The Rise of An All American city, E St Louis PART 1

The History of E St Louis, from swamps, to industry, from crime, to rock-n-roll. What you think you knew about this small big city may change

[@ebookpioneers]

Good movie. I was born there in 1959 and lived on Michigan Avenue (68th and State) until 1969. Road my bicycle all over that town, played Khoury League there, had tons of fun playing on the canal behind grandma's house. I could see Jimmy Connors as a kid playing tennis behind his house on the other side of the canal. There was Thunderbird skating rink, Jones' Park and pool in Washington Park, Robertson's Hardware in National City (best hardware store ever!), ice-cream at Custard's Last Stand, cheeseburgers at Hannigan's Drive-in, and the best hot-dogs in the world at the Red Oven, and above all---trips to Ben Franklin in Loisell Village to buy toys anytime I had a dollar in my pocket!

[@mikemikedag]

Charles Seper I'm from 3rd and exchange by haymores

[@ebookpioneers]

I remember it well. My dad was a co-manager at Kroger not far away, across from Sears-n- Roebucks.

[@wawalker1]

Charles Seper i lived at 80th and State and remember those places yo mentioned

[@ebookpioneers]

My parents had some friends from the Assembly of God Church (54th and State I think, or close to it) by the name of Walker. Come to think of it, we may have been related to them. I don't remember their names though. My older sister might. You aren't related to the actor, Clint Walker, are you? His twin sister used to be my Sunday School teacher when I was a kid at a church in Fairview Heights.

[@wawalker1]

Not related to the actor. Our family was small. My Aunt married Troy Wamble also of EStL. Did you ever visit the East Saint Louis Christian Bookstore on N. 80th? Later became EStL Christian Bookstore at 89th and State, next to Hutchinson Hardware? Then known as The Christian Bookstore on Illinois in French village next to Svoboda's Frorist and then moved to Fairview Hts. By Chuck Wagon. And finally Kingdom Treasures in Fairview Hts. Next to Walmart before closing. My parents owned it. I went to Harding grade school and attended Edgemont Bible Church. Moved to Caseyville in 1966, but we stayed connected to Edgemont until the mid 70s. I don't remember it being that bad when growing up until I was a teen. But, I guess that comes from protective parents and becoming more aware growing up. We enjoyed the parks. I remember Jones and Grand Marias. There was one other, but I can't recall the name. Used to ride bikes all over Edgemont and French village. Hung out by the canal and bluffs too.

[@jscottupton]

Driving from Indianapolis to Dallas I had a flat tire in East St. Louis at night time. Scariest night of my life.

[@00Daizy00]

lolol...

[@iwrath2196]

lol fuck that i would have kept driving on my rims till i got out of there...

[@leocalhounjr2025]

Bet it was. & especially pending on time of day, area etc.

[@leocalhounjr2025]

@@iwrath2196 😂😂😂😂😂

[@dawnnichoalds1661]

My boyfriend and I almost got trapped n hotel over there 1 day ..words came through my mouth couldnt even tell u what I said but residents spooked..and I booked..higher power

[@kcrsradio]

Excellent documentary. I grew up in Belleville in the 60s and worked in ESL in the 70s so I witnessed much of the decline and decay in real time. Corporate greed along with political corruption sucked the city dry. Racial tension only served to make a bad situation even worse. I keep waiting for things to change but they seem to be stuck in a time warp. Sad.

[@pika62221]

they changed, East St Louis now extends to new parts like East St Cahokia, East St Fairview, East St Belleville, and East St Caseyville.

[@audi8611]

I was born in St. Louis but reared in East St. Louis, IL. I cherish many happy hours and days in that city with shared them with a number of great friends. We all shared one thing in common---coming from ESL but that did not stop us. We have fared well and still consider ESL home. The information provided tells one side of the story. There are others available. ASG

[@sthpac69]

I live in St Louis but i worked in Allerton for about 7 years at the TomBoy market in the 4500 Bond ave back in the 70s/80s. What i always knew about East St louis was the cohesiveness among the people, but what really caught my attention was my trips home in the evening, i never saw people laying all over the streets until i would cross the bridge into St Louis.

[@SteveLeicht1]

@@sthpac69 A lot of people stay in at night due to dagerous elements eing out then.

[@Ritemon]

Thanks for this video. I lived the first 18 years of my life there. Wherever I've gone in the world, whenever I'm asked where I'm from and I respond " E. St. Louis", I get the oh my God I've heard about that place and is it really as bad as it's reported to be? While living there in the mid 50's into the early 70's, I thought it was okay. Thanks for the new insight because I never knew about some of the this history this documentary brought to light. It's quite depressing to visit there now and so sad to see all the blight since the work is now gone, leaving the least able no other choice but to stay there whether they want to or not.

[@bjnkmlklk]

tell me stories of the old days

[@lost.in.scaradise]

My family goes back four generations in East St. Louis. Both of my great grandparents worked at swift meats. Watching this makes me feel closer to my roots & even closer to my family ♡

[@margieschrauth9217]

My dad was born in E. STL, back in 1932. Back when it was a safe place to live, and a nice place to live. Now I don't think it is really safe for anyone to live in.

[@margieschrauth9217]

My mom came up here from, Anna, IL in the 60's. She worked at Swift CO. and lived at YWCA. She met my dad and after they married moved to Belleville, IL.

[@robinbradley2229]

Margie Wright, my uncle, now long deceased, bought 2 beautiful large brick two-story homes in pre-World War II East st. Louis. He resided in one & his widowed mother lived in the other. My aunt married him in the mid fifties and together they had a son who is now around 60 years old. as far back as my first visit to East St Louis around 50 years ago. I was 6 years old and growing up in a small southern city with very little crime, even for me it was easy to tell that things were horribly screwed up! We weren't allowed to play outside not even for a few minutes without an adult. I'm not sure what street they lived on but it didn't seem to matter because the whole city seemed horrible to me . The neighborhood was a terrifying sight , even back then there were abandoned homes used as drug dens, the neighborhood was crumbling with trash thrown everywhere even hypodermic needles were found in their front lawn . Some homeowners kept up their homes and yards nicely but it seemed almost fruitless with such a shitshow going on all around them. school was horrendous, my cousin was white & timid so school was hell for him. Thank God, for his sake & survival, he enjoyed learning. Being an only child, his parents made sure he had plenty of books and educational toys to keep him occupied. He had attentive, doting parents and a grandmother that lived next door. By the time my cousin started High School they managed to buy a home in Belleville , Illinois. Belleville was Paradise compared to growing up in East St Louis. My uncle basically gave his beautiful brick two-story plus full basement home away, I think he sold it for a dollar to an African American long-term neighbor / friend. The neighbor also helped check on my uncles very elderly mother who refused to move from her home. To everyone's amazement, she managed to live alone for a couple of years in her house without incident until her death sometime in the early 1970s of natural causes. She lived to be almost 90. It has been so many years ago I cannot remember the exact dates. This is a probably racist stereotypical statement and honestly I really don't mean for it to be but I've heard that in predominantly African American ghetto neighborhoods that the elderly regardless of race were less often victims of violent crimes. All I know at least in her case it was true. I've often thought about how hard it must be to giveaway a paid for beautiful home, leaving an elderly family member behind to move into a house 1/4 the size with a mortgage at 50 plus years old and nearing retirement. There seemed to be no winners only victims in East St Louis. This is probably not a possibility but wouldn't it be great if the government could start public work programs as they did during the Great Depression to go in to the inner cities and teardown buildings that cannot be restored. With the abandoned buildings gone and government-sponsored jobs maybe crime would decrease. Anyway, they had a very happy life in Belleville Illinois😃

[@kylereese2888]

Margie Wright I was born in Belleville in 2001 I have moved to Indiana and still miss my home a lot but I'm prideful for the place I'm from

[@derpphil5400]

@@kylereese2888 I moved to Belleville when I was five and was born in 2002, I wanna test my luck and ask if we possibly went to the same school.

[@kylereese2888]

Derp Phil How long did you stay there after you turned 5?

[@bmjv77]

The only way to bring ESL back to greatness is to tear it down and start over again.

[@SteveLeicht1]

Perhaps a small atomic weapon.

[@xhir2012]

Get rid of the corrupt politicians!

[@elizabethkadavi3592]

Really enjoyed this-I'm from E.St.Louis.Just a shame that the city has gone to seed the way that it has........

[@deadmantalking8490]

I grew up in Washington Park and my family was one of those Polish families the film talks about.

[@spicey6646]

I agree!

[@gregorydavis4742]

Elizabeth Kadavi i walked through East St Louis one time most scariest thing i have ever done in my life

[@leocalhounjr2025]

It's some + rebuilding going on there. Homes, apartments, townhouses. Metro system runs through town.

[@kobebetty]

East St Louis needs to be demolished its a shit hole of nothing of gangbangers and drugs

[@WW-fn7rt]

8:45 to 9:03 Wow, I can't believe I never knew about this. The fact that the town had two separate governments legitimately battling about their towns future is intriguing and ought to be an amazing movie or video game idea.

[@k.alicepritchett4638]

In its inception, ESL was known to be corrupt. Businesses left when there were no tax breaks for them. Many of the incentives were not given. My relatives were in ESL since the 1800s. (The men owned saloons and often worked for the railroads.) During the 50s and 60s, It was a great city and a wonderful place to grow up. Today, there are some very nice neighborhoods in ESL. What is now left is much poverty and crime. There are good people in East St. Louis attempting to bring the city back - but that will take time and money.

[@mikemikedag]

they trynna buy my house now but I won't move I'm one of the last ones who live right exactly here

[@jackhenry1899]

Let it go son. Let them tear the neighborhood down

[@shinecam1]

As a former resident, I learned why my hometown has not gotten better.

[@thedelta88]

grandma said that E. St. Louis was where you went on a Friday or Saturday night to shop and see interesting events. where the action was. this would have been late 40's, 50's, maybe into the 60's. hard to believe. but grandma didn't lie.

[@1912fld]

Fascinating history about this city. So sad that this happened.

[@garryhenning5245]

Born and raised in East St. Louis.. went to Washington Elementary

[@KingSlimjeezy]

people tend to equate jobs with well being. I've worked in a factory that wouldv'e felt at home in the 1900s as it had milatary manufacturing contracts and no matter what violation it commited couldnt be shut down due to "national security" I worked there for a few months and it ravaged both body and soul. Anyone who worked there for decades fresh from HS rarely made it past 40... The small pittance was hardly worth forfiting your only life in this world, yet people wonder why nobody gives two shits about a company town when the company's dont give a shit about you, and then complain when we turn to booze, strip clubs, and cockfighting to squeeze just a little pleasure out of this life on friday night when we worked all damn week in a literal hell on earth

[@mikemikedag]

I moved to Houston but when go back I will make a video of how it is now I can go through all the neighborhood's I'm well known

[@harryheebs690]

STFU stinkymike

[@stacylott9067]

that's is so true.

[@shihtzu1000]

What happened to the building that was the Ogonoski Funeral Home on Pennsylvania Ave? Is it still there or was it torn down? Lots of my relatives used it.

[@LR-je7nn]

We owned Robins funeral home. I haven't been down there in over a decade, but I'm pretty sure it's gone.

[@terrietackett8964]

I was looking at the beautiful homes in East St. Louis. Until I got to looking at the crime, and went elsewhere to find a home....💔💔💔💔

[@jarmyvicious]

Nicest people I ever met. Helped an old lady who was a few bucks short on groceries and I was instant kin. Good will breeds good will.

[@mikemikedag]

I'm from East st. Louis went to Carver elementary iiim from goose hill

[@kevinboswell802]

My peoples is from Goose Hill before Southern Mission moved to State. Redd’s

[@dirtyd2316]

I’ve lived right outside of e St. Louis in Belleville since 2003 and I always wondered and never knew why a lot of the buildings were built off the ground like that.

[@richardrg99]

I was planning my vacation in East St louis. Now after seeing this video I'm going to have to change my plans.

[@vm24seven365]

richardrg99 Dear friend, I get it. Please don't judge E .St .Louis by this one video. I was born and raised there. And yes, 75% of this info is accurate. However, there are SO many responsible, hard-working, law abiding, and God fearing people who (still) remain. And not because they have no choice, but because they truly love the city, and want it to be great. I pray you reconsider your vacation. Peace friend.

[@apocyldoomer]

richardrg99 Vacation there, are you on Crack?!

[@bonzii420]

wise guy,its a great place to get shot

[@dreyadumas438]

Visit if you have roots there and stay in Fairview Heights are something

[@fishinginindiana1904]

Very interesting lived their 1967 to 1975

[@richardruel5285]

East St. Louis is ready to transform from the American Bottoms the Smart city of the year!2020.

[@toddsmith5715]

Nope.

[@alyssaley6003]

Crazy shit... my boyfriend grew up there. It’s either kill or be killed. It’s literally impossible to have a normal life out there. You live in fear constantly.

[@sharionv08]

I use to live there

[@roberthall6161]

It took a big quick fall when I was there in 1977.

[@michaelexman5474]

I was stationed at ft. Leonardwood we were told not to under any circumstances go into East St. Lewis. I ended up there by accident.

[@KingSlimjeezy]

lol i missed the last train there one drunken night. slept on the bench bc phone crapped out. it would be tough to live in, unimaginable growing up in. Simply not built for people (like the doc says). Its nothing but a place to do bussiness in. Since all the legitamate bussiness hightailed it to China, I don't think its fair to blame the inhabitants to either A: abandon it like their emplyers did or B: turn to illicit, unscrupulous, and/or immoral activities. Because thats what the whole town was built on in the first place, and ffs those guys made it!

[@dankadybong7948]

aaaaaaaand it wuz.... blax.

[@pablotupone4190]

jimmiy Connors, one of the best tennis players ever is from there...but he never went back to his home town...

[@patrickcampbell9139]

Jimmy Conners us frim Belleville!!!

[@patrickcampbell9139]

Connors is from. sorry for the typos

[@patrickcampbell9139]

You did have Ike and Tina turner, and the runner, Jackie Joyner

[@LR-je7nn]

The Connors' lived just north of State Street on 71. His house and tennis court is gone.

[@TheDustysix]

NTS 14:41 Gary, Indiana.

[@crystalross4775]

Wish they would fix e.st.louis now this was beautiful at first

[@maplewoodsp]

It must have been about 1960 or shortly thereafter that my family camped in an East St. Lois park. It was made for camping. I don't think it was dangerous. I did develop an appendicitis that first night. Did they ever get police radios working in East St. Louis? I think poverty kept them from having money to maintain police radios. That was a 60 minutes story.

[@BanginANG007]

I looked up East St Louis after reading the book "Savage Inequalities" i recommend everyone check out that book. It was an eye opener.

[@Sis4Real]

Phenomenal read.

[@harryheebs690]

Does it focus on race and IQ?

[@brownhippiex496]

Mark rogers why would that matter?

[@mikemikedag]

goose hill resident

[@carrallbright]

in 1950s East St Louis was a place where the people was called white and colored i was a small child 7 years old i saw the colored lined up for a long ways i ask my dad why are the people lined up like that he said they where getting there welfare check the white men keep them down so they cant work .the line was so long .as a child i seen this was not right .we lived in a town called Cahokia a few miles from there it was a all white town at that time now it is most all black the town later got real bad my wife and my self went west to much bad things happen in east st Louis

[@NikiTube55]

My grandfather at 29:00 : )

[@johnlangvin9136]

that looks like lansdowne jr high where they raised the flag

[@ahmedhameed4341]

I think it’s Clark

[@heatherhopfinger3942]

southern Illinois is coal is iron steel meat granite city steel Monsanto is now Bayer do not no what else it is in Cahokia Cerro copper my uncle worked there for years

[@liljafamilyaccount7306]

My family called east st louis home untill the mid 70s, when they where literally forced out. They moved to rural Illinois.

[@harryheebs690]

By blacks?

[@brownhippiex496]

Mark rogers blacks have NEVER forced a group out. Most other races choose to just move.

[@harryheebs690]

Yeah, they just choose to leave the cities they built. Has nothing to do with the blight of blacks. Hahaha.

[@terrancedodd7398]

I lived in st.louis all my life and i never went too e.st.louis in the day time only at night too party

[@rapman5363]

@@brownhippiex496 👌 🤣🤣😂😂

[@CJColvin]

Is there a reason why people left East St.Louis Illinois in the first place.

[@terrietackett8964]

The end of the steel mills, and the downfall of the auto industry....

[@latotheukrecording9220]

If you look good enough, you'll find long lost relatives right in your path there. It's cool if they are good folks

[@michaelwhite2823]

What if I'm ugly and don't look good? Why should that matter?

[@heatherhopfinger3942]

between first second third street and west main there a steamboat once sat truth

[@danielyoung6630]

how very sad

[@mistyrivers4995]

You heard that lady corrupt officials etc etc leaders should lead strongly it all depends to the leader.

[@nichelleh]

Eastboogie4life❤❤

[@grandmanancy4719]

I can't remember East St Louis anything but awful and I am 65 now.

[@terrancedodd7398]

East Buggy

[@nataslette5006]

We should all have just tried 2 live n peace..

[@harryheebs690]

Doesn't work dumbass.

[@SteveLeicht1]

Put a small sack of crack in the middle of the street and see how fast guns come out.

[@michaelwhite2823]

Wow. All these immigrants from other countries speaking different languages and getting along. Why can't others?

[@kevinblake6850]

Ok...I give up is that a cow pie on her head??? 22:50 Sub titles please!! 29:20 Same song and dance from them way back in 1910. 30:55

[@michaelwhite2823]

It balances out her hips.

[@stiffneck2090]

"What you think you knew about this small big city may change" No it has not.

[@redireseFM]

Do yall believe Trump coulda lowkey turned ESTL around by brining more factory jobs back to the US like he was trying to do at 1st?

[@demarkomosley4619]

Yes it would've ESTL great great again

[@lyndafitzgerald7284]

I wanted to watch this video because my grandmother grew up in East St. Louis -- a big Irish family. My great grandparents came there from Ireland. I have a written account from one of my Grandmother's cousins who witnessed the race riots first hand. I wouldn't be surprised if my saloon owning great uncles weren't part of that miserable mob. Ignorance. Fear. But I'm wondering tonight, how much better we are 100 years later. Not much, if any. Just read through the hostile banter back and forth on this video and the 2nd one. Same fear, same ignorance....and so much easier to spew it out . Cowards that we are we sit in our little dark rooms and type away.

[@weitzfc1]

its easy to judge others from white flight suburbia .

[@badxradxandy]

Lol it's all white people's fault 😂😂😂😂

[@dazanii]

Sooo unregulated capitalism. Not surprised.

[@rapman5363]

Because unregulated communism would work so well..🤣🤣😂😂 Fool

[@dazanii]

@@rapman5363 Who said anything about communism? 🤔 Don’t need to be a communist to recognize unregulated capitalism is destructive. Don’t try whataboutism on me.

[@garyteague4480]

We all know what happened!

[@Maaaatttttt]

We are pawns

[@rickmiller2668]

Nobody listed the real reason the city is a war zone, but we all know why.The same thing happened in all major cities,like Detroit,Chicago etc.

[@robertdouglas7101]

It's a democrat town

[@JustinThomas-qt9hv]

Fuck all of you people.

[@Tomato24w23]

Lmao blacks wanted to work then but what happened now days