've added Cave In Rock to my "places to visit" list. Thank you for such a great video!
Best thing that happen to me was moving to that county at the age of 6 from Chicagoland. Grew up right in the middle of Hardin county. Dont live there anymore because there's few jobs but I'd love to move back someday because of the peace and quiet
Hi Mark,
Long time no see.
Mark, the town is a lot more than "peace and quiet". The area has a rich history. Besides, being near the beautiful Shawnee National Park, the area is the most scenic in the State of Illinois. You should be proud of it. I fly all the way from Los Angeles to visit there for serenity/healing once every few years.
My family on both my mom and dads side come from here. Truly home! Unbelievable amount of history here.
Cave-in-Rock is where my Dad was born and raised, and we still have family there. The pretty brick 2-story home you filmed by the Methodist Church was my great-grandmother's home. Needless to say, I spent quite a bit of time in this town. Loved the video!!
The drive from Metropolis to Cave In Rock is one my family does every five years or so sometimes on the way to Kentucky Lake. Crossing the river by ferry is exciting to any child. It probably is boring to teenagers or young adults but I enjoy the beauty of that area of southern Illinois and western Kentucky.
I’ve lived in Cave-In-Rock nearly my whole life. Feels so weird to see people take such high interest in the little village. The restaurant Roses has been closed for quite some time, though. You should have visited Kaylors restaurant above the Cave, then you could’ve ate some good food and learned more there about the history. Also, behind that boat to the left of the town hall, there is an old like… boat dock or something. It is very old and falling apart, like most things in Cave-In-Rock. It’s unfortunate but the town used to be so much more. Used to be a school there for the Cave-in-Rock Eagles, I believe was the name. Then my Uncle bought that old school and reconstructed it into his own home. It burnt down years ago though, and it’s just rubble now. The school used to have marching bands go down those streets and all.
Thank you Sally for taking the time to put together this neat little video about Cave-In-Rock. I grew up in Southern Illinois (Carrier Mills - Saline County) from eighth grade on starting in ‘75 until I graduated at SIU in Carbondale in the mid 80s. Your video taught me a few things about Cave-In-Rock that I didn’t know. And that little café called Rose’s Kountry Kitchen - that’s my sister-in-law’s place. Take care and safe travels. Say hi to Marty ! Jim
My hometown, my great grandfather was a city marshal there for quite a while, and he was the last one to lock up a prisoner in the old jail, thank you Sally and Marty love your videos
Very interesting! I wonder when it was.
That was my great uncles rock shop I grew up there. They sold and polished flurspar
That's awesome
Thank you for making time to visit my home town! I grew up in Cave-in-Rock, and I love getting back when I can. Many of my immediate family still live there. Many of my generation have left to find their careers or callings as did I over 30 years ago, so the population of the down has declined greatly since my childhood in the 1970's and early 1980's. The old church you found was the Cave-in-Rock Church of Christ. It was replaced with a new building about 8 miles to the west near Elizabethtown when the Church of Christ congregations of the county combined into one. The brick church across the street is the First Christian Church. I'm pretty sure the lawnmower guy at the bank drive thru window is my uncle, who mows most of the lawns in town and is one of the village trustees 🙂 Unfortunately, the town has declined so much as the county has lost nearly all of industry with the closing of all fluorspar mines and most limestone quarries 😞There is an annual motorcycle rally at a private campground a few miles northeast of town that is the background for the "Bikers Welcome" signs. Yes, there are deep Christian roots and proud patriotism in the whole area.
Thanks for sharing your story. I love the part of the country you grew up.
That UNITED building might be a union hall foe united mine workers. That would make sense with all the minerals around.
Thank for your welcome and comeback.♥️♥️. Nice to meet you, Always be carefully and safety travels.
Thank you, will do!
Hello from someone who spent there entire life in cave-in-rock Illinois. Great place to come check it out. But don’t stay. Nothing around these days.
love the history of these forgotten towns . You really are unearthing bits of Americana. Our nations roots. thanks for showing us these hidden towns.
Hi Sally,John from Scotland here✋.Just found your channel today,and I’m already hooked.Great content keep them coming👍.
It's bee over 55 years since I have been back to my home town , maybe time to return one last time !
Beautiful. Retired Army in 2012 and always had planned on finding a small out of the way town to move to. Peace and quiet and just enjoy the rest of my time....In the end I ended up moving to a small (ish) village here in Germany called Mittelbollenbach which would be considered a suburb of Idar Oberstein (birth place of Bruce Willis) and was/is considered the gem capitol of Germany. As a side note: this area is famous for the Church in the rock and the Two Castles here. Not quite the "small" village but hey, it works for me and the family.
@Kernica1 Not Fluent but have a basic grasp/understanding and be able to pass a basic fluency test. Not a Dual Citizen but have Legal Residancy. Im allowed to vote in local elections, buy properity etc..Having family (Daughter) helped with that.
We live about 35 miles from there. We used to have our family reunions at the park up the hill as a child. Awesome place to go rock hounding by the river.
I'm with you on the appeal of these 'forgotten' small towns, Sally. As the world gets more stupid these places would be ideal to get lost in!!
If only Cave in the Rock could talk, what stories we could hear. Amazing place!😮
I live 30 mins from here been camping several times. Such a beautiful camp area and cave. Definitely use to be outlaws out there that’s for sure
There is a famous movie from the 1960's called "How the West was Won," that was filmed at Cave in Rock. It stars Jimmy Stewart as a mountain man who fights a gang of river pirates at the beginning of the film.
I remember that seen!
Sounds like I need to watch this movie!
Great line up in that movie. Stars everywhere. A timeless classic
I live close to Salem IL. Know this area quite well. I remember watching that movie!
Yep I wondered about that scene in the movie that sure looked familiar as did Mason's treachery match the movie ...
Your video popped up just in time for my break. I enjoy the small town content. 👍Here’s to simpler times🍻.
Cheers! Sounds like perfect timing, hope you’re not working too hard wink wink
I love Cave in Rock, and taking the ferry to Paducah. All of souther Illinois is awesome, check out Makanda if you're still in the area. It a town that was bought by an old hippie in the 80's for like $10k. Or something like that. It's a town straight out of 1969. ✌🏼🤟🏻💨
The painted bikes, usually with a basket of lowers or with flowers next to them serve as a memorial to someone who lost their life while bike riding and a reminder to drivers to share the road and are often referred to as "ghost bikes" although obviously they are not the bike to person was killed on.
Thank you for the information I did not know that Grayville Illinois has a lot of those bikes and see them in other places.
The bikes are all painted different colors to represent different cancer awareness different ladies volunteer keeping things interesting all the live flowers around town and the bikes, painted murals veterans memorial are all acts of love for our community. I love you all❤
You’re correct that the symbol on side of building is Masonic -in your travel you might search for towns Masonic temples and courthouses and see they are always very nearby one another.
Neat Video. 65 yrs ago my family stopoped in Cave In Rock. while going on a River Trip. Wow I have always remembered the spooklyness of that Cave. Thanks so much.!!!!
That building with the crystals had some beautiful rocks and minerals in the wall. You can’t get masonry work like that anymore. Nice, peaceful, looking town. Loved lawnmower guy’s ride😁. I saw a sign saying, “Welcome bikers”. I bet there’s a time of year where people lock their doors.
Very clean little town. Did not notice much litter.
Yes I agree
Always a pleasure to see you and Marty on your tours of small towns. Very interesting. Keep up the good work 👍
Thanks Roy! We’re enjoying all these small towns too.
14:35
Just an explanation from a local:
As far as gender race: we treat everyone equally with respect. We don’t look at someone by their race or gender but by their character. Who one acts and treats us will be what determines how we treat them. Locals are generally friendly.
As for why Southern Illinois is conservative, it is because the liberals have done nothing but hurt our communities. They have raised our taxes and very little of it makes it back to us. They created an environment that is unfriendly to businesses and let our schools fall into disrepair. They rather build new parking lots in Chicago schools than give money to fix the roofs of our schools. The entire reason the Gallatin Country School exists is because the state did not give enough money to maintain the schools.
Harrisburg Illinois has computers in their schools that are only 4 years newer than what are found in computer museums.
Look at how rapidly the population is declining and how much people are hurting economically. Then go down to TN and you will see people doing much better!
Everyone who remains is just attacked to their heritage. My family owns a farm, yet I do not plan on living in Illinois once I graduate for college. Almost everyone I met at Southeatern Illinois College planned on moving out of the state.
My family were the original founders of this town. (this is my married name.) My Grandfather and his brother grew up there on a pig farm. Their mother was the school teacher. Some of my cousins from Indiana still go back there to hunt. I haven't been there since I was a little girl in the late '70s. My aunt sold the last mine that we owned, but we still have lots of beautiful rocks from it. I would love to live there, but there's really nothing there. I think most of my family, who still lived there, have probably passed on.
New Fan. LOVE Your Posts!!!!
That old jail was cool as hell! What a neat find!
THANK YOU SALLY AND MARTY for the tours each week. Living here in New Mexico we do NOT have rivers like the Ohio out this far West. The town is certainly very charming as well. You two make THE perfect tour duo so keep up the good work!
Doug and Pam
Belen, New Mexico U.S.A.
I see this vid is one year old...all day dec 23 day before christmas eve on a Saturday and bouncing all over your vids and subscribed.
All this southern illinois stuff is so close to my family on moms side in western Kentucky. I got a good idea what went on down there in southern illi'
When I young my parents would take my sister and me here every year to picnic and play on the playground equipment. Sometimes my aunt and grandparents would come too. There were gift stores, and little shops and places to buy bait and snacks, everywhere. Hiking trails camping grounds. Now there is next to nothing. Not even a gas station for miles. You can tell where they use to be. When I was a little older we would come here to buy a cooler full of fresh fish from a guy who bought from the local commercial fishermen. Eat fried fish at Dutton's cafe. Now it's sad. Everything is closed.
I stumbled across your channel last week and I really enjoy the videos and places you guys put on. Keep up the great work
Thanks so much, great to have you “here” 😁
What a great little town thank you Sally for the nice historical video stay happy stay safe 🏆🌺👍✌️
Very cool, thanks Duane! I loved learning the history behind the cave. The views from up top are breathtaking. Literally. I ran out of breath walking up from the bottom lol 😂 ✌🏻
What you called " Mayor's Mansion " was indeed (Rose Funeral Home)
My home town
Cool little town, thanks u guys!
You’re welcome ☺️
Reminds me of the Jim Croce song Box #10. It starts "Out of southern Illinois, come a down home country boy..." Just bubbled up from somewhere in the past. Used to play guitar in college. Awesome videos guys.
Very sleepy town!
(No comments from the townfolk)
Thanks Sally! Thanks Marty!
😃👍👍👍
You’re welcome 😊
Another good one Sally !
Thanks Lance!
Love this video . Keep them coming. Please
Been to this town. Filled with great history about the civil war. People down there live harmoniously with religious people. They all get along. It's not a big deal. Definitely not like the big cities where people go nuts. Down there it is refreshing how everyone gets along. They are Not backwards, they have the internet. They are just good hard working people.
Great little town. I could be comfortable in a place like this. It would have been funny when Marty closed the jail door that it would have locked. Great video.
Amen 🙏 sister me too great 👍 video 👌
Cave in rock is beautiful spent months a few summers ago there. 😎😎👍👍 Homade strawberry butter in the diner in the state park is worth a check out
whenever you see that compass design its a masonic lodge meeting hall.
I'm from about 35 miles northwest and ride my motorcycle alot around this area. Beautiful country and just has tht "been there forever " vibe.
just found your channel really recently. I dig your chill and funky personality 🤙 looking forward to more explorations :)
What a cool little sleepy town! And what fun it was to get to see it thru your eyes. Thanks for taking us along....really enjoyed it!
Hello Sally and Marty, so nice to see you two again giving us a tour, and education of some American history. That's a compass and square with the all seeing eye on that building which is the insignia of Freemasonry.
Another very interesting little town, thank you so much for the two of you doing these tours. 👍👍👍
Thank you 😊 I find the Freemasons to be interesting. I’m curious as to why there seems to be so many more down here than up north by us.
@@SightseeingSally Freemasonry is all over Washington D.C., and at every State capitol in the union. 90 percent of the founding fathers were Freemasons. They are everywhere, but you've got to know what to look for. Freemasonry is a secret society, and it's only when men reach the top last 5 or 3 levels where they learn almost everything about the society they belong to. There are 33 levels in Freemasonry, and they don't like the public knowing any of their business. The low levels of Freemasonry are very innocent, and humanitarian, that is their front, it's at the back where all the juicy stuff takes place.
Canada, Australia, the UK, Scotland, pretty much all Caucasian countries or nations have Freemasons, even Asian countries, the Jesuits too.
Nice channel and very interesting. Glad I found you.
❤ love your channel. Thanks for sharing 👍
I really enjoy your vidios. Rick from Indianapolis indiana.
Thanks Rick! So nice to hear from you 😁
So much information thanks 👍 to both of you amazing I almost feel like I was there Glad you both Collab 😂 thanks for the video 📸
Very, very interesting content. Brilliant idea to cover small town USA. I’m from lower Michigan and have so enjoyed your fun coverage. I look forward to your future productions.
definitely a wonderful place
That is preety wild ! A man on his lawnmower at the bank !
Nice town ! Sally
Hahaha yeah that was pretty wild, wasn’t it Glenn
No driver's license
@@randykaempfe7959 your right !
Thanks Sally, we just found your channel, we live in Carmi Illinois, not to far from Cave in Rock. We ride the ferry from time to time and visit the cave. I still learned a lot about Cave in Rock. Keep up the good work. Check out Old Shawneetown for lots of Southern Illinois history 😁
Cool video when I think of Illinois I think of Chicago that was some beautiful country
Down in Metropolis they filmed a tommy lee jones movie. Us Marshall’s, I believe. Took the ferry there across the river and there’s an Amish general store down the road from there.
It's nice to see a small town that seems to be doing well.
I love that town
Love this video. Just popped up on my You Tube. New subbie and punched for future videos as well. Thank you for showing the small town life. I’ll take small communities anytime over the concrete jungles
There are many southern illinois towns that have very dark histories. It’s pretty Interesting
@Kernica1 gangsters crime rings and killings moonshine things like that
@Kernica1 there's a book called "Bloody Williamson " it goes into detail about crimes in Southern Illinois around a 100 years ago
@Kernica1 if I remember right, southern Illinois had its own gangster war- Charlie Birger and the Shelton brothers. The last man hung in Illinois was from that gangster war- Charlie Birger in 1928. The Shelton brothers were from Fairfield, but then ran their bootlegging business further south, around Herrin. The Herrin coal mine strike of 1922, also called the Herrin Mine Massacre, even gave the county the nickname “Bloody Williamson”. Later the brothers went up to the Peoria and Pekin area to run business. It is said that was where they found trouble. At least one brother was killed up there, but they were followed all the way back to their family farm.
@Kernica1 Been to Cairo?
Lovely lilol town….ps Marty was really good….
Lol don’t tell him, but I think he’s a natural
Lawnmower guy is crazy!
Janesville Assembly is cool. Loved your Arizona videos too. I used to live in Maricopa County.
Cool little town! Wonderful views Bet you could live there cheaply!
Again thanks for another story of Southern Illinois small towns. I love quaint small towns with a rich history as you do. By the way, in the summer of 2015 (I think it was), I strolled along the same street of Cave-in-Rock with my wife and child (we live in the southeast end of L.A. County) and accidentally met a young lady (30s) who had just gotten off a cruise ship that made a stopover for the cave tour. She said she was a lawyer from Los Angeles. She was traveling alone.
I have just stumbled across your videos and I have to say I am intrigued. My family (both sides and not too far from each other- and my parents didn’t meet from living near each other) is from southern Illinois.
You and Marty should do abandoned railway and metal bridges! That's a good one!
Love ❤️ your videos that's a man for ya hahaha hahaha 😆 sweet always walking 🚶♂️ ahead beautiful history great 👍 to see 👀 you both again thanks 😊
Hahaha yeah that’s right! Thanks Lita, so great to hear from you ❤️
@@SightseeingSally thank 😊 🙏 you both great 👍
First snow Mattoon Illinois
The Mayor's Mansion was once a funeral home for a lot of years.
👋 hey 👋 from Dexter,Missouri my friends.
Super awesome video.
Have a super awesome night🌉
Be safe on 🛣️ roads 🛣️
We just rode the ferry across the river a month ago on our way back to WI from FL. Great way to cross the river and the town is quiet but fascinating.
I have lived in Illinois all my life and never heard of that town. That was very interesting Sally.
You must live in northern Illinois, near Chicago. Most people that live in northern Illinois think Peoria is southern Illinois.
you must be from Bluford !
Happy Thanks Giving guys!
Same to you!
Interesting town!!
🙂👍
Cool ferry.
Im really enjoying your vids, they are intersting
Pretty sure I saw you in rosiclare the other day lol. Very cool video! Are you going to do one on rosiclare?
I think I remember John James Audubon going through that area, maybe even establishing a store in Shawneetown just north of there. There is a cool Audubon museum in Henderson, Kentucky that's worth a look if you're ever in that area.
The guy at the bank was probably getting … mower, money.
Hahaha probably
It’s amethyst rock ! There are a number of emptiest in the creeks I used to look for them at my aunts when she lived around that area years ago did bicycle
8:55
*Love this!*
There is also a scene in the 50's movie Davy Crocket and the River Pirates with Fes Parker filmed at Cave in Rock! Metropolis is my home town but i have been to many ice cream socials in cave in rock!
You mentioned the Harpe brothers, so I had to chime in! I'm descended from one of the women who were sold to them (by their father, ugh) and were put on trail for murder of some of the people the Harpes killed. The women were eventually exonerated but I think you just showed the jail cell where my ancestor was held and that's just 😃😃😃 so cool. Thank you
Have a few friends from Cave, Rosiclare and Golconda. Worked that area for 10 years