ACROSS WYOMING Back Roads Drive to ROCK SPRINGS - Site Of One Of American History's Darkest Events
video description
There were two rooms within the undeground mine for breaks, lunch, storing tools etc. The Chinese were a larger group and there were more of them. They got the large room, according to the company decision and management. Make sense right Well you can imagine what happened from there. The whites well thought they should have the larger room, and also might have had pressure that they werent working as hard as the Chinese laborers, etc. Also, I am sure the Chinese were paid a smaller wage too. At any rate, yes there was a horrible massacre that broke out. But the reasoning and cause of it wasnt because of Chinese getting a richer seam. It was also due to them being more numerous, and also requiring more space, and also I am sure because they were often speaking Chinese and had a different style of working among other reasons. It only takes a little bit of imagination to piece it together, but there is information out there to give a better description of it.
Date: 2024-01-28
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Comments and reviews: 34
jhcgolfcaro9606
So I remember my time living in Rock Springs when I worked for Union Pacific. downtown. the town way 2600 that went to 20, 000 overnight when they had Trona mines in the mid 70s. and the water table got kinda sucked out. There was calapse of a mine shaft cross lateral in the middle of downtown that took out a quarter of a block of sidewalk and the basements of several buildings across the street from the railroad house in midtown at 3-4 am as a long train came through. Next morning when the National Back opened their base had partially collapsed as well. After a survey study it was determined that the collapse was a result of failure to backfill the mineshafts under the central part of town. Combined by the reduced water table. The main mine shaft had been inspected back in the day when closed with a drift rod the would go about 100' but it was not filled past that point. Go back and look for articles in October thru December 1974.
Didn't enjoy your comments about the 'race riots' and railroad. But have to admit that it happened and it happened elsewhere as well. My question is was it motivated by workers or did management want to get rid of higher paid workers Just asking. The people there are sincere and have integrity.
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So I remember my time living in Rock Springs when I worked for Union Pacific. downtown. the town way 2600 that went to 20, 000 overnight when they had Trona mines in the mid 70s. and the water table got kinda sucked out. There was calapse of a mine shaft cross lateral in the middle of downtown that took out a quarter of a block of sidewalk and the basements of several buildings across the street from the railroad house in midtown at 3-4 am as a long train came through. Next morning when the National Back opened their base had partially collapsed as well. After a survey study it was determined that the collapse was a result of failure to backfill the mineshafts under the central part of town. Combined by the reduced water table. The main mine shaft had been inspected back in the day when closed with a drift rod the would go about 100' but it was not filled past that point. Go back and look for articles in October thru December 1974.
Didn't enjoy your comments about the 'race riots' and railroad. But have to admit that it happened and it happened elsewhere as well. My question is was it motivated by workers or did management want to get rid of higher paid workers Just asking. The people there are sincere and have integrity.
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drifter82935
Rock Springs was built on top of the old coal mines. The records of the mine locations were either lost or never recorded at the time. I'm not sure which is the case. Either way they don't really know for sure where all the mines are but as they start to collapse and homes and roads slowly sink they are finding out. For many decades they have been working to shore up the mines to stop them from collapsing but that is a long and slow process. There really isn't a lot of new construction in the areas above the mines. You explored the older part of town. There used to be a coal mining town called Winton which is north of Rock Springs. They mined coal for the war effort and when the demand for coal died off after the war the town died and many of the homes in Winton were moved to Rock Springs. A lot of new construction is north of the interstate. I live in Green River, Wyoming and I grew up hearing about the rear tires of garbage trucks falling through the road exposing a unknown tunnel from a mine.
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Rock Springs was built on top of the old coal mines. The records of the mine locations were either lost or never recorded at the time. I'm not sure which is the case. Either way they don't really know for sure where all the mines are but as they start to collapse and homes and roads slowly sink they are finding out. For many decades they have been working to shore up the mines to stop them from collapsing but that is a long and slow process. There really isn't a lot of new construction in the areas above the mines. You explored the older part of town. There used to be a coal mining town called Winton which is north of Rock Springs. They mined coal for the war effort and when the demand for coal died off after the war the town died and many of the homes in Winton were moved to Rock Springs. A lot of new construction is north of the interstate. I live in Green River, Wyoming and I grew up hearing about the rear tires of garbage trucks falling through the road exposing a unknown tunnel from a mine.
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blindretrogamer78
Did you check out Green River while you were there It's 18 Mi west of Rock Springs down i-80. I have thought an awful lot about moving to the state of Wyoming and I thought maybe that area of Rock Springs and Green River would be okay because they average less snow. However, I have read that they get a lot of wind. In those areas. I also like the high desert terrain. And from what I understand, Rock Springs is in the red desert region of wyoming. And for water recreation, I thought Green River might be a good place too because of the river being in its vicinity.
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Did you check out Green River while you were there It's 18 Mi west of Rock Springs down i-80. I have thought an awful lot about moving to the state of Wyoming and I thought maybe that area of Rock Springs and Green River would be okay because they average less snow. However, I have read that they get a lot of wind. In those areas. I also like the high desert terrain. And from what I understand, Rock Springs is in the red desert region of wyoming. And for water recreation, I thought Green River might be a good place too because of the river being in its vicinity.
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Ebbonified
Interesting take on that dark part of Rock Springs history. Not having done any research yet on this myself, so here are my questions:
Were Chinese miners paid at the same rate as the established 2nd/3rd generation American miners
Were they paid by share, or at a simple (lesser) wage than the other group
Was the mining company using this disparity to amplify their profit
Was the mining company hedging themselves from backlash through strong security and displacing American miner's anger toward more defenseless targets of their ire
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Interesting take on that dark part of Rock Springs history. Not having done any research yet on this myself, so here are my questions:
Were Chinese miners paid at the same rate as the established 2nd/3rd generation American miners
Were they paid by share, or at a simple (lesser) wage than the other group
Was the mining company using this disparity to amplify their profit
Was the mining company hedging themselves from backlash through strong security and displacing American miner's anger toward more defenseless targets of their ire
reply
susangamez9895
Must say I enjoyed your video. My husband&I are in RS temporarily (job assignment. We travel for work. Been to almost every city from west coast to east coast. This type of town is, for lack of better word, therapeutic. No congestion of any kind. People are friendly and everything you need is here. Even an airport. We are Costco shoppers so about every other month we drive 2 1/2 hours to SLC, UT. Just be aware, winters are harsh but summer has been very pleasant. Thank you for this video and happy trails to all travelers.
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Must say I enjoyed your video. My husband&I are in RS temporarily (job assignment. We travel for work. Been to almost every city from west coast to east coast. This type of town is, for lack of better word, therapeutic. No congestion of any kind. People are friendly and everything you need is here. Even an airport. We are Costco shoppers so about every other month we drive 2 1/2 hours to SLC, UT. Just be aware, winters are harsh but summer has been very pleasant. Thank you for this video and happy trails to all travelers.
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tedpreston4155
I was thrilled to hear you mention Rock Springs' 56 nationalities! They are very proud of that history! It used to be entertaining to page through the Rock Springs phone book and see all the crazy names! My wife's family are Slovenian/Croatians from Rock Springs.
There was a time in the last century when southern and eastern Europe were in a terrible recession. At the same time, Rock Springs needed coal miners. Lots of immigrants came to Rock Springs to escape the recession, and brought their interesting names along!
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I was thrilled to hear you mention Rock Springs' 56 nationalities! They are very proud of that history! It used to be entertaining to page through the Rock Springs phone book and see all the crazy names! My wife's family are Slovenian/Croatians from Rock Springs.
There was a time in the last century when southern and eastern Europe were in a terrible recession. At the same time, Rock Springs needed coal miners. Lots of immigrants came to Rock Springs to escape the recession, and brought their interesting names along!
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annies805
I am working my way through your very interesting videos! I commented on your Cheyenne video about living in a log cabin across the street from the capitol when I was 5. Then I hear you say you're fascinated by shotgun style houses! That cabin was built like that. My teenage brother hated the fact people had to walk through his bedroom to get to the kitchen! Our root cellar had a dirt stairway leading to it's dirt floor, the door of which was also in his bedroom. Such memories. Thanks!
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I am working my way through your very interesting videos! I commented on your Cheyenne video about living in a log cabin across the street from the capitol when I was 5. Then I hear you say you're fascinated by shotgun style houses! That cabin was built like that. My teenage brother hated the fact people had to walk through his bedroom to get to the kitchen! Our root cellar had a dirt stairway leading to it's dirt floor, the door of which was also in his bedroom. Such memories. Thanks!
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dresweets7637
This is my home town, I was wondering if I would see one on it. My great grandparents migrated with their 8 kids eventually totaling 11. Because the land was cheap after the great depression.
The side you came in on is West Rock Springs the older neighborhood was where my family and most of the mining workers lived in.
The ruins of that unfortunate massacre still stand but not as an attraction but reminder. It is a spread out city
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This is my home town, I was wondering if I would see one on it. My great grandparents migrated with their 8 kids eventually totaling 11. Because the land was cheap after the great depression.
The side you came in on is West Rock Springs the older neighborhood was where my family and most of the mining workers lived in.
The ruins of that unfortunate massacre still stand but not as an attraction but reminder. It is a spread out city
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anaz6706
Yall went through hudson and missed out on Lander which is a great little town. There is also a town called jeffery city which is between Rawlins and Lander. An old uranium mining town. Population is down to 50ish now. At one point it was about 4500 people. Lots of abandoned lots and buildings. The highschool there is supposed to have a Olympic sized swimming pool in it. Not sure if it's still standing though
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Yall went through hudson and missed out on Lander which is a great little town. There is also a town called jeffery city which is between Rawlins and Lander. An old uranium mining town. Population is down to 50ish now. At one point it was about 4500 people. Lots of abandoned lots and buildings. The highschool there is supposed to have a Olympic sized swimming pool in it. Not sure if it's still standing though
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OceanusHelios
At the height of it's Trona mining days. 56 nationalities. Rock Springs is also close to what were the largest Trona mines in the world. I don't blame you for not knowing what Trona is, but it is extremely useful in the chemical industries and actually like coal and oil and steel. one of those commodities that can literally break an entire countries industry if you don't have that commodity.
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At the height of it's Trona mining days. 56 nationalities. Rock Springs is also close to what were the largest Trona mines in the world. I don't blame you for not knowing what Trona is, but it is extremely useful in the chemical industries and actually like coal and oil and steel. one of those commodities that can literally break an entire countries industry if you don't have that commodity.
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jackpearson1110
Just retired to Rock Springs. Low cost of living, a great hub for traveling. That's what I'll do. BTW, only 40 of snow the whole year is a big plus for me. You were in the old area for sure. The other side of I-80 is the new section. Sure I'm too late but driving South into Utah, then around the Flaming Gorge area into Colorado is amazing. Takes you into the Dinosaur National monument area.
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Just retired to Rock Springs. Low cost of living, a great hub for traveling. That's what I'll do. BTW, only 40 of snow the whole year is a big plus for me. You were in the old area for sure. The other side of I-80 is the new section. Sure I'm too late but driving South into Utah, then around the Flaming Gorge area into Colorado is amazing. Takes you into the Dinosaur National monument area.
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wyofett1412
it's always surreal seeing my hometown, and where I live, in a video! the building with that red AM is being renovated into a black box theater. the AM stands for Actors' Mission, the local community theater. As for the 56 nationalities, the breakdown is more country of origin, or nationalities, such as Italian, Bulgarian, Slavic, French, Indian, etc
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it's always surreal seeing my hometown, and where I live, in a video! the building with that red AM is being renovated into a black box theater. the AM stands for Actors' Mission, the local community theater. As for the 56 nationalities, the breakdown is more country of origin, or nationalities, such as Italian, Bulgarian, Slavic, French, Indian, etc
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daviddecelles8714
I noticed you slowed down a bit, giving us a longer view, when you passed through Hudson. I think I know why. There is a haunting, forgotten, hardscrabble quality to the place. You know when to pause and linger on a subject. Your videos show that you care about your viewers and want to give them a quality product. You succeed.
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I noticed you slowed down a bit, giving us a longer view, when you passed through Hudson. I think I know why. There is a haunting, forgotten, hardscrabble quality to the place. You know when to pause and linger on a subject. Your videos show that you care about your viewers and want to give them a quality product. You succeed.
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michaelsils6872
Loved Wyoming! Did TV Weather out there a few years back and enjoyed my trips in the wide open spaces. If ever back East toward KY, slide into Bowling Green. Our town is home to the Corvette Plant, Lost River Cave, a beautiful university (WKU) and not far from Mammoth Cave, plus a nice downtown square.
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Loved Wyoming! Did TV Weather out there a few years back and enjoyed my trips in the wide open spaces. If ever back East toward KY, slide into Bowling Green. Our town is home to the Corvette Plant, Lost River Cave, a beautiful university (WKU) and not far from Mammoth Cave, plus a nice downtown square.
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usa-by-car
I have lived in RS my whole life. I hope if you ever can come through again I recommend going to our museum and trying to check out the businesses there before fiesta guadalajara. They have very interesting spaces inside that only the owners and few others who have worked over there know of.
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I have lived in RS my whole life. I hope if you ever can come through again I recommend going to our museum and trying to check out the businesses there before fiesta guadalajara. They have very interesting spaces inside that only the owners and few others who have worked over there know of.
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prmayner
My mother came to RS's from Arkansas with her first husband and my two older brothers to work the mines back in the 40's. He died from black lung. She said it was a rough town back then with a very tumultuous past. I think they only stayed a few years then went back to Arkansas.
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My mother came to RS's from Arkansas with her first husband and my two older brothers to work the mines back in the 40's. He died from black lung. She said it was a rough town back then with a very tumultuous past. I think they only stayed a few years then went back to Arkansas.
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usa-by-car
I love watching all of ur videos because u send ur viewers on an adventure with u. U give informative information in detail about where u are and so much about the the areas. Thank u so very much. Also I love ur wife she really loves to go where the action is.
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I love watching all of ur videos because u send ur viewers on an adventure with u. U give informative information in detail about where u are and so much about the the areas. Thank u so very much. Also I love ur wife she really loves to go where the action is.
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jimrichards1798
I’ve vacationed, fished and hunted in Wyoming upwards of twenty times total. I’m a native Texan and love Wyoming. So much wildlife and so much history. Spent most of my time up north. Never made Rock Springs. Enjoyed the look. Thanks.
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I’ve vacationed, fished and hunted in Wyoming upwards of twenty times total. I’m a native Texan and love Wyoming. So much wildlife and so much history. Spent most of my time up north. Never made Rock Springs. Enjoyed the look. Thanks.
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usa-by-car
Great show Spoda but Rock Springs has a history of being anti-Asian and more than likely anti-black. My being 1/2 Asian and the other half black I would guess this is just another sundown city so I'll never travel there.
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Great show Spoda but Rock Springs has a history of being anti-Asian and more than likely anti-black. My being 1/2 Asian and the other half black I would guess this is just another sundown city so I'll never travel there.
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crystalblack3645
Im from rock springs and im literally kinda sad about your video the areas in rock springs you visited are literally the oldest and worst parts of town! There are so many nicer neighborhoods you didnt show.
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Im from rock springs and im literally kinda sad about your video the areas in rock springs you visited are literally the oldest and worst parts of town! There are so many nicer neighborhoods you didnt show.
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usa-by-car
I lived in rock springs back in 1980 to 81 was there in the oil boom it was a wild town lived in the imperial apartments my husband worked for Smith energy.
Thanks for the visit I loved living there
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I lived in rock springs back in 1980 to 81 was there in the oil boom it was a wild town lived in the imperial apartments my husband worked for Smith energy.
Thanks for the visit I loved living there
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usa-by-car
Thanks for visiting. A lot of those old buildings are being renovated thankfully. You definitely missed a huge landmark of Rock Springs and that’s a restaurant called Grubs, it has been here 76 years.
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Thanks for visiting. A lot of those old buildings are being renovated thankfully. You definitely missed a huge landmark of Rock Springs and that’s a restaurant called Grubs, it has been here 76 years.
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wanderingfido
Can you place a time marker in your description So that those of us who have sensitive hearing can skip that jarring music And just start watching where you actually start narrating the footage.
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Can you place a time marker in your description So that those of us who have sensitive hearing can skip that jarring music And just start watching where you actually start narrating the footage.
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oBearadactyl
Some of our downtown buildings in Rock Springs Wyoming that you just seen are historical landmarks like the bank thats boarded up is more than 100 years old. I'm born n raised here i enjoy it.
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Some of our downtown buildings in Rock Springs Wyoming that you just seen are historical landmarks like the bank thats boarded up is more than 100 years old. I'm born n raised here i enjoy it.
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hambonejonesgb
There's a whole lotta holes in Sweetwater County, one lone deputy upheld the law. He was a black belt in kwando karate and a master of the old quick draw. he gave them hell, Ed Cantrell
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There's a whole lotta holes in Sweetwater County, one lone deputy upheld the law. He was a black belt in kwando karate and a master of the old quick draw. he gave them hell, Ed Cantrell
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jeremysalazar6775
No rocksprings is ruff to live in high housing and the oilfield is gone, and not everyone works in the mine. Winter is brutal and don't even get me started on the wind
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No rocksprings is ruff to live in high housing and the oilfield is gone, and not everyone works in the mine. Winter is brutal and don't even get me started on the wind
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davidtate166
Here in southern Illinois had a bloody event also. Called bloody Williamson. Rocks spring wy looks like a good place to live. i like what i see here in your video.
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Here in southern Illinois had a bloody event also. Called bloody Williamson. Rocks spring wy looks like a good place to live. i like what i see here in your video.
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usa-by-car
13: 22 is my boss's yellow truck on the left and 13: 25 2 story building on the right is my office which was also the 2nd JC Penney store aka the Golden Rule store.
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13: 22 is my boss's yellow truck on the left and 13: 25 2 story building on the right is my office which was also the 2nd JC Penney store aka the Golden Rule store.
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clydehoggan6643
as someone who was raised in rocksprings it amazes me how little people actually know about the mafias and the chinese massacre that happened in that very area
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as someone who was raised in rocksprings it amazes me how little people actually know about the mafias and the chinese massacre that happened in that very area
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FatherAlduin
Shame you only showcased the. less well off areas of town. Alas, it is neat to see my little town explored in a video by someone who has never been here before.
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Shame you only showcased the. less well off areas of town. Alas, it is neat to see my little town explored in a video by someone who has never been here before.
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mr. anderson693
Loved this! I used to live in Worland (2009-2010) for work. I learned so much, met many great people, and explored the great state. I sure do miss it!
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Loved this! I used to live in Worland (2009-2010) for work. I learned so much, met many great people, and explored the great state. I sure do miss it!
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crystalshupert8688
This was my home town from 92 - 02. Grew up in that town from 1st grade to 11th grade. The best memories i have growing up is in those mountains!
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This was my home town from 92 - 02. Grew up in that town from 1st grade to 11th grade. The best memories i have growing up is in those mountains!
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1927su
One thing great about diversity in America that I think people take for granted; there is such a great variety of different foods from all around the world!
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One thing great about diversity in America that I think people take for granted; there is such a great variety of different foods from all around the world!
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mikebabcock6617
The building that's boarded up downtown there is under construction, it's an old first security bank building being restored currently
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The building that's boarded up downtown there is under construction, it's an old first security bank building being restored currently
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