Epic Abandoned Houses in Mounds and Cairo, Illinois

[@bentnickel7487]

Your picture of the Security State Bank at 25:39 was where I had my first checking and saving accounts in 1963, at the age of 15. At that time, it was called The First State Bank of Mounds. Benjamin Mark Tally was the president for 50 years. He died 2002 at the age of 79. The bank opened January 1, 1906 and closed in 1995.

[@Keithdotson]

Thank you for those details! I really love this kind of personal background

[@monicashort3216]

That house that you filmed that you said was a great house. 209 North Oak Street.I Lived there with my mom and Dad.It was a beautiful home.Rev.Reynolds and Family.♥️#Mounds Illinois

[@Keithdotson]

Thanks for letting me know! That is a great house. Did anyone live in it after your family or were they the last ones?

[@monicashort3216]

@@Keithdotson yes someone moved in after our family.

[@nancycurtis488]

I am truly glad that my daddy, my Davis grandparents and my aunts and uncles can’t see this. It would make them so depressed. My daddy was 78 when he died in 1996. He used to go back every year for the Mounds High School reunion.

[@bentnickel7487]

You should have seen Cairo and Mounds from 1959 through 1967. I graduated from high school in 67 and those two towns were home. Every relative that lived in Cairo is dead. Now, I'm 73 and live near the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia.

[@Keithdotson]

I can tell they must have been incredible places to call home. Shenandoah Valley is a nice place to live though!

[@amymalchodi8005]

I would love to hear your stories about Cairo 😊❤

[@stephaniechildrey1739]

Do you remember the hot dog food place before you crossed the Mississippi River I remember it as a little girl around 6years and Cairo really was a very busy place miss the old days I grew up in the Missouri bootheel near Sikeston Missouri

[@bentnickel7487]

@@stephaniechildrey1739 I seldom went to Sikeston growing up. Went to Paducah dozens of times and enjoyed Kentucky, but Southern Missouri in the 50s was not a glamorous place, even today when I think of Poplar Bluff it's depressing and I mean no disrespect. The boot heel poverty, back in the 50s, was similar to Mississippi today.

[@wreckknife2994]

My grandparents were from mounds. Dad was fire cheif of both

[@jcolt84]

I’ve never had a more eerie feeling while taking photos than in new Harmony, Indiana

[@mitymous1]

I really enjoy these videos; the quiet, gentle narration and easy walk-around pace, with the birds in the background, and then the great photos - just super!

[@Keithdotson]

Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed walking around with me

[@HighSierraDawn]

The way the birds sing there is soul soothing.

[@amarx6248]

I was there today and that was the kind of weather it was

[@bentnickel7487]

The building at 33:22 was the Mounds Township High School in 1967, when I graduated.

[@Keithdotson]

Thank you!

[@nancycurtis488]

I am so glad you are pronouncing the name correctly…..thank you.

[@Keithdotson]

I learned that the hard way :-) Mispronounced in an older video and head about it from residents!

[@bentnickel7487]

@@Keithdotson In the mid 1960's people called Cairo (care oh), now folks living there refer to it as (Kay row). The reason being, the population of 5000 in 1967 was white in majority, now the population of 800 is predominately black. Many will argue, but the majority rules. Just the difference between African American and White pronunciation.

[@nancycurtis488]

I wish you would make a. Video of Pulaski or what is left of it. My grandparents lived on the Main Street that turned right off the highway, on the left, almost at the top of the hill across the street from a small white church. I miss my mother and my daddy so much. Thank you.

[@Keithdotson]

I'll look into it and maybe I can come there. Thanks for the recommendation!

[@terryolsen4244]

It is amazing how fast the weather can change, especially in the spring in the midwest. Interesting video, thanks for taking us along on your explorations.

[@Keithdotson]

That light changed in what seemed like a minute. Thanks for watching and for your support!

[@amymalchodi8005]

I have been very intrigued and drawn to Cairo in recent years. My boyfriend and I took a trip down there in May of 2021. I took a piece of shale from the riverbed at the points where the rivers converge. I felt the place had very strong energy and I was very drawn to it. So much history there, so sad it's in such a devastated condition. Some of your photographs of the old abandoned houses in Cairo are magnificent. 👍📸 I live 400 miles north of Cairo.

[@Keithdotson]

I’m intrigued by Cairo as well and obviously as a photographer I’m drawn to it but it’s definitely sad for the residents who still live there.

[@trader4239]

As always Keith, amazing work. Thank you

[@Keithdotson]

Thanks for watching! I appreciate the nice comment

[@garyteague9555]

I know that area well , it was an important part of my life for many years

[@DailyPassenger]

I had an amazing time watching this video! What a great way to experience the world. Thank you!!! :

[@Keithdotson]

Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@happysnapper3676]

Hi Keith, loving this long video! The one thing we can't control in photography is the light that's given to us but when it's good it's a great feeling. I was walking with you every step with my Fuji GW690 & Acros in hand...

[@Keithdotson]

Would be fun to do that! And to see how you interpret the locations. Thanks, Rick!

[@nancycurtis488]

It makes me sad to see all of this ruin where my daddy and his brothers and sisters basically grew up even though their home was in Pulaski. I had an aunt, my daddy’s next oldest sister, was married and lived in Villa Ridge. Their last name was Hogendobler and had settled there in the 1840’s.

[@lonniesmith1786]

I went to school with one Jay Hogendobler. Class of '87.

[@091961able]

If it was fixed up it would look a lot better and then rent it out it's a beautiful building

[@MrTonyPiscatelle]

Grew up in West KY below Paducah. We use to go to Cairo in the 1970's to club. There were several lounges open and stores , motels gas stations etc. And lots of people.

[@Keithdotson]

I drive through that part of Kentucky to get to Cairo. Beautiful countryside there.

[@BEVERLY-iq8ik]

I grew up on the next street over, this is fifth street, two blocks west of the Ohio River. That building was indeed a resident and not Business as I grew and walked to WAshington grade school on nineteenth and Walnut streets during the late fourties and fifties

[@alexglanz7406]

Was there as a kid, the mid 1950s. It was full of people, picnics and places to watch the ferry traffic. This is a little shocking, but the town still has good bones.

[@doyleholloway1818]

i lived in st.louis and celebrated my honeymoon in 1959 in cairo illinois..

[@jennym2349]

How interesting! How did it compare to St. Louis in the 50's? Was it more exotic, chic? I'm truly intrigued!

[@nancycurtis488]

Is there a Chamber of Commerce where you could get information on old buildings?

[@lindadunn8787]

Wow. Thank you.

[@tastesandtravelsnounee]

Beautiful

[@WilliamHague-mi8vj]

It's me,it's me! It's Ernest T!! I think Ernest must be there breaking windows

[@MiracleFound]

My Aunt, Uncle and cousins lived in Cairo. It used to be a very nice town.

[@cynthiakennedy2018]

I have some great screenshots turned pictures of your camera taking pictures. I thought there where some mansion abandoned in cairo

[@Keithdotson]

There are some abandoned mansions in Cairo. Or at least quite large houses. I have previous videos of Cairo on my channel you can watch

[@connierobinson1682]

As usual great pics Keith! I wanna be the photographer you are when I grow up! :) Course, I'm already 60! :)

[@Keithdotson]

Thanks Connie -- you're very kind! And I'm not far behind you!

[@connierobinson1682]

@@Keithdotson don't take them years long to get away from you does it??? :)

[@Keithdotson]

No! I swear I was just 35 a few years ago

[@connierobinson1682]

@@Keithdotson Sir I KNOW what you mean!! It still amazes me that I've actually turned 6-0! :)

[@lorrik.7341]

My husband and I just went through Cairo while on a road trip last month. My heart broke to see those old homes just abandoned. I felt a lot of sadness from that town. Can anyone tell me what it was like in its heyday?

[@lorrik.7341]

And what amazing pictures you took! They truly captured the vibe of those towns.

[@charliejg]

Oh, that was an awesome timing right there to get the shutter to go between the cars!! :-) I noticed your aperture was pretty closed down on the one shot. What is your exposure method on the moody, overcast sky settings? ETTR? Your videos keep me looking forward to getting out and doing my own. School is almost over... :-) That set of steps covered in growth was pretty cool. I really like the shadowy shots from Mounds. Those vines on the buildings really look great. Thanks again for the cool tour!

[@Keithdotson]

Thanks Charlie! I tend to shoot at f.14 because I think it looks sharpest to my eye on these lenses. I can't detect any diffraction and it looks sharper than f.11 and gives a little bit more depth of field. If I'm having trouble with wind shaking the camera or blurring tree branches, I'll open it up a little more.

[@allenpenrod919]

Great video! Too bad you didn't know about the abandoned brothel when entering Cairo as you pass the mounds national cemetery 💯

[@Keithdotson]

Darn! I’m sorry I missed that

[@beckieweadon8158]

At 33:36, yes that was an elementary school. My elementary school Titus Elementary. I was there in 1972!

[@Keithdotson]

Thank you

[@JohnWalker-k7t]

Yeah i went there in mid 70s. lived about 4 houses down the street. .

[@colinmaddocks9352]

Sad but it's very peaceful isn't it.

[@colinmaddocks9352]

Little Egypt is going to be famous next year because of the ecplise in April.

[@colinmaddocks9352]

I hope you're a Christian fella.

[@Paul-uw6jq]

Hi Keith. I really enjoy your channel and all of the fascinating places you video...you truly have a talent for evoking emotions with your photography/videos and this one was no exception. I was particularly captivated by the old, abandoned home you photographed at 34:38 of the video. Interesting that two ornamental trees remain...a magnolia and tulip tree...most likely planted by the builder of the home (or possibly a later owner?) The family long gone. The home in utter disrepair and near collapse. And yet, these to silent sentinels remain, standing against time and the loss of those whose shade they enjoyed. They continue to bloom and bring beauty to an otherwise forlorn and mostly barren landscape. I was wondering if by chance you might have a black and white print shot from the front of the home that would have the tulip tree and magnolia in the same shot? If so, would it be possible to somehow cast a pale pink color on the blooming tulips, leaving everything else black and white? I'm not sure if this is practicable or not and just how much something like that would cost for a "standard" print? I sincerely hope you wouldn't consider this a "bastardization" of your work or feel insulted by my suggested addition....I absolutely love and appreciate your work and would never wish to insult you or your talent. Thanks for taking us along on your journeys! Paul

[@Keithdotson]

Hi Paul -- thanks so much for the generous and thoughtful comment! It means a lot when people take the time to make comments like yours. I really enjoy your thoughts about the trees outlasting the homeowners and probably the home as well. This type of poignant passing of time is really at the core of what I'm trying to accomplish with the videos and photographs. I think your idea for the front of the house is a cool concept. Unfortunately, I didn't shoot it because the light was too harsh for my taste, but ... I hope to return and shoot the house again if I can get the light I need. I think the front of the house is really incredible. Thanks again for the kind words!

[@markperrault5678]

This is great love getting to see all this tanx

[@jcolt84]

Mt Pisgah church in Wetaug Illinois is where I suggest you stop next. It’s amazing and won’t be standing much longer. Mt Pisgah needs to be protected.

[@Keithdotson]

Thanks for the tip! I’ll look into it!

[@lindastarr6569]

What do you do wih all the pictures?

[@nancycurtis488]

Listen to the birds…..sounds like a Mockingbird.

[@Keithdotson]

I also enjoy the bird songs

[@Cavesters_Cave]

I would love to explore cairo but I am a bit shy because A. I'm new to this stuff and B. Squatters and or law

[@TerryGriffith-x1z]

I was first baby born in. 1955

[@tonyw2136]

google earth shows Mounds in 2013, the spot your at at 24:10 the building and others are still standing

[@eddie054]

At 32:15 it looks like a newer livable tiny house is there.

[@bentnickel7487]

It's ironic that the day this video was released, April 22, 2022 I was married at that church shown at 28:50 on April 22, 1972 fifty years before.

[@Keithdotson]

That's fascinating, and it's that continuum that I try to recognize with the videos and photos of places like Cairo and Mounds. Thanks for sharing the information and for watching.

[@vecchiochristo5792]

Thanks for this video, fascinating. What did you mean when you felt weird Joo Joo vibes at that one house. I'm curious that it was so strong you wouldn't even look in the windows?

[@Keithdotson]

Thanks for watching! That house just spooked me -- I guess I was afraid if I peeked into the window I might see someone or something peeking back out at me! Also, since it's right along the main street, I didn't want to alarm the neighbors. I'm sure they have a lot of problems with people messing around in these derelict old houses.

[@vecchiochristo5792]

@@Keithdotson The detail and craftsmanship they used to put into buildings was just amazing. I'm from Indianapolis and the mansions along north meridian simply couldn't be replicated today. In many ways we are going backward, not forward it seems!

[@Keithdotson]

I agree!

[@weselder996]

That white gas station belonged to Dewey Mahoney for many years, like the 1930s to the 1970s, my family are all from mounds, of course they are all dead know, my grandmother was the county tax collector for pulaski county for years, babe Casper, she passed in 2002 any way thanks for the memories, and my grand father worked at the mounds bank you show, he passed in 1964, I was month old

[@Keithdotson]

Thanks for that information! I love learning about the people who lived there.

[@bentnickel7487]

What was your Grandfather's name, that passed in 1964 and worked at the Mounds Bank?

[@lavadazenor]

you took a picture of the old gas station my great grandpa owned

[@Keithdotson]

That’s really cool!

[@kennethroberson421]

I would love buy some abandoned home or old farm home or something who can I talk too.

[@toddaulner5393]

That Hospital is ominous.

[@Keithdotson]

Good word for it! For sure

[@nancycurtis488]

Towns used to have so much individual character compared to towns and buildings today…..everything looks just alike today…..yuck.

[@toddaulner5393]

Starbucks or home depot.

[@BCRBCRBCRBCRBCRBCR]

"SOUTHERN MEDICAL CENTER". nice letters... maybe rearrange into "hunter made electronics", "intel research document", "the unarmed celtic norse", or "current model in the case"?

[@XdVULKZ]

The building at 31:39 used to be an old jail

[@Keithdotson]

Thank you for the information!

[@XdVULKZ]

@@Keithdotson atleast that’s what my family all tells me so I’m not for certain

[@nancycurtis488]

Your video is interesting but it makes my heart hurt to see this.

[@kennethheying7845]

Thugs live where people are. No people, no thugs.

[@lindastarr6569]

Is tge town haulted from all killing of the black people?

[@dormiacrouch1905]

Heartbreaking,such waste and devastation all started with Race hatred. The old saying you Reap what you sow must apply to Cairo for sure 😢😢

[@Keithdotson]

Absolutely! I couldn’t agree more

[@slwhite1959]

It's pronounced Kyrow (Cario) like Cario Egypt.

[@Keithdotson]

Thank you

[@joanloflin3820]

I lived in Cairo for a couple of years when it was a nice town and I can assure you nobody pronounced it kyrow. It was pronounced kayro.

[@Mary-t1f]

Really not. Sorry. We from the area pronounce it, ‘Kay-Ro’. The area, however, is known as, ‘Little Egypt’.

[@reginaporter5173]

😊​@@Keithdotson

[@MiracleFound]

It is pronounced Care-oh or Kay-row.

[@markperrault5678]

Why do youse have sight that feeling you got not everyone has that your blessed

[@jasonmiller4046]

some of these buildings are beautiful i would think they could be used again

[@Keithdotson]

I agree! If someone saves them before it’s too late

[@lonniesmith1786]

Yes, the building was a school. I attended it I believe 2nd grade to 4th. It was called Titus then. I also believe that it was previously a training center for a branch of the Armed Forces.