Cairo Ruin Previous Image This image is used in the gallery Cityscapes. Next Image

In the 1960's, Cairo, Illinois had some problems. Racial problems. There were some white shopkeepers who were being required by law to hire black employees for all positions they were qualified for. These shopkeepers were racists and refused to hire out of their own race. Rather than give in and support a more open community, they locked up their storefronts and left. They moved out of Cairo and didn't even bother to sell their buildings. They kept them and allowed them to rot. "That'll show 'em." Right? If you drive down what was once the main business district of Cairo, you will be confronted with once magnificent buildings that were shamefully left to the elements. As the years passed with no maintenance or care of any sort, the mortar that held together the brick facings crumbled away and the storefront facades thundered into the vacant streets. This is what happended to the building in the picture above. The brick front fell away leaving the underlying wooden structure exposed to the elements. Buildings have collapsed in on themselves and the city that was once the queen city at the junction of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, filled with splended mansions and a bustling downtown is now but a hollow ghost of the past. Simply because a few pig-headed people couldn't open their minds and choose to get along with others. This is the legacy of those people. This is what they have left for future generations. Instead of something enriching that helps to benefit the lives of others, they left a landscape as bitter and empty as their souls. Picturesque and lovely in it's own way it echoes of yet another tale of the fruits small-minded selfish people. Wheatland Iowa Wheatland Iowa is on the old main road that was bypassed by the old highway that was bypassed by the interstate. Needless to say, people don't go there too much. The town does have a little bar that was getting some traffic at 11:00 am. no doubt they were Click here to find out more!

PMB 185
1350 Spur Rd, Ste 270
Marshfield, MO 65706
877-648-8125

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