A Forgotten Town in Southern Illinois

A forgotten town in Southern Illinois... Driving through Southern Illinois, we stumble upon a forgotten town. This town, unlike the rest of Illinois, is a virtual time capsule filled with forgotten items from the past.

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[deangray]

White cat? I love perusing these old towns.

[ahsh]

I have lived in Elizabethtown most of my life. The reasoning for all the Coca Cola signs you see is because just 1.5 miles west of town is where the Coca Cola Bottling Plant was located. I have a couple original 8oz glass Coca Cola bottles with Elizabethtown on the bottom of the bottle. My great uncle owned the old service station on the corner also.
Thanks for spending time in our small town and viewing its history.

[MsMadmax]

I've been through Elizabeth Town. I love it and at the same time I find it heart breaking. When six lane super interstate highways bi-passed little towns like this, it took away the business that would have helped little towns thrive. Also, when our factories all shut down and we stopped making things in America, young people couldn't afford to stay in places like this--there was nothing there for them. I would love to see small industries move back to these towns and start creating jobs so young people would come back and breathe new life into the towns. Kind of the way that couple in Laurel, Mississippi did. I actually remember gas stations like the one at the beginning. A man in a clean, neatly pressed uniform and cap would come out and ask you, "Fill her up? Regular or Ethyl?" and "Would you like me to check your oil?" He'd also clean your windshield and your rear window for you. I sure miss those days.

[loadedlever]

I blows my mind when people take time and enjoy what’s around them, I love these kind of exploration

[tylertwitchell]

That service station a long time ago used to be my great grandfathers service station and he would detail vehicles and my dad when he was a young boy would help him! We also at one time had a Coca Cola bottle company that was shut down way before I was born but it was located on Rt. 146 in between Rosiclare and Elizabeth Town.

[Brend.]

They say the old Rose Hotel is haunted. I'm from Carrier Mills. Many happy memories going down to Etown. The river towns have always been my favorite.

[darrenvaughn]

I still live and grew up in E-town, it's really cool to see people interested in our small town

[dragoncrackers]

I love old towns. I actually bought an old Main Street building for $6k when I was 21. I live in a city and I love going out there to escape. Came in real handy when the virus hit because it has WiFi so I worked from there. I'm now buying an old church near it to fix up for my parents to retire.
Point is, it's not very expensive to save these old places. Just poke around and you can get a good deal. Some are tax delinquent so a really good deal sometimes.

[ronrice]

In DuQuoin, Illinois there is even an IOOF cemetery. That's where I grew up. They also have a Coca-Cola bottling plant where I worked at once upon a time. I love these small old towns. And I drank RC cola when I was growing up. I haven't drank alcohol in many years, but when I was drinking, PBR was my favorite beer of all of them. You play 'I Spy', but when I was a kid it was " bee, bee, bumble bee, I see something you don't see, and it is (color)". And someone else would have to guess what it was. This brings back alot of old memories. It's good to remember the 'good old days'.

[trackman]

A very nice tour of one of the many small towns that are disappearing all over America. Many things have contributed to their demise over the years, which is sad. It was a way of life that I much prefer rather than today’s madness.

[waynejanik]

Thank you for sharing. E-town is also the eastern terminus for the River to River long distance trail in IL. It starts on the Ohio River in front of the hotel. The trail is 157 miles and the western terminus is in Grand Tower IL on the Mississippi River.

[patpowell]

I met a wonderful craftsman who lived there. He made the most beautiful willow furniture of exquisite craftsmanship and showed his artistic pieces at a huge monthly flea market in Kane County. How fun to see this town I had never heard of before meeting him.

[JoeMotionVideos]

I absolutely adore small town life, especially sleepy little places like this.

[davidk.]

I lived outside there in 84, and had eaten at that restaurant many times, thanks

[Thesaltymedic]

I’d love to restore and live in an old gas station like that. I would use the service bays as my garage and put old gas pumps and other old service station items out for decoration. Maybe an old sign out front. Always thought that would be a cool residence.

[CaptTrips-prhq]

I eat at the E-Town River Restaurant every time I am down there. Usually camp at Cave-in-Rock State Park or Pounds Hollow.

[josephconsoli]

Good tour. I saw the white cat too. As an antiques collector the signs and antique shops intrigued me! By the way, love that house for sale. It's one that, after restoration, needs an English garden in front of it. It has an English cottage feel to it.

[ericspratt]

When I was a kid, we used to put 16 oz. bottles of Royal Crown “RC” Cola in the snow while we made pizza. By the time the pizza was ready, the soda would be slushy and great. Thanks for posting, interesting video in my home state.

[dallasmore]

I've eaten in the Town & Country dozens of times. My Grandfather took me there in the 60's & 70's. My Grandfathers people are from Peters Creek & Karbers Ridge. I grew up playing on the bluffs and in that old Gazebo, and in the park South of the Rose Hotel. They used to set up a screen and show movies for kids in that park in the summer.

[judithdollins]

The First Baptist Church of Elizabethtown is the oldest active Baptist church in Illinois.