Cairo, IL - Page 3

TMitch · #41 Posted **Apr 30, 2007, 8:04 AM**

Even if I were given an entire city block I couldn't sleep one night in that town. It's truly sad. And I can't imagine for anyone that owned any of those buildings it must have been a financial strain to up and left them, knowing they would never reap and money.

Amazing photos.

Tony · #42 Posted **Apr 30, 2007, 8:33 AM**

These photos are amazing... so much sadness, people's lives were once lived and died here, who's left to tell the story? It looks like it's gotten to the point where they may even consider having "ghosttown" tours of it just for some tourist bucks!

Marcu · #43 Posted **Apr 30, 2007, 3:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dick

Manipulating the results to your own liking isn't going to change my own perception of how fucked up I really think my state can be, and how greed and corruption plays a major role in the demise of certain cities over others.

Still looking for what you may have interpreted as manipulation. I was simply restating history. I guess I just prefer to stay away from meaningless platitudes that we all can certainly agree on (eg greed is evil, corruption is wrong, etc.), and focus on the facts and the real world.

At the end of the day, we simply can't save every town. So undoubtedly some historic areas where people lived and died will disappear. Is it sad? Of course. But what's the alternative? But hey maybe St. Louis, Memphis and Chicago sprawl will one day meet in Cairo.

mrherodotus · #44 Posted **Apr 30, 2007, 9:51 PM**

Sad!

Xing · #45 Posted **May 1, 2007, 7:19 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcu

Still looking for what you may have interpreted as manipulation. I was simply restating history. I guess I just prefer to stay away from meaningless platitudes that we all can certainly agree on (eg greed is evil, corruption is wrong, etc.), and focus on the facts and the real world.

At the end of the day, we simply can't save every town. So undoubtedly some historic areas where people lived and died will disappear. Is it sad? Of course. But what's the alternative? But hey maybe St. Louis, Memphis and Chicago sprawl will one day meet in Cairo.

I don't buy that. It's an excuse to say we can't do something to help every city. Most of these cities can be improved.

kcexpress69 · #46 Posted **Nov 15, 2007, 3:45 AM**

Put in a casino!!!

forumly_chgoman · #47 Posted **Nov 15, 2007, 5:44 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tex1899

Cairo is mentioned in Huckleberry Finn...where the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers meet. I've passed through the town twice, once traveling from Houston to Chicago and the second time Houston to Indianapolis. The town is really sad. My guess is there are a lot of towns in the midwest and northeast that are similar. So much history. Imagine what it must've been like at its peak!

One of the benefits to Texas is we tend to not have many towns like this (check out population stats for small(er) towns and pay attention to the population change from '81-'86 if you have time and want to see dramatic population changes). One of the drawbacks (one of the few

) is that our towns generally aren't old enough to have historic (looking) buildings like these.

You are telling me west texas has no ghost towns?

forumly_chgoman · #48 Posted **Nov 15, 2007, 5:50 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xing

Illinois is actually one of the most capitalistic states in the country. Some of the poorest and richest areas of the United States, can be found in Illinois. Southern Illinois is a cesspool of poverty. Chicago's North VS South Side is a metaphore for it all. East St. Louis , and its story, is another one.

I wonder if you live in stereotypes?

forumly_chgoman · #49 Posted **Nov 15, 2007, 5:51 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaroslaw

Wow! I would move there if my family let me... Can't help thinking, why not give green cards to 2,000 Chinese or Indians, on the condition they have to live in Cairo for ten years...

Seriously that might not be that bad of an idea...they would probably have the gumption to start their own thriving community...problem....transit

skyfan · #50 Posted **Nov 15, 2007, 6:56 AM**

That's just depressing. Are there any nice areas in the city?

BigKidD · #51 Posted **Nov 15, 2007, 8:04 AM**

With the road block in the street, it reminds me very much of a war zone.

harryc · #52 Posted **Nov 15, 2007, 11:34 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcu

....snip....
As far as the southern illinois economy, it started going downhill when the EPA started cracking down on sulfur emissions. Illinois coal, which is what the soouthern ill economy was based on, is higher in sulfur than coal from Montana and Wyoming. The crackdown on sulfur emissions effectively shifted most of America's coal mining from southern illinois, kentucky, and west virginia to the west.
....snip...

Cairo was going long before the EPA - as a kid ( in the 60s ) I was always told we couldn't stop there because they had race riots - apparently the poster child for ignorance in Illinois, all the more palatable since both sides were seen a culprits.

http://michaelminn.com/?cairo

from http://users.stlcc.edu/jangert/cairo/cairo.html
"Cairo is even sadder in light of its recent history. The region was experiencing an economic decline before the civil rights movement of the 1960s, and this decline can certainly be blamed for part of the depression Cairo now suffers. But many people will tell you that Cairo above all else is a victim of the racial hatred that its citizens could not overcome."

Don't even think of lumping Metropolis ( home of SuperMan ) in with Cairo. The only reason to mention the 2 in the same breath is to contrast them. Metropolis is a very nice town, with a rebuilt 1800's fort. We went through there for a bike ride once, everyone was very eager to push there town - even looking the other way when one of the SAG drivers crashed a van into a tree - well up on a front yard.

harryc · #53 Posted **Nov 15, 2007, 11:37 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by skyfan

That's just depressing. Are there any nice areas in the city?

NO

mthq · #54 Posted **Nov 16, 2007, 8:09 AM**

holy crap.

direfloyd · #55 Posted **Nov 16, 2007, 1:55 PM**

Wow!

Wheelingman04 · #56 Posted **Nov 17, 2007, 2:56 AM**

Sickening

LSyd · #57 Posted **Nov 25, 2007, 6:21 PM**

sad.

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aaron38 · #58 Posted **Nov 27, 2007, 4:17 AM**

Jesus. I clicked on the thread expecting to see pictures of a cute little riverfront downtown area enjoying a renaissance, like Moline and Rock Island are having.
Never expected an urban wasteland. There's nothing left there?

I didn't think America was old enough to have ancient ruins, but I stand corrected.

Keng · #59 Posted **Nov 27, 2007, 2:46 PM**

All I can say is, Wow! That's a sad situation, thanks for the tour...

VivaLFuego · #60 Posted **Nov 27, 2007, 3:02 PM**

.....this really is a great thread, and the fact you were there when it was foggy/dreary makes it that much better.