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.....
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.
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.
@@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. 😉
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.
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
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
@@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 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
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. 😉
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.
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!!!
@@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!
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.
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.
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”,
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.
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
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..
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.👍
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 🏆🌺👍✌️
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 💩😂 ✌🏻
I grew up just 10 miles from old Shawneetown but my aunt and uncle lived there so I spent a great deal of my childhood there with my cousins. What great memories this place holds for me. We would spend our long hot summer days hanging out on the river bank and would go to Clayton’s store to get a soda and chips from a cooler . My mother grew up in old shawneetown and even went to school there. My great grandparents made their living from the river, they lived on a houseboat and sold fish out of it. The Main Street was lined with old buildings when I was a child but my parents told me many stories of how the taverns lined the streets and old town was a popular destination. It’s sad to see how much the little village that holds precious memories is slowly fading away. I feel blessed to have been able to walk those streets and know each and everyone who lived there.
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.
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!
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.😄
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.
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.
My parents were married in Shawnee Town back in the mid 1950s. It was a booming town back then. Sad nothing is kept up and cared for. Thank you for the video. Brought back memories.
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. 🙂
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
You guys are so cute! I appreciate how you dug into the history and showed such appreciation and enthusiam. I'll definitely need to check out more of your videos.
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.
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!
As always great video. I always look forward to every one. I picture my self walking along with you and Marty. Seeing the sights with you. Rick Indianapolis Indiana.
Sure do miss Rudy's. That one time Hobo sure could make some good BBQ. It wasn't the same after I heard he died and family took it over. Lots of fond memories for me. Thank you for a great video!
Spent several years hauling coal to the river there. There's also a grain elevator or I guess it's still there I use to haul to. 1985 I turned over with a load of coal right there where you turn off route 13. And used to frequent the bars some. Brought back memories, thank you.
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.
My mom grew up in Shawneetown. She said when the flood happened they had to take a boat to get supplies. I lived in the nearby town of Ridgway. Years so my grandpa lived in a house right across from that old gas station.
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.
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.
Shawneetown is fixing to take off again….the government has announced putting in a new dock for big boats. Come back in a couple years and see what happens. This was an amazing video…I live about an hour from there and you told me a lot of stuff I didn’t know. Peace and Blessings
Well done, Sally! Your Work is very interesting and important. It's one antidote to the "memory hole" of far too many americans who fail to reflect on experience~which gives broader meaning to life as lived~outside of the all too common narrow "self"~ experienced only as a mere moment in time~with no anchor or roots in any history.
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.
I used to go one of the bars there when I was in USCG. It was in the late 80s and I still remember all the little towns we used to stop in for the night.
You might want to check out West Alton, MO. My wife's family is from there and were pretty important members of the community for a long time. The raising of levees over the years has made what was once mild floods into fairly catastrophic occurrences for the town. Its right in the confluence between the mississippi and missouri river.
Peabody Coal moved my husband there in 1978. My husband worked at Eagle II coal mine in New Shawnee-town. My best friend’s parents owned a bar in Old Shawnee town. It was so sad when they shut the coal mines down due to high sulfur coal the area went down hill. Many were left without jobs. We lived in Ridgway Illinois about ten miles from New Town. I miss the small town culture of people down there.
These small towns are dying all across the nation. Same issue, can't make a living. I wonder if some might be saved with remote work now, providing they can acquire high speed internet.
My grandmother used to take me there to eat catfish. She never stopped talking about the flood. It’s a long way from Chicago. We were from Pontiac Michigan visiting Harrisburg where my grandfather was from she was from Eldarado. I was very young and always thought she was saying shanty town because of all the tin shacks. Only recently did I find out it was Shawnee town.
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.....
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.
Good old days James
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.
I was at the rally many times. Big fun for sure
@@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. 😉
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.
Love this comment. Thank you for sharing your story, sir!
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
Very cool, thank you 😊 If we get back to the area, we’ll definitely take you up on your offer.
Tamara Briddick Wish you guys would put signs up with the times you are open for tours!!!
Do y’all do tours????
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.
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.
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
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!
You should be proud of your heritage. I always wondered how one would feel living in an area where you have deep family roots.
Rudy's has the best barbecue ever.
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! 😄
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.
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.
Great mini-history lesson! Thanks f/that....👍
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.
@@coffeeseven Wow - very cool!!!
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.
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.
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.
Thank you so much!
I watch them all and some twice such as this one a year later! Lol keep it up Sally!
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.
Another important thing is that the Trail of Tears went through Shawnee Town. The Cherokee had to cross the Ohio River during winter.
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
@@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.
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
@@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
Interesting history... 👍
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. 😉
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.
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!!!
My band played HogDaddy's so many times. We had a blast!! Great video
Awesome, I bet it was fun!
Ps. Thank you 😊
How long ago was that place still happening?
@@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!
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.
Thanks!
As an Illinois boy myself. Chicago born and raised and having family in Central Illinois, I liked and subscribed 4 seconds into this video.
Aww thank you 😊 welcome aboard!
This is immediately one of my favorite channels. This is what I love to do on my road trips too!
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.
Now , that's what you call IRONY...🤦🏽♀️
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.
Why we need to divide our state.
Yea and coal is dirty. Nobody forgot it was used…nobody wants to use it 😂
Let go of the fkn past boomer
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”,
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.
I had always heard Chicago wanted to borrow money from Old Town and they said no. Never knew the details.
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
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..
Being from a smaller island, UK, I has never considered the need for salt when there’s no close sea. Fascinating little town.
us americans eat our weight in salt! and we barely have any
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.👍
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 🏆🌺👍✌️
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 💩😂 ✌🏻
I grew up just 10 miles from old Shawneetown but my aunt and uncle lived there so I spent a great deal of my childhood there with my cousins. What great memories this place holds for me. We would spend our long hot summer days hanging out on the river bank and would go to Clayton’s store to get a soda and chips from a cooler . My mother grew up in old shawneetown and even went to school there. My great grandparents made their living from the river, they lived on a houseboat and sold fish out of it. The Main Street was lined with old buildings when I was a child but my parents told me many stories of how the taverns lined the streets and old town was a popular destination. It’s sad to see how much the little village that holds precious memories is slowly fading away. I feel blessed to have been able to walk those streets and know each and everyone who lived there.
From Trinidad: Enjoyed sightseeing through this medium with the both of you. Can't wait to watch the next episode! Historical facts are interesting!
Love your videos Sally. I live in central IL, I’ve been enjoying the videos on southern IL.
Marty rules!!
Thanks Casey! I’ll tell him that hahaha
I'm a history buff so I enjoyed this episode about Old Shawneetown
My Mother taught me a lot of history of Southern Illinois. Have several historical books that are extremely informative.
Hope you both can keep doing this thank you
You’re welcome ☺️
Found my new favorite history RUclips channel. Thank you for y’all hard work. Please don’t stop.
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.
My Great Great Uncle was General John Logan from Murphysboro
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!
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.
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.😄
I didn't know that either!! Awesome!
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.
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.
Its a fire siren to notify the volunteers. Additional it was for tornadoes and probably was also blown briefly at noon. The noon whistle.
My parents were married in Shawnee Town back in the mid 1950s. It was a booming town back then. Sad nothing is kept up and cared for. Thank you for the video. Brought back memories.
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. 🙂
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.
Thank for your video! Welcome ! Nice to meet you, Sally.♥️♥️.
Loved it! Have you guys explored Grand Tower in Jackson County or Cobden in Union County?
Thanks!
Not sure how we missed them but we did.
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.
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.
Thanks! Sometimes we do, other times we don’t run into anyone who wants to talk. This was one of those times.
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.
Basically rail and air killed all of these water towns
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
A lot of Chicago is going down the drain with crime, high taxes and stifling regulations.
@@cumulus1234 can tell you don’t live in Chicago
@@christopherfrederick9235 No don’t live near Chicago or in Illinois, but just reply what I read about Chicago and news reports.
Some really beautiful old buildings there. What an interesting place. Would like to see it preserved.
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.
Such a shame that old buildings are seldom preserved. Thanks again for a wonderful tour!
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.
Another great video from Sally and Marty....
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.
It would be great if they would put signs on the bank & church telling people when they would be open for tours etc.!!!
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
You do a great job bringing the history of Southern Illinois back to life!
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.
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.
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.
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.
It sure was. Remember all the out of towners coming in to the shows.
I grew up in Grayville. I'm a Leavens and my mother was a Mosberger.
Way to go Marty, you're full of useful information
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.
Currently live in DuQuoin and confirmed true
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.
My grandparents own a big chunk of Gold hill. I loved finding this video
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.
You guys are so cute! I appreciate how you dug into the history and showed such appreciation and enthusiam. I'll definitely need to check out more of your videos.
Dont know how you showed up but here you are. Love this video. I have subscribed and will watch your other videos. Very cool.
New to your channel. Love this, very informative. Its so nice when people do things about Southern Illinois. I live in Southern Illinois.
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.
@jimadams8795 Yes. That's where the jobs were.
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!
Yeah, we didn’t feel like finding out what kind of healthcare is available over in Shawneetown so we passed on that
@@SightseeingSally 😆
As always great video. I always look forward to every one. I picture my self walking along with you and Marty. Seeing the sights with you. Rick Indianapolis Indiana.
Wonderful image, I can picture it too Ricky. Thanks!
Sure do miss Rudy's. That one time Hobo sure could make some good BBQ. It wasn't the same after I heard he died and family took it over. Lots of fond memories for me. Thank you for a great video!
What a wonderful video. My Grandparents were married there in October 1924.
Great video! Your presentation convinced me to add Old Shawneetown to my list of places to visit. Thanks for sharing.
thank you for all you do! fascinating!
Spent several years hauling coal to the river there. There's also a grain elevator or I guess it's still there I use to haul to. 1985 I turned over with a load of coal right there where you turn off route 13. And used to frequent the bars some. Brought back memories, thank you.
Jim I am sure you would have interesting stories to tell of your time there!
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
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.
So glad to be able to see this post 😊
My mom grew up in Shawneetown. She said when the flood happened they had to take a boat to get supplies. I lived in the nearby town of Ridgway. Years so my grandpa lived in a house right across from that old gas station.
Thanks for the very informative video. I appreciate all your research including finding old photos. The editing is well-done too.
Thank you for all the information about shawneetown I love.. I really loved hearing about it... thank you ! great video!!
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.
Kaskaskia and then Ste. Genevieve. Oldest towns in IL and MO
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.
Marty adds a lot to your content. Keep up the good work!
Shawneetown is fixing to take off again….the government has announced putting in a new dock for big boats. Come back in a couple years and see what happens. This was an amazing video…I live about an hour from there and you told me a lot of stuff I didn’t know. Peace and Blessings
Awesome! Would love to see a revitalization of Shawneetown.
Well done, Sally!
Your Work is very interesting and important.
It's one antidote to the "memory hole" of far too many americans who fail to reflect on experience~which gives broader meaning to life as lived~outside of the all too common narrow "self"~ experienced only as a mere moment in time~with no anchor or roots in any history.
I love this video! I actually am making plans to see it myself.
that is the authentic Texaco rural gas station architecture and color scheme so the sign goes w it
You should visit Grayville illinois. A town that the River forgot. The river carved a new path away from downtown.
grayville in full of meth heads and inbreeders
Hey I grew up in Grayville. Dad and uncles still live there.
Loved your video thank you !!
My dad and his family grew up in the Quad Cities of Rock Island so I love all things Illinois !!
Thanks for the tour. Loved the history!!
Glad that your dog; I'm like oh no, a lost or abandoned dog! Have you been to Anna? Very interesting and shameful history!
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.
Intersting tour and enjoyed the interplay of Sally and Marti.
I love the Texaco sign. Brings back memories of my childhood and my 20s.
The rings...either horse teathers or were used by crane to carry the heavy concreta blocks they are attached to. My hunch is the latter.
Great video; I didn’t notice some of those things during my own visit
I really enjoyed your upload. It must be a blast doin' what y'all do. Stay well and keep safe!
I used to go one of the bars there when I was in USCG. It was in the late 80s and I still remember all the little towns we used to stop in for the night.
You might want to check out West Alton, MO. My wife's family is from there and were pretty important members of the community for a long time. The raising of levees over the years has made what was once mild floods into fairly catastrophic occurrences for the town. Its right in the confluence between the mississippi and missouri river.
Peabody Coal moved my husband there in 1978. My husband worked at Eagle II coal mine in New Shawnee-town. My best friend’s parents owned a bar in Old Shawnee town. It was so sad when they shut the coal mines down due to high sulfur coal the area went down hill. Many were left without jobs. We lived in Ridgway Illinois about ten miles from New Town. I miss the small town culture of people down there.
These small towns are dying all across the nation. Same issue, can't make a living. I wonder if some might be saved with remote work now, providing they can acquire high speed internet.
My grandmother used to take me there to eat catfish. She never stopped talking about the flood. It’s a long way from Chicago. We were from Pontiac Michigan visiting Harrisburg where my grandfather was from she was from Eldarado. I was very young and always thought she was saying shanty town because of all the tin shacks. Only recently did I find out it was Shawnee town.
Fascinating video and info 👍🏻
Outstanding video thank you