A Forgotten Mining Town in Southern Illinois
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 พ.ย. 2022
- A Forgotten Mining Town in Southern Illinois - We explore the forgotten history of a small mining town in Southern Illinois. A virtual time capsule that invokes feelings of nostalgia this forgotten Illinois town is filled with history & relics from the past. A genuine mining town you can find evidence throughout the town of the mining that once occurred here. Interestingly enough during the 1940s mining here was so important that the U.S. government built a housing project and armed guards watched the mines!!! And despite losing its main source of income and being subjected to massive flooding by the Ohio River over the years, this Southern Illinois town hangs on. Find out why in this episode of SightseeingSally.
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About me: I grew up in a small town the Midwest. Now I drive America's backroads exploring small towns, forgotten places, local history and more!
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#forgottenplaces #illinois #forgottenhistory
My father/family ran that ice rink supply business. And those signs have been in that grocery store since I can remember going there in 1985 when we moved to Hardin County
Nice! I think your town’s librarian told me there used to be an ice rink, I forgot to mention that bit in the video. And Bob’s reminds me of a grocery store we used to have in my hometown.
@@SightseeingSally We never installed an ice rink in Hardin county but we did build the grid systems there and supplied products for ice rinks for all over the world
Mark..... maybe I can call the chamber and get some info
@@DeeMoback info about what
@@markrzechula9390 property, business, changes
My hometown. I was born in Rosiclare and raised my family in Rosiclare. We no longer live there but sure have a million memories.
Did you guys ever go hunting for purple rocks?
@@bigskyproducers No. we always had plenty of them just hanging around in the flower beds.
I live and work in this area in southern Illinois. Thank you for taking the time to visit. I so greatly appreciate the respect and love you show each of our little towns.
Our pleasure, we really enjoyed exploring this part of Illinois
Yes they are small quiet towns the best places to live in Southern Illinois were I grew up
I grew up in a little town called Percy and my dad worked at Streamline mine then went to Captain mine
50 years from now, these videos will be a great historical document of places that no longer exist.
I’d like to think so, too, although I hope these places will still be around then
@@SightseeingSally Absolutely Sally
It’s crazy it’s so small and unknown I’ve lived here my whole life
If the democrats continue to run this state. The state will be lucky to be here in 10 years. Last true constitutional patriot to move out of illinois. Turn out the lights.
born and raised here. Love our small town area. thanks for documenting our home town. love the river life . #riverrats4life
Rosiclare is where my mother is from. I grew up in Paducah and visited my grandparents every Sunday with my family. Thank you so much for creating this video... It warms my heart that others may learn about this sweet town. ❤️
I absolutely love the fact that you tell the locations history. This is so important. Some explorers do, others do not. What makes your videos unique, is that you are so thorough! Thank you, I will always be back because of this!
Awesome, thank you Jon 😄
@@SightseeingSally You are quite welcome. I hope you and Marty had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
I really like your way of presenting the villages of Southern Illinois. ❤️
My mother is from Rosiclaire and her father, Ollie Riley was Chief of Police in Elizabethtown and her grandfather, Charles T. Riley, carved Fluorspar. I have only been to Rosiclaire once as a child (I am 64 now) and it was great to see this video about her home town. Thank you for posting this video.
Charles T. "Squire" Riley was my great grandfather too. His daughter Euna was my grandmother. So...hey, there, cousin!
@@juliepcorbid Well hey right back to you.
These mining towns helped to win world War 1 and 2 and were a big part of the Industrial revolution yet they are never talked about. I appreciate you helping Americans remember their history.
What a wonderful story, and it brought back a lot of fond memories. My grandparents lived there, and my mom, aunt and uncle grew up there. In the 60s, my grandpa owned the "Dairy Dream" and used to take me there for chocolate milkshakes and malts. In later years, it became Lucy's Place. I stopped in there a few years ago and the owner treated me to a shake, and it was absolutely delightful. Just sitting there triggered a lot of great memories. We also used to go out on the Ohio River in my grandpa's boat. I was little and he'd put a life jacket on me, and I'd float along next to the boat. Later, after learning to ski, we'd go out and jump the barge waves. If anyone who is following these discussions grew up and lived there - and graduated from Rosiclare around 1975 - please reach out to me directely. I'd like to inquire about a couple of old friends and playmates.
I was just wondering if the Dairy Dream was still there. I was just a kid the last time I set foot in that restaurant (mid 80s) but I remember the burgers and chocolate milkshakes were the best.
I just love watching you and Marty explore all these interesting and nearly forgotten towns! I grew up in Illinois and spent most of my life there, though I now live in neighboring Missouri. Plus, your exploration of Mingus, TX, was quite interesting as well because all my Mom's family lived and some still live in NE Texas. I enjoy how you both tell the history of each town and Marty's input on the buildings and other things is quite interesting to me. Please keep up the excellent work you are doing and thank you so much for being such a fascinating storyteller and traveler. It's wonderful to live vicariously through your explorations and travels.
That wheel was probably from a mine headframe. I was at a caver's campout near Eddyville a long time ago and they arranged a geology tour to one of the mine surface workings that was shut down. I recall a metal head-frame there. I think the person leading the group said the fluorspar was hundreeds of feet below us. If you end up near Bell Smith Springs there's a mile long railroad tunnel. The line is still active and you can legally get to the southern portal.
Do they still do those tours of the old minings I would like to go down there with my dad and look at it. It's just very intriguing
I don't know. We just had permission to look at the surface works. It was outside of town and I can't seem to find the GPS waypoint I used to have.
Just stumbled across this… it is amazing. I lived there a few years. I considered it home for far longer. My family is from there. I spent countless Christmas and Summer Vacation’s there. My great grandfather (Bob Howard) owned AE Knight and brothers lumber yard (next generation) and my grandfather owned it after him. I spent a lot of time running around the hardware store in front - warming my self at the pot belly stove.
Bob owned one of the nicest houses in town - complete with a three-room brick dog house in back. It was at the top of one of those steep hills mentioned in the video (Knight’s hill) and we spent weekends and snow days sledding down that hill.
He built the Christian church at the top of that hill (only steps away) and he, my grandparents and (most recently) my father are laid to rest in the private family cemetery just behind.
Rosiclare was a bit more affluent when the mines were going.
My grandfather bought my very first jeans jacket at that clothing store. I had more 25 cent milk shakes at the drug store than I can count. I saw many movies at the old theater. I ate lunch many times at “Tiny’s” next door. My father (single, just out of college and the town’s new band director) ate most of his meals there until he was “adopted” by Bob and Hetty Howard (who - after several more introductions) became my great grandparents.
I still have friends there.
Over the last several decades I have become significantly more urban (hard to be less urban.) My Wife and I live in Las Vegas (and we are not the only former Rosiclare residents to live here.)
We do a vlog on Vegas - I’ll attach a link below.
One last thing… the emphasis is on the first syllable Ro’ - siclare. (Someone had to tell you!)
back in 70 when my family moved back to central IL, my dad told us, "40-50 years from now, none of this mining work will still exist and no one down here will have decent jobs."...Dad was right, except the death of the mining industry did not take 40 years, it took 20. He was not going to raise his family in an area with zero future. Thanks dad, you were a special dude.
Another episode from near me…these are great. I took my kids exploring in Shawnee National Forest and these old river towns frequently when they were growing up. So interesting! Last went in 2017 by myself..😂
Spent two weeks in Marinette/Menominee area last July when it was so hot in southern Illinois. Everyone was so nice up there.
Thanks! Did you eat at Mickey Lu’s at all when you were there? They have the best burgers 🤤
@@SightseeingSally I did not, but I’ll give them a try, on my next visit, now that you have mentioned them. Thanks for the tip! 😃
Thanks for bringing these memories back. My Uncle brought us from W. Frankfort for a weekend of fishing when I was about 10 years old. This is over 50 years ago. The camp by the river was many hustlers, partiers and good old men. Southerners have a wonderful hospitality. We didn't't catch but I saw some fish coming in on big jons from trout lines. I need to go back down there and try to reconstruct. I'm in Effingham now.
You’re very welcome, we’re happy to hear that this video got you reminiscing about your fishing trip with your uncle, sounds like it was quite memorable
@@SightseeingSally Thank you for working the small lost towns. We grew up poor but proud and like to see others who faced the same fate.
My dad and I used to go to Rosieclair from WF to fish the river. Havent been down there in many years now.
My Hometown!, Dad worked for Alcoa when they were there, He got transfered when they shut down in 1965 to Newburgh, Indiana plant, I don't remember much when we lived there " I was 3 when we left ", But we went back for visits many times in the 60s-70s, Do remember going in most all the old Knight Buildings, Dime store, Drug store, And Bob's when it was there before where it's at now, It had a Theater down by the Levee end of Main, And popular Burger places were Dairy Dream and Tiny's, I'd like to go back again someday hopefully, Long ways from Houston, Texas where I now live!, Thanks for the Memories!! Jeff
Hello! Just want to thank you and Marty for these tours. Very professional quality! Love these little midwest towns.🤩
I love southern Illinois little towns
A lot of history I love southern Illinois
I really appreciate the tone of these videos. So many other people who do similar videos just focus on the negatives, and the comments are just as bad. These videos touch on the complicated issues that small towns everywhere face. Thank you for that.
Thank you Sally for the History
You’re welcome Faith
How wonderful you chose one of my hometowns growing up!!...any questions you have about Rosiclare, I will introduce you to locals who can give you tons of info
I spent the first 5 years of my life there and went back every summer from 1979 to 1990 when I graduated High School. Still have family there. Try to get up there at least every couple of years.
Great video on my hometown! Now live 13 hours away
Love hearing Sally giving us the info 👍
And I love sharing the info 😁
Loved it! Hauntingly beautiful,
Another wonderful tour! Not often you see a combination library/bowling alley! And those flood levels...woof!😱
I wonder how they plug the opening in the levee where the road goes through. Sandbags or bring in fill when flooding is anticipated?
@@stevegray9674we close them when we notice the water start to rise higher than usual!! they're lever activated if i'm correct. ((i live here lol,))
You have Beautiful Posts. Love the intro music!!!!
Come to Makanda, in Jackson county (Southern Illinois…). We can - Explore the illinois ozarks 💁🏻♀️. Wanna see some ancient stone forts? Awesone stone formations? Petroglyphs? 💓Love your channel Sally. 😘.
Yes, Makanda is super! Just south of SIU….spent plenty of time in the area through the years!
@Katie Moyer thanks! Sounds great… after the weather warms back up first
I love that little town! Thanks for taking us along with you.
Thanks Sally and Marty for another great video!
My mother was born here in 1918. Thanks for the tour!
I hope your safety travels! Always!♥️♥️.
Another wonderful video Sally and Marty just love them Old Towns thank you for the wonderful video stay happy stay safe 🏆👍✌️
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed seeing Rosiclare. Will do & You too! ✌🏻⛄️
Sooo many memories 💗 this was well done. I love how you can still see the watermark on the Masonic lodge from where the most historic flood occurred. My great grandmother kept pictures. So cool.
It’s also said the pirates wore women’s clothing to lure victims from the river.
Marty cracks me up with his brief appearances. I said this last year and it's still true.... Marty is the "Captain" to Sally's "Tennille" It works perfectly!
Yay I think I've caught up on all your videos I hope you and Marty had a wonderful Thanksgiving you guys are great keep up the great videos
Woohoo! We will, glad you’re liking them. Ps, hope you had a great Thanksgiving too
I enjoy watching your show Sally and Marty. I used to travel a lot in Southern Illinois but now I live in Utah. It takes me back in time and I'm learning something too!
Awesome! Thanks Robert, we hope to explore a bit of Utah too
@@SightseeingSally Great, hope you make it! I live in Hurricane near Zion NP FYI.
Randomly found your video, great work!
Thank you Sally
Yep my small unknown hometown born and raised my family is buried here and all definitely a hidden gem met a lot of unique people here and sometimes I wonder what it be like if I grew up somewhere different like the city but now that I look back I wouldn’t change it for the world
When I was a geology student at SIU we were sent to Rosiclare to investigate a cave near this town. I think it was called layoff cave. No matter, I fell in love with this little town. Such a quaint, peaceful place.👍
Thanks for this vlog. As I remember, I used to drive to Rosiclare from my horse camping spot to load my pickup with rock at a rock quarry there and there were some BIG hills getting there !!!
Fabulous town….i love it…
Flor-spar.. Pretty happy i found y'all. I'm going to have to go back and see some of y'alls from out west. I'm a retired mining engineer. So always interested especially here out west. The most beautiful specimens of fluor spar come from Iceland and are known as Iceland spar. Where you can actually see doubling through it. Crystal clear.
Thanks Richard 😀 I’m guessing those Iceland spar specimens cost a pretty penny. I bought a couple of small pieces from the rock shop in Cave in Rock.
@@SightseeingSally Yep! They're great also if you don't mind seeing double🙂
*Very interesting!*
I’m from mid central Illinois. Near Springfield. Illinois really actually do have so much hidden and forgotten history
Hey Sally, Except for the mining activity, Rosiclare reminds me of the place i grew up in Michigan. It brings back many memories of the use to be growing up. We had a store on the corner that sold us soda and chips during the school years. Of course, our street was never called the million dollar main street like Rosiclare ...it must be nice huh ? lol j/k We had a train go by our town, but those tracks are no more. It is interesting hearing about the activity that went on during the day. Thank you for sharing Marty & Sally, and may we see more of these towns like this in the day!
Thank you very much and Always Safety travel! Nice to meet you!♥️!
👍👍👍You two are becoming pros at this, awesome thank you.
Absolutely Awesome Video Sally
I'm 3rd generation of Rosiclare, and still call it home. My grandparents arrived here in the 1930's, my parents grew up here and me and my family still live here. We have generations of memories here.
I enjoy hearing your thoughts and stories of your travels. I hope you both have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Interesting place. You did a good job making this video too. thanks
My grandfather, during the 1940's, owned a fluorspar mine in Rosiclare. Not sure of the exact time frame but when the steel industry tuned away from fluorspar he moved back to Pennsylvania. I can remember walking the elevated wooden covered sidewalk as a small boy when visiting from PA.
And Ur Videos are Fantastic Sally !!!
I travelled through this region in the late 1980s extensively. There is much to find in this region. Not much tourism. Old Shawnee town has summer festival now that brings people. Border areas with Indiana is very worthwhile too. My mom's family was from Wabeno spent many summers there.
Possible to hike from border-to-border (IL to IN or KY) totally within Shawnee Nat'l Forest?? 🤔🤔
Great video and interesting content! Thanks for sharing your experience. Well done!
The black Sheave-wheel, seen in the park, was mounted atop a Shaft-house where Steel-cable from the Hoist-works would spool thru to the Skip-car in the shaft, raising ore from underground workings to daylight.
My father was one of the miners who survived the gas explosion that killed the 7 men
Another excellent video thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it
I love, love this video! My mom was born in Pope County, Illinois but raised in Rosiclare. My dad was raised between Cave-In-Rock and Rosiclare, outside Elizabethtown.
I was raised 1.5 hrs away in Herrin but Hardin County with the 3 above little towns holds a dear place in my heart. Thank you for your videos!
Awesome video episode👍
You do a very thorough job. Fun and interesting to listen to. Nice voice, thank you.
Love the vids you guys make. Keep up the good work.
I grew up in Rosiclare, went to the church you stood in front of, bought real cherry cokes from the drugstore, played on the playground at the park (I see they finally got a safe slide, the other one would burn your legs off), my mother even had her wedding reception at the old YMCA building. This video brings back a lot of memories. Bobs looks exactly as it did in the 70s and 80s. Thank you for sharing. Oh, I'm leaning more toward the combination of 2 girl names for the town. That's what I always heard growing up, anyway.
Love it
The tiles at the entrance of the stores is original and place when the building was built.
The grocery store is much ĺike any independent grocery stores in Southern and Central Illinois. I'm blessed to have one here in Lincoln Illinois "Lincoln IGA" and the best part of the independent stores is they still butcher their own meat. If I want a specialty cut or want something ran through the tenderizer a certain way they can do it on sight that day. Something you can't get at chain stores. They know the majority of the locals and are the #1 donor and fundraiser for most of our local organizations giving both their product st cost and giving their time that is priceless!
Small town living definitely has its advantages when it comes to the community coming together and a level of friendliness that you don't find in metro cities. Lincoln has a very interesting history too if you ever want to come to central Illinois I would love to show you around or give you tips on the history of our town named after Abraham Lincoln and christened by Abe before he became president and was just a lawyer.
Go to Elkhart and check out the fabulous little restaurant, Wild Hare, . and, Birdsong, a great little vintage/book shop.. those places don't advertise enough (at all 😞). and yes, Lincoln is cool....take a pleasant Amtrak ride betw there & Springfield.🚂
Interesting and well done.
Many thanks!
My grandparents lived in Southern Illinois. I remember they took me on a tour of one of the Big Ben mines. I still see it vividly today in my memory. I could not imagine that being every day for work. I wish it were still open, it is quite a unique experience with a massive history. People these days seem to have lost sight of what rough times look like.
You should check out 3 very small towns that are only 3 miles apart from each other. Opdyke, IL., Belle Rive, IL., and Dahlgren, IL., they're located in Jefferson and Hamilton counties.
Nice to meet you, Sally.♥️.
Nice to see Marty engage. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving
Thanks Richard, hope you did too!
First time watching one of your videos and I'm impressed. Very well done.
Thank you very much! Nice to hear from you. Hope to see more comments from you in the future.
I just subscribed to your TH-cam Channel and will tell you that I am a fan of North American culture and that I am subscribed to several TH-cam Channels that show fantástic places in the United States 🇺🇲 and excuse me, my name is ALEJANDRA DEL PILAR PIZARRO ARAYA and from beautiful city of LA SERENA located here in Chile 🇨🇱
Hey that’s great, thank you but why did you leave two comments using two separate accounts?
You've done your home work. Love your vids and the way you present the info.
I live a bit north but the old school vibe down there is cool.
born and raised in this town so many memories
My moms entire family is from there. I miss this little town.
Born there in "53". Still have A bunch of family there. It'll always be home!!❤❤
Why do Dry towns always flood? The grocery reminded me of the IGA I went to as a kid. Hope you guys had a good Thanksgiving, Stay safe and healthy!!
since our town is built right next to the ohio river it tends to storm here.. a lot and so the river rises pretty often. we've been in a dry mark for awhile now though so its excruciatingly hot. ((i live here lol.))
Sally, you are so adorable! I love your small town demeanor and your Wisconsin accent.
Nice intro and music
Those tile entryways have a vintage original look. They would have been, in the humble opinion of this old tile setter, set in what we call, a mud job. A mixture of wet sand and cement. The tiles were in sheets of 1' by 2' of sticky paper. The tile guy would not have to set each individual piece. Hard to make any money that way !!!
Really enjoy your interesting historical videos. From a small town in Illinois Morris. Sometimes I think a brief comment from a resident would add some spice. But you guys do a great job.
Great job Sally and Marty! You need to contact Brent Underwood from Ghost Town living, he would roll the red carpet out for you and show you his passion for history. You could earn your keep by helping out! It would be a great adventure for you, Marty and your beagle. Send him a message! Thanks for your dedication to history. From Elizabeth Illinois. 8
How steep! :) Sally I would love to have a house on those steep lanes!
Love your videos. I live in the western half of Southern Illinois and see that you returned to explore some more on the Ohio River side. BTW, you didn't credit the song at the beginning of the Golconda episode. It fit the video very nicely. I suggest that you visit this forgotten land between the 2 great rivers which is mostly encompassed by the Shawnee National Forest. I think you and and my fellow sightseers would dig Makanda as well as many other interesting spots.
I have many pieces of flourish around I’ve collect. Wife’s grandfather worked in the mines.
My family is from this area! Have you checked out Cave In Rock yet? Several movies were actually made there
A very good video ..... as always. Tell Marty he can't hide in the car anymore. ha ha ha
Doug and Pam
Belen, New Mexico U.S.A.
Nice to meet you! Hello!
My dad's family owned the land atop the hill next to the water tower.
Nice quiet little town I'd like to live.
Is that a dumpster fire? 11:57
Thanks Sally, Thanks Mary!
🤠👍
that is indeed a dumpster on fire, since it was in the parking lot of Roc One i'm definitely not surprised. theres always some sort of dumpster or burn pile on fire out here!
I have always wondered what the families that live in big houses in these old towns do for living? How do they afford to live there? I know its mostly old family money and some places are paid for already but still, what about the others?
i lived here my whole life, (still as well growing, i am a teenager,) i feel as if you should definitely cover over elizabethtown and cave-in-rock as the cave also holds a great backstory and so does the rose hotel in etown, (its supposedly haunted,)
for being in a small town i definitely enjoy it here, its so peaceful and i found it quite funny how i was able to locate a good amount of my friend's houses in the background of your clips. Hardin county in general holds some very deep secrets that are so fun to uncover and learn about. i definitely think you would enjoy the cave's backstories!!
Very cool, thanks for watching! Thought you might enjoy these vids 😉
Cave-in-Rock is featured in “Empty streets of a town in Southern Illinois”
th-cam.com/video/BW9--q72bn0/w-d-xo.html
and E-town is featured in “A Forgotten Town in Southern Illinois”
th-cam.com/video/a52N5iKMnKU/w-d-xo.html
Interesting
Being a bad boy from herrin I was sent to rosiclare to keep me out of trouble..it worked..were related to ed knight.my grandaddy retired from the mine..he went to work at 10 after his mother died of the Spanish flu and his father lost his arm in a mining accident..he built his house out of mine scraps..he was the head electrician and he was the theatres projectionist , a shriner and mason, a soldier and was also the fire chief none of which would be possible if not for granny by his side...i never heard him complain or talk trash about anyone. Yes Millard Mick was the last of a dying breed.