A Forgotten Town in Southern Illinois & its history

A Forgotten Town in Southern Illinois - We explore forgotten history while walking the empty streets of another living Midwestern ghost town. Looking at what's left of this small Ohio River town, it's easy to dismiss this town's past as being anything but significant. Yet, this town in Southern Illinois once played an important role in early American history. Find out what we learned about this historic town and its important role in Illinois history 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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[@jamesfarmer3775]

Oh yeah, you missed it at Hogdaddy's. I was an old abandoned hardware store IIRC. It may have later been a bar too, but I'm not positive. At any rate, a guy got a grant, tore out the floor, poured a slab, had a roof put on, and opened up as a biker bar. We would ride down on Saturdays or Sundays, and have a couple. The back was added on, with a kitchen. They had really good food, some of the best burgers, HUGE shrimp, steaks and such. It has a loft that is open in the middle to the main floor. The bar next door was opened later. You are correct that they were biker oriented. For several years they would have a street party/rally, at the same time as the Little Sturgis Rally across the river in Sturgis Kentucky. It was usually a week or so before the big Sturgis rally in South Dakota. Some riders would stop at Little Sturgis on the way to big Sturgis, and, rather than fight the crowds, a lot of local Southern Illinois riders would just camp at Old Town. They had bands, food vendors, rally events, even a mechanical bull in the middle of the floor in Hogdaddys. Imagine the street lined with bikes and a line of bikes parked in the middle of the street, tents and campers in the "park" area. It was a lot of fun. Not sure exactly why it fizzled out over time. The same guy I think still has the Hogrock rally in the spring, and at least use to have Hogrocktoberfest in the fall. It is on his property a few miles away. You're bringing back a lot of good memories with this one Sally.....

[@SightseeingSally]

Best insider info I’ve gotten today, way cool! Sounds like it was a great place to party back in its day. Thanks for sharing, I’m sure people will enjoy reading this.

[@tomkouts5713]

Good old days James

[@tonyjones5675]

You are mostly correct,,except that he did not get a grant,,,it was all out of pocket. I helped rebuild the building and worked in the bar till we closed in 2011.

[@catherineturner5777]

I was at the rally many times. Big fun for sure

[@jamesfarmer3775]

@@tonyjones5675 I got that part from someone who told me it was some sort of economic development thing or another, but obviously it wasn't from Tim's mouth, so... I know Simon who I'm pretty sure is the one who did the roof. At any rate, I loved the place and hate that it's closed. I though I was there after 2011, but apparently not. Be sure to put it out to the riding community if it ever opens back up. I'd love to come down for a weekend ride like we use to. After this video posted and I saw it, I went back through the flash drive and reminisced with the pictures of us all in the loft during the rally one year, and three of the girls getting a little ink there. 😉

[@Cubs-Fan.10]

I never lived in Shawneetown, but I worked there for a while as well as the surrounding areas, and live nearby. Southern Illinois is a forgotten part of America for several reasons. #1, Chicago. They consume the state in all aspects of media coverage and "Imprtance" so to see this video is amazing to me. #2, Its not relevant anymore. Coal mines, salt slicks, and the rivers that cross through aren't used as much due to trains and truck fleets, and the coal mines closing down don't need the river traffic anymore. And lastly, people are all in cities now, they don't understand the history of what this country was built on. Folks like me who live here are 'uneducated hicks and country folks' they say. But, towns like Shawnee and the surrounding are were the foundation they look down on now that its not as populated, when it should be celebrated.

[@PanaGringoBarefootBass]

From Springfield south Illinois doesn't exist.

[@edprince9079]

Why we need to divide our state.

[@Diddy_Doodat]

Yea and coal is dirty. Nobody forgot it was used…nobody wants to use it 😂

[@Diddy_Doodat]

Let go of the fkn past boomer

[@TheSeaTack]

Loved it! Have you guys explored Grand Tower in Jackson County or Cobden in Union County?

[@SightseeingSally]

Thanks! Not sure how we missed them but we did.

[@kelly3560]

Glad to have found your Chanel. Lafayette was a French General ally to United States during the Revolutionary War. I’m in Havre de Grace, Maryland named by Lafayette.

[@markmcarthy596]

My Dad and his Navy used to take us cave exploring around Old Shawneetown. The Shawnee National forest if full of ancient history, long before europeans

[@scottsenatra1193]

Love your page.Makes me homesick.

[@RioAbajoBelen]

Sightseeing with Mocha, Marty and Sally. Keep that guy with you. Love his observations and what a great idea for a location of an tornado siren. ;-) Doug and Pam Belen, New Mexico U.S.A.

[@deborahbaker4770]

There are a lot of town’s in Illinois I haven’t heard of mostly in the southern part of the state I think where the heck is that

[@williamteuthorn7413]

The vandal took the Handle.

[@rexduncan5266]

During flooding in the early 1990’s, I took a group of students from a community college where I worked to Old Shawneetown to sandbag. We worked alongside a group of prisoners from a nearby state prison. The prisoners worked hard, were good company, and were ready to get on with their lives. Our students learned a lot about the Ohio River, Old Shawneetown, and empathy for others. I still have a warm spot for Old Shawneetown.

[@luzmaria72]

Love this comment. Thank you for sharing your story, sir!

[@chrisbrown2191]

Marquis De Lafayette was a french general who trained American soldiers during the American revolution. Lafayette visited the cemetery in Shawneetown to pay his respects to his deceased friend Brigadier General Thomas Posey who was in the American Revolution.

[@christinatweet6580]

Great mini-history lesson! Thanks f/that....👍

[@coffeeseven]

I have an Indiana land deed with his name on it. An original copy. It was in my dad's lock box. I found it after he died. I'm holding on to it hoping one day ill find out if there's any family link.

[@playhooky]

@@coffeeseven Wow - very cool!!!

[@600joe]

Lafayette Park across from the White House is named after him. He’s buried in Paris filled in with dirt from America. He spent his own money to raise an army of French to fight the British during the American Revolution.

[@thomaslockwood8870]

They named a big town in Indiana after him. Also a big street in Fort Wayne. Little Turtle is buried right off Spy Run Ave in Fort Wayne.

[@terrybutts6511]

Hi I the president of the Gallatin County Historical Society. The texco sign is original. The round rings along the sidewalk is to tie up your horse.

[@AndyA60440]

Towns like this and others you visited in Southern Illinois demonstrate how much the state has changed their focus from the southern part of the state to Chicago over many decades. There is significant history to the state of Illinois in that area. Little or no real effort gets put into capturing the history of the architecture or really capturing the story of what was. And obviously there is little preservation effort going on as most of the money for things like that isn't available directly in these areas and are instead spent about 300 miles to the North. Not that all of it is worth saving, but shouldn't some of it be worth a long-term effort? Sad to say, but go see it before it isn't there... and thanks for the video.

[@christopherfrederick9235]

Basically rail and air killed all of these water towns

[@CopperJedi]

There are many stories across the board about negro history and how towns were massacred in many different states... we are the Indians that were destroyed.... when I research genealogical records, I see many areas that is Indian territory, but negros were always there... this is the age of information... we can correct the lies that are taught and weaponized to indoctrinate our children on an elementary to highschool level.... people like Walter Plecker wanted to create a new Indian race in the 1920s, which was a decade full of massacres in negro communities.... which our economy ultimately ended up in the great depression... ironically, this was happening in the midst of 2 GREAT WARS, causing another reconstruction and federal reserve... this also caused the GREAT MIGRATION... you get my point... again, black Americans are not African, we are apart of the original tribes.... please dig into the rabbit hole.... there's much to discover

[@cumulus1234]

A lot of Chicago is going down the drain with crime, high taxes and stifling regulations.

[@christopherfrederick9235]

@@cumulus1234 can tell you don’t live in Chicago

[@cumulus1234]

@@christopherfrederick9235 No don’t live near Chicago or in Illinois, but just reply what I read about Chicago and news reports.

[@ronaldclements5066]

I’m from that area. The history you presented was spot on. You should check out Cave-in-Rock. There was a move scene shot there from How The West Was Won.

[@tamarabriddick7460]

I am the treasurer for the John Marshall house bank and museum. Sally we would love to have you come back to Old Shawneetown and we can give you a tour of the town and tell you what all those wonderful things are

[@SightseeingSally]

Very cool, thank you 😊 If we get back to the area, we’ll definitely take you up on your offer.

[@playhooky]

Tamara Briddick Wish you guys would put signs up with the times you are open for tours!!!

[@adamtate8268]

Do y’all do tours????

[@Sideshifter]

I've been through there several times. Also been to Junction I'll when I was a kid and my parents and I visited an old slave house there. It was very very cool and a.bit spooky. Now my wife and do what you two do. If you have not been to Chester Ill( home of Popeye and all the Popeye characters) you need to go. It's fun and amusing. You two better share more. metropolis Ill is fun too.

[@dianegross2507]

I had relatives that ran a small grocery store in town, probably 100 hundred years ago. And still have many in the new Shawneetown. Also the lines on the pillars of the bank pillars show the height of the flooding. The cemetery is an interesting place to visit too.

[@charlesjoyner6101]

My dad uncle Sam Joyner run a grocery store in Shawneetown Joyner's Market in the 1960s. My great grandma was a Gross Edith Gross

[@powlperc]

It’s good to see Cave in Rock, Old Shawneetown. I’m from southern Illinois. Your historic videos with a comedic twist are most enjoyable! 😄

[@frankwurth5375]

Keep in mind, the reason that these early centers of commerce in Illinois and other states were built in a flood zone, was the fact that most all commerce and travel was by the rivers and waterways. Not till the Rail Roads came into the fore front, every one traveled by boat. Hence the reason they built up on the river bank. This small rement of town was still quite active till the last series of major floods in 93 and 95 pretty much destroyed it for good. Those abandoned buildings you show were victims of those floods and those fire trucks as well.

[@davidgibson9866]

Southern Illinois “little Egypt” was the gateway to west.

[@LyonsArcade]

Sally I am very happy to see that your great little channel is finally starting to get the views it deserves! Congratulations on your recent success, you deserve it.

[@SightseeingSally]

Thank you so much!

[@mattd.4133]

I watch them all and some twice such as this one a year later! Lol keep it up Sally!

[@scottnielsen1553]

I read that either one man or two men wanted to open up a trading post at Fort Dearborn which was located in Chicago by Michigan Ave and the Chicago River. They went to a bank in Shawneetown to get a loan to start the business, but were turned down. The reason was that the banker thought that the area ( what was to become Chicago ) was too far off and that nothing was ever to become of that area.

[@jimwilson9371]

I had always heard Chicago wanted to borrow money from Old Town and they said no. Never knew the details.

[@chrispesavento6779]

Not to be argumentative at all but I read similar yet slightly different story. That the bank did not want to buy bonds from Chicago because "no city without unnavigable River would ever make it". Perhaps both are true? Interesting nonetheless

[@crzrck]

rivers were vital for commerce so all the oldest cities and settlements in the world were built on Navigable rivers...No one thought chicago would ever become anything of value because commerce moved thru the southern and central parts of the state.Even the wagon trains west went thru the center of the state..

[@billyjack4772]

Another important thing is that the Trail of Tears went through Shawnee Town. The Cherokee had to cross the Ohio River during winter.

[@bettyhudson979]

It hurts my heart today that our country’s first citizens had to endure so much suffering for heartless, power hungry, superiority thinking Europeans. That’s another part of Critical Race Theory that some people don’t want to be taught in the American classroom

[@billyjack4772]

@@bettyhudson979 It was one of the saddest stories. It was President Andrew Jackson that was the sole one responsible for the Trail if Tears. Congress did not want to pass his Indian Removal Act but Jackson threaten them all so they were forced to comply. Jackson had a home in southern Illinois and even stood there to watch the Cherokee on their March to Oklahoma. He was truly one of the worse presidents next to Biden.

[@raventhomas9232]

Really , I thought Golconda is where the trail of tears crossed , Shawnee town was to far north for them to cross over the Mississippi river

[@billyjack4772]

@@raventhomas9232 they traveled through shawnee town. Don't remember if it was the first town they went through when they first crossed the river. Also it was winter when they crossed which is another cause of many deaths, hypothermia

[@cherrysmart3500]

Interesting history... 👍

[@sandraparker2358]

How I wish you could have visited on a day when the Old bank, the Old St mary's Catholic church Museum, and the Historical Society at the John Marshall Bank was open. The Church is owned by the State of Illinois, but there is a museum inside that is open some during the summer months. I think the same is true for the John Marshall Bank, operated by the Historical Society and open some Sundays year round. The large bank has been open on occasion and is something to see. Also the old Slave house where the saltworks were located. Another property the State of IL bought and closed.

[@playhooky]

It would be great if they would put signs on the bank & church telling people when they would be open for tours etc.!!!

[@Racerkey999]

that is the authentic Texaco rural gas station architecture and color scheme so the sign goes w it

[@brianamcghee]

My grandma is in her early 90s and she grew up there. She used to drive us out there and show us the waterlines on the bank and we would stop and eat at Rudy’s in New Town on the way out. Pretty much all the locals refer to the area as ‘Old Town’ and ‘New Town’. My Grandma used to tell me stories of Charlie Birger and his gang. My husband has roots that go pretty deep in this town as well. Great Video!

[@seeker_chicago4352]

You should be proud of your heritage. I always wondered how one would feel living in an area where you have deep family roots.

[@edprince9079]

Rudy's has the best barbecue ever.

[@edwarddrone117]

My father was born in that town and to be moved out during the flood. He was only five years old. He grew in “New Town” in a house moved from “Old Town”,

[@KayNolte]

More and more of IL is fading away, due to taxing, and nobody seems to remember there is more to IL than Chicago....

[@LisaHerman1963]

Yes, that aggravates me so much when I say I'm from Illinois. They say "oh Chicago" I'm like "NO I live 15 minutes from St. Louis. I'm not close to Chicago!!!!"

[@Slimelord_ro]

Yes ppl tend to forget southern il is basically a whole state by its self.…618

[@brushcreek42]

There's a street view of Hogdaddy's on Google Earth when it was in business.

[@heavymetalredneck7973]

I live in Nason il (yee haw 🙄) it's another old mining town from the 1920s that has a population collapse when the mine closed, Nason is actually a city even though the population is under 200, Rend lake was created in the 70s which didn't help with the towns survival either being many of the folks out in the river bottoms surrounding Nason were forced to move, "progress" can be really hard on those who don't come from money 💰, seems like most progress overwhelmingly benefit's those who's hands have never gotten dirty or rough.

[@richardgordon1335]

Grew up in new town, and still only live 20 minutes away, pops still lives there. Inside Layton’s they used to have everyone sign the walls with markers, 2011 floods sandbagged the heck out of the town, caught the mayors white donkey, and have roamed those streets like crazy as a child walking to the levee to fish as a kid. It’s a shame people don’t realize how much outside of Chicago there is in Illinois.

[@brianamcghee]

Another interesting thing my gma told me was that when Chicago was first getting started, they reached out to Old Shawneetown for financial assistance. Old Town didn’t bother to help because Chicago was too far from the river to ever flourish as a city.

[@cherrysmart3500]

Now , that's what you call IRONY...🤦🏽‍♀️

[@rickthompson302]

Thank you for the tour and history of Old Shawneetown. No offense to them but the oldest town in Illinois is Prairie du Rocher. It was settled in 1722 and celebrated 300 yrs. last July.

[@marksnyder8189]

Another fun look at another great piece of our history. The bank building is 😍. That iron work is next level. I have seen many an old building in the US and Europe, but whoever did that work was a master among masters. I found the "death" of the old town very sad. My late mother was in the 1937 flood, in Cincinnati. She was 12. She remembered her and her twin sister being rescued from their second story window by some neighbors who had a rowboat. I am amazed at how many places one finds the Shawnee. Aside from Oklahoma, where they were relocated, one finds them in Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois. I always thought of them as a more Eastern tribe. My great x 5 grandmother Rachel Crafton was Shawnee. She was the daughter of celebrated Chief Cornstalk. She married a white man who was a storekeeper by trade. She lived from 1764 to 1843 and had a lot of children. She died and was buried in Northeast Indiana. I also enjoyed the spiders! My last name means that I was at times called Spider. I learned what amazing creatures they are. I never kill a spider unless it is venomous to humans. I really would love to visit Old Shawneetown. I might never leave. 😉

[@honneyswaggirt9320]

Pls read slaves salt and sex the story of the Crenshaw slave house of equality Illinois. Will give you the most true, sad in depth stories of our area we do not want to talk or admit and choose to sweep under our southern rug

[@rongriffin1489]

The Crenshaw house was open to the public and had tours offered by the owner in the 1990s and the entire story was told. Then the state of Illinois bought the property and closed it down. Who is sweeping history under the rug?

[@AndyA60440]

@@rongriffin1489 I think the State of Illinois owns the Old Shawneetown Bank as well. Not sure on motives (though I can guess as well as anyone), but they aren't doing very good upkeep on a lot of their historic properties.

[@valbrooks2699]

Bike rallies are annually in Old Shawneetown. That was the purpose of Hog Daddies I’ve been there many times when I lived in Ridgway, Illinois.

[@robertkissiar2976]

Look into Sailor Springs IL not real big but has quite a bit of history to and also Louisville IL and a man named Johnny Bob Harrell

[@mattharriss3835]

My band played HogDaddy's so many times. We had a blast!! Great video

[@SightseeingSally]

Awesome, I bet it was fun! Ps. Thank you 😊

[@johnnyofast5924]

How long ago was that place still happening?

[@mattharriss3835]

@@johnnyofast5924 Not too long ago. It's been about 8 years I believe. I last played there in June of 2009. It's huge and open inside with 2 floors. I could run up the steps and and jam from the second floor. This was a big stop during the warm months for Bikers and it was open til 4am!! LOL!

[@johnmccree8941]

These places are stomping grounds for me..as I'm from southern Illinois. Down by the levee area ...on the river bank used to be (maybe still is) an old marooned tug boat. Been yrs. since I've been around there. Video brings memories.👍

[@caroljames6371]

Sally, you are terrific as a solo, but as a pair, you're terrificker (I know that's not a real word...perhaps it should be!). Love the dynamic you and Marty have. How do you find these wonderful places as well as the history behind them?🤔 Soooo interesting!

[@bextar6365]

Very interesting video, I have not seen one of those outside alarms for several years. It would be great if you could speak to a local when in the old towns for first hand info. Like the old filling station and more.

[@SightseeingSally]

Thanks! Sometimes we do, other times we don’t run into anyone who wants to talk. This was one of those times.

[@xyz061220]

If you're still in the area, check out Kaskaskia. First Illinois State Capital, only part of Illinois west of the Mississippi. If you do, research the bridges - the bridge there is old and narrow. Cape Girardeau might be a better choice.

[@cindyhawkins6238]

Kaskaskia and then Ste. Genevieve. Oldest towns in IL and MO

[@hawaii50th]

Your Mocha is so cute. Another interesting old town, and Marty, it's not useless information, it's part of the historical story, not many knew that about the alarm, I didn't. Sally, have you ever heard of the movie called Porky's? That saloon called HogDaddy's could possibly be where the name for Porky's came from, who knows.😄

[@melissas.2905]

I didn't know that either!! Awesome!

[@joshmartin1938]

Thank you for this. Reminds me of growing up in Alton, along with the Illinois, Missouri and Ole Miss rivers. A great place to live and grow post WWII. Cities and small towns like these, to me are so sad looking but it is what it is.

[@lancejensen9328]

Wow, cool Town and history, built when there were not too many other towns to go to in Illinois. Another great video, oh and General Lafayette was a French Army Officer that fought on our side in the revolutionary war with some distinction I believe.

[@lisajoyner1016]

I grew up in a small town not far from there...Equality. Very close to Old Saltwell hollow road where you saw the salt spring. My dad also farmed ground on that road. I have a lot of great memories from my hometown area. 🙂

[@megandonahue9220]

I wonder if Rantoul ever recovered when Chanute AFB became a Superfund site and the truth came out about how the base had poisoned the surrounding areas and was one of the first bases to use the chemicals eventually known as agent orange, which was created at the university in Champaign.

[@cynthiayargus1695]

My brother was stationed at Chanute in 1967.

[@ryanretrogamer7]

In Shawneetown, they open up the buildings once a year. Not all at once, but they will open the bank once a year, and the same for the Catholic Church. I actually have been in the church before. It was during Covid if I remember right.

[@duanelogan9633]

Another cool old southern town I think Marty's right about them old rings maybe they were to tie the horse and buggy our horses up so nice to look at them Old Towns how nice and peaceful they look today thanks for the video you too stay happy and safe 🏆🌺👍✌️

[@SightseeingSally]

Could be, Duane, especially since they were across the street from the bank. Can’t have the horses leaving behind presents outside the bank for people to step in them 💩😂 ✌🏻

[@nancypritchett1159]

I’m from the area and have heard of shawneetown many times but I learned a lot from your video that i didn’t know before. Thank you for making history come alive!!!

[@Heliogabalos]

Back when Illinois was first being settled, you could buy a 99 year indentured servitude contract in Old Shawneetown for any slaves people brought into Illinois. Southern Illinois was one of the few places in Illinois that held any amount of slaves as most of its settlers came from Virginia and Kentucky, settlers who often would land in Old Shawneetown.

[@PanaGringoBarefootBass]

Hence, many workers of Saline County and what is commonly known in the area as "The Old Slave House".

[@jimadams8795]

Oh, the good old days were so much better! I imagine all the slaves moved to Chicago too. Sad!

[@billa1870]

@@jimadams8795 Yes. That's where the jobs were.

[@The_Boogie_Woogie_King]

Love your videos Sally. I live in central IL, I’ve been enjoying the videos on southern IL. Marty rules!!

[@SightseeingSally]

Thanks Casey! I’ll tell him that hahaha

[@johntarman3234]

You should do a show on Grayville, IL on the Wabash River. Back in its hayday it was the capital of the oil boom. They would have Oil show there, and oil company executives from around the country would gather there to see all the newest equipment that was available.

[@tomkouts5713]

It sure was. Remember all the out of towners coming in to the shows.

[@truthhurts7637]

I grew up in Grayville. I'm a Leavens and my mother was a Mosberger.

[@badgerpa9]

Nice job showing the town. I looked for a vintage air raid siren on ebay no luck though. It snowed pretty good up here, not sure if you are still down south or home. Stay safe and healthy!! The rings look like the old tie for a horse and buggy team.

[@mikeholtorf3456]

Its a fire siren to notify the volunteers. Additional it was for tornadoes and probably was also blown briefly at noon. The noon whistle.

[@hattyburrow716]

Being from a smaller island, UK, I has never considered the need for salt when there’s no close sea. Fascinating little town.

[@spjr99]

us americans eat our weight in salt! and we barely have any

[@melissas.2905]

Hi! I've got great photos from there a few weeks ago. Hope you went to the museum. Looks like you found the path behind it...that goes up to the bridge that goes over to KY.

[@rae6370]

I'm lucky enough to have been inside the bank. It also had living quarters in it and it was kind of creepy!

[@guppie165]

Love your curiosity and informed but natural commentary, so hard to do when you're filming & know people will be watching. You both are great.

[@SightseeingSally]

Thanks!

[@gingeranagram2467]

As someone from Chicago, I sincerely apologize that the rest of the state gets neglected for our abominable city. I'd burn it all to the ground if it meant these beautiful, old, historic towns could be preserved.

[@kenkunz1428]

If it were not for the State taxes that Chicagoans and Cook County pay, Southern Illinois would have starved to death many years ago.

[@mikerafone4736]

Hope you both can keep doing this thank you

[@SightseeingSally]

You’re welcome ☺️

[@zerofox2967]

Much like a lot of southern Illinois, Kentucky or Indiana border towns. Not much there for work or industry except miles of corn and soybean farms. A lot of the southern Illinois area are more and more desolate now days.

[@bandocraig2023]

It's a lot of towns around the world 🌎 that has been forgotten.

[@chrishughes4652]

My grandpas was born and raised here. His family ran a grocery store on the main drag. He was born in 1938, one year after the flood.

[@nelsoncook5497]

You should visit Grayville illinois. A town that the River forgot. The river carved a new path away from downtown.

[@Diego-Delgado]

grayville in full of meth heads and inbreeders

[@truthhurts7637]

Hey I grew up in Grayville. Dad and uncles still live there.

[@rosemeccia9411]

I wonder if the flood that wiped out Shawnee is the same one that flooded and buried the original Capitol of Indiana? That town is still under water .

[@Keithmcdork]

Wow, it's truly amazing how much money went into making The First State Bank Of Illinois. This shows how important Banks were even over a hundred years ago. Makes you wonder, if a small town bank is doing so well, how were the banks in the City of Chicago doing?

[@jennifersmall4027]

This is what globalism has done to our great country.

[@ronrice2249]

I have been through Shawneetown more times than I can count on the way to cross the bridge into Kentucky. You pass the turnoff to Old Shawneetown, though I never had a reason to go there. This reminds me of St. Johns, Illinois, which is on the north end of DuQuoin. At one time, it was bigger than DuQuoin. Now it's just a small community. DuQuoin was actually named after Chief Ducoigne. I don't know why they changed the spelling.

[@aaronclover825]

Currently live in DuQuoin and confirmed true

[@railfan1984]

I'm a history buff so I enjoyed this episode about Old Shawneetown

[@roymichel1856]

Such a shame that old buildings are seldom preserved. Thanks again for a wonderful tour!

[@LisaHerman1963]

Yes in other countries old buildings are cherished and kept up. Here they like to tear down and build new. I hate that! I'm from Belleville and they have tore down most things from my childhood in the 70s. Makes me sad.

[@joslynandcarltonramsubhag1836]

From Trinidad: Enjoyed sightseeing through this medium with the both of you. Can't wait to watch the next episode! Historical facts are interesting!

[@nomorenames5568]

This is immediately one of my favorite channels. This is what I love to do on my road trips too!

[@willc.9687]

I am from Portland, Oregon, and those sidewalk rings are definitely for tying up horses and livestock. Portland still has many of them around the city.

[@rosiemcnaughton9933]

Some really beautiful old buildings there. What an interesting place. Would like to see it preserved.

[@ChristyShort]

The rings are hitching rings for wagons, horses...

[@randall1959]

From the size of that bank you can tell it was a grand city at one time.

[@flilguy]

My grandparents lived around 60 miles north of Shawnee Town. It was common if you had a nice home that happened to be built in a flood zone. They would move the house. There is a house down the street from me that was part of the Clay City Pure Oil camp. They moved the house from Clay City, IL to Flora, IL. That would be over 8 miles.

[@an80slady]

Glad that your dog; I'm like oh no, a lost or abandoned dog! Have you been to Anna? Very interesting and shameful history!

[@playhooky]

Lol - you misunderstood. That wasn't her dog; she said they were greeted by that dog and that her dog would think she was betraying him then she showed a picture of her dog with the word "traitor"! lol So yeah, it was a stray or local dog out for a walk on his own.

[@JohnShinn1960]

I used to learn something new every day, today I learned burglar alarms go back way further than I thought. Thanks Marty, Thanks Sally! 👍👍👍 PS: it'd been nifty if yous would have shown us the insides of those abandoned houses but then I guess yous wouldn't wanna get shot!

[@SightseeingSally]

Yeah, we didn’t feel like finding out what kind of healthcare is available over in Shawneetown so we passed on that

[@JohnShinn1960]

@@SightseeingSally 😆

[@platinumpagoda3079]

Awesome video, this is one of the few small towns in Illinois I haven't been to. Definitely going to have to check it out.

[@normanfletcher8332]

Hopefully the black/white dog at beginning has a home to go to, for looks like a sweetie....

[@dianenichols4924]

Would be a great area to magnet fish

[@griswald7156]

I like it when Marty joins in….

[@SightseeingSally]

Me too

[@ViaOjo]

😂 Marty’s a riot 😂

[@tomkouts5713]

Was hoping you would touch on the salt works. The old man that owned the big brick house out on rt 1 ran the salt works. He used slaves from Kentucky and captured runaways to work it.

[@SightseeingSally]

I got my feet muddy trying to get up close to the salt springs.

[@geraldrector6170]

Hear say he still had slaves working after the civil war. Was a evil man it’s said.

[@scottbee501]

I attended Southern Illinois University in 71 and 76. One of the most interesting courses was Illinois History taught by the famous history (Civil War, Lincoln and Grant) professor John Simon. I loved him. A very large well spoken story teller that when class was over I noticed I hadn’t taken any notes. Anyway, a lot of very interesting southern Illinois history.

[@maryberkes6329]

It is said that when the Chicago fire destroyed Chicago they asked the Shawneetown bank to loan them money to help rebuild Chicago. But the Shawneetown bank refused their request for a loan. It seems ironic that Chicago is a huge metropolitan city and continues to grow even tiday. But the Shawneetown bank is no longer in business and Shawneetown itself is desolate...

[@dudewheresmycar7961]

Found my new favorite history KZbin channel. Thank you for y’all hard work. Please don’t stop.

[@thestewardsinsong9098]

My Father's family was from that area. namely Bowelsville, which was just south around the south side of Gold Hill. They were charter members of the Ringold Church. (The Smyth, Spivey, Jolly, Waggoner, McGeehee families). It was such a thrill to do my family's genealogy years ago and visiting the Gallatin County Courthouse in search of records, which they have such awesome records. I would always end my day with a trip to Old Shawneetown and just walk around. There were many buildings still on the main street that are no longer there. There was a large hotel there known as the Riverside Hotel that was owned and operated by my Father's family years ago.

[@amberanthony244]

My grandparents own a big chunk of Gold hill. I loved finding this video

[@rayclay2]

ring for a horse? so they can eat grass, also maybe a temp loop for rope to pull something. if flooded maybe for a marker to float . just a thought. great filmmaker you sure are. thank you for sharing your journey's with is all. = )

[@jig88]

Go visit , Bement Milmine and Ivesdale Illinois or Monticello and White Heath.

[@SightseeingSally]

Always appreciate viewer tips, thanks for the suggestions!

[@2calljohnson175]

Seems like a nice town. Too bad you're in the same state as Chicago.

[@hilltopgypsy]

My band, GYPSY CROSSING, played at Hogdaddy's and I can tell you, that place got Wound Up! There were bars on 2 levels, and more than once I saw people try to throw other people down the stairs. It was nothing short of a miracle that they didn't succeed. It was definitely an adventure to play there. One reason the bar got closed down was because the owner was forced to hire a bunch of bouncers every weekend just to maintain order and prevent murders.

[@SightseeingSally]

Sounds like a rowdy good old time!

[@jerryw4471]

The History of Southern Illinois is a good and lengthy read. Most all of my ancestors grew up there including me; and, It is really amazing what all went on there through the years. I have been to Shawneetown and Cave In Rock many times.

[@Jumper1776]

I have been there! They have a motorcycle rally there! It’s awesome! We rode to little sturgis from there! Little Sturges was a dry county. So we left a little Sturgis and came back to old Shawnee town and we loved it.! That was a good time.

[@xan._wrld9885]

I actually lived here for a good amount of my life😃its cool seeing people actually look at this place and actually tell abt its history

[@billmcnelly7315]

You should try to get to see the old slave house in Shawneetown. I can't remember exactly where its at. Its where slavery actually existed in Illinois.

[@annfield9852]

Not open anymore I saw it years ago was full of artifacts. So sad that it's closed. I think someone bought it.

[@garyjacobsen5034]

The original bank was a tiny brick structure on main street in the heart of town which had a metal plaque stating it was the 1st bank of the Illinois terratory in 1834. Chicago sent a delegation 3 men on horse back requesting a $1,500.00 loan whick was denied, because the bank officers stated Chicago will not amount to anything! Gary J

[@griswald7156]

Birmingham town hall …right there !

[@marksauck8481]

At first I thought this was Cairo I’ll. There must be something in this part of Illinois that gets isolated and forgotten.

[@conservativemetal8552]

Sen. Fowler is looking to pump some new life into Cairo.

[@rae6370]

I wish KZbin supported photo comments. All of my senior pictures were shot in Shawneetown at the Bank, the church, the old fire engine, and a few other places. That was 16 years ago.

[@Anthony-ot8vl]

I visited Chester,IL to the west of there. Hometown of Popeye. Beautiful area.