This was an interesting video, EA. While I do very much like your usual commentary and observations, this was nice because it really put me in the mindset of being in the driver’s seat alone while I wandered around exploring. When I was more mobile and less disabled, I would do this same thing in the old towns of Michigan. It made me wistful for those days of being free and independent. I wouldn't mind seeing more like this occasionally. Sure, I could turn the volume down on one of the other “town wanderings” but I’d miss the commentary. This was great, especially with headphones on. Almost hypnotic. Thank you, sir.
That is so sad.....I live in Sale City Georgia and I pray it stays lively till long after I'm gone. We are so small we have one curb store one restaurant and no stop lights. I love it!
I live in a small town in Montana. Unincorporated, population of about 250, a pretty good grocery/feed/gas store, gas station/convenience/hardware store, 2 motels, 3 bars and 3 churches. Not a traffic signal in the whole county. Get stuck in the snow bank on the road? Everyone will stop and help pull you out. Wonderful place to live.
I grew up in Ensley. My daddy worked at US Steel. Right at the viaduct. It had 2 great restaurants Ensley Grille, & Catfish Cabin. When US Steel shut down that was the beginning of the end.
At one time Ensley had the largest Italian population in the state. Part of the area was called Little Italy. When the Ensley Iron Works and iron ore mining in the region shut down, that was the demise of Ensley. Ensley lived and died by the iron industry. I think Ideal Furniture is about the only bigger business left in the old part of Ensley.
Awesome drive threw ,and around that sad looking town,roads are somewhat maintained. But wow!!!!that was a strange house!with the red stones scattered threw out the building.
Really good buddy of mine worked that area as a policeman way back in the day. He loves history almost as much as you and I. He has some old yearbooks from ensly. He showed me one from the mid twenties. The cheerleaders were scary looking. Kinda looked like jesters. Their fight song was just as terrifying
These streets bring back memories of childhood. There are many development projects already moving. There's Ensley Social, a entertainment and condo area, Ramsay Mccormick Building was demolished and being rebuilt as a government office complex, Oak Hill housing development is being built and Ensley High School is turning into a housing and business complex. Alot of $$$$ is being poured into the area!
Definitely wouldn't take that trip at night. In the 70s my grandfather had a Texaco station and the Arco station on Avenue E in Ensley I live about four or five miles from there now
i lived here since i was 5 years old, I'm 35 years old now...i live in LA now,...you passed by alot my friends houses and the one , i grew up in. its bad but not as as many people think it is.
I read in an article about Birmingham that the Ensley area is gentrifying, so I came to watch this video. Sure doesn’t look like anything is happening here.
Thank you. My grandparents and many other relatives lived in Ensley. I visited often when I was young and the Ensley Theater was a big part of their downtown. I had hoped it was still standing. I was happy to see my grandparents home on Ave. G. in the video. Also St. Joseph's Catholic Church and kindergarten, I hope is still standing!
Looks like many cities here in Connecticut. Empty factories that were once thriving brass mills, gun makers, foundries, textile plants, and so on. Once the factories close and the jobs go away, the places go to ruin.
Time Keep's On Moveing. And If You Stop And Look To Long It Will Leve You Behind. 9 Out Of 10 Time's It Dont Come Back. But As You See Some Time's Time Just Stop's And That's It. 😎👍✌.
EA THAT IS A TOWN I WOULD LOVE TO METAL DETECT ALL THOSE EMPTY LOTS AND EVEN SOME OF THE YARDS. I BET THERE IS A LOT OF HISTORY BURIED IN THE TOWN. MAYBE YOU COULD GO BACK AND DO THAT.
6:48 if you stop at the stop 🛑 and look to the left I worked at that shop for a little while. Birmingham police put up listening devices to pin pont gunshots,I can't tell up how many times we set them off with cars backfiring and police pop up. That whole place has went downhill, now you don't feel comfortable unless your armed when driving through like you did. I feel like that and I've rarely met a person I couldn't get along with
Everybody left the stores and the community because of the crime rate, even the Walmart there close down many a year ago because of the theft rate. Sad to see ensley go that way, had a mini a kinfolk that worked at us steel there when they shut it down. When you are steel shut down an ensley that was the beginning of the end.
Some of my kin came from Alabama to Texas in the early 1800’s. I think they was running from the law,lol. Couple of ‘em ended up in the Texas army fighting Santa Anna. Anyway I like small town life & lifestyle, nothing better 😊👍🏽🇺🇸. Enjoy your videos.
Them Birmingham cops and Jefferson County sheriff's is gonna write you a FWE if you keep driving like you did on this video....haaaaa Filming while entertaining....
Slowly but surely your generation of hate is dying off. Earlier you said that Ensley used to be a Christian town. Do you realize Jesus the Christ was a Jew? Most like black hair, dark skin, and far from the average white guy? NOT the blue eyed white picture that probably hung in your church. Yes, you triggered me. Thanks
In the 1970's this was a hustling and bustling town,. When US Steel closed, well you saw what happened.
I attended Ensley High from '72 - '75 and it was still thriving. It now looks almost post apocalyptic!
Time may have forgotten it but crime hasnt
This was an interesting video, EA. While I do very much like your usual commentary and observations, this was nice because it really put me in the mindset of being in the driver’s seat alone while I wandered around exploring. When I was more mobile and less disabled, I would do this same thing in the old towns of Michigan. It made me wistful for those days of being free and independent.
I wouldn't mind seeing more like this occasionally. Sure, I could turn the volume down on one of the other “town wanderings” but I’d miss the commentary. This was great, especially with headphones on. Almost hypnotic. Thank you, sir.
I’m 72, back in the day Ensley was the only place we shopped. Lots of stores and restaurants. Sad to see it now. We live about 7 miles west of there.
No talking! We love to listen to you talking. Missed hearing your little stories and commentary. Thanks for all your videos.
That is so sad.....I live in Sale City Georgia and I pray it stays lively till long after I'm gone. We are so small we have one curb store one restaurant and no stop lights. I love it!
I live in a small town in Montana. Unincorporated, population of about 250, a pretty good grocery/feed/gas store, gas station/convenience/hardware store, 2 motels, 3 bars and 3 churches. Not a traffic signal in the whole county. Get stuck in the snow bank on the road? Everyone will stop and help pull you out. Wonderful place to live.
EA, thank you for the tour of Ensley, and thanks to your followers for their input about Ensley and area.
I grew up in Ensley. My daddy worked at US Steel. Right at the viaduct. It had 2 great restaurants Ensley Grille, & Catfish Cabin. When US Steel shut down that was the beginning of the end.
Me to
I remember ensley grill we ate there alot
At one time Ensley had the largest Italian population in the state. Part of the area was called Little Italy. When the Ensley Iron Works and iron ore mining in the region shut down, that was the demise of Ensley. Ensley lived and died by the iron industry. I think Ideal Furniture is about the only bigger business left in the old part of Ensley.
Awesome drive threw ,and around that sad looking town,roads are somewhat maintained. But wow!!!!that was a strange house!with the red stones scattered threw out the building.
Really good buddy of mine worked that area as a policeman way back in the day. He loves history almost as much as you and I. He has some old yearbooks from ensly. He showed me one from the mid twenties. The cheerleaders were scary looking. Kinda looked like jesters. Their fight song was just as terrifying
Sad how these little cities disappear over time. I see it happening here out west a lot
Ensley has not disappeared but has been abandoned by the so-called politicians who don't even put up an effort
These streets bring back memories of childhood. There are many development projects already moving. There's Ensley Social, a entertainment and condo area, Ramsay Mccormick Building was demolished and being rebuilt as a government office complex, Oak Hill housing development is being built and Ensley High School is turning into a housing and business complex. Alot of $$$$ is being poured into the area!
Hope so, it could be so cool!
Howdy Partners. My distant relatives founded Ensley, Alabama. Looks like a nice town to me.
Definitely wouldn't take that trip at night. In the 70s my grandfather had a Texaco station and the Arco station on Avenue E in Ensley I live about four or five miles from there now
i lived here since i was 5 years old, I'm 35 years old now...i live in LA now,...you passed by alot my friends houses and the one , i grew up in. its bad but not as as many people think it is.
It’s a cool looking town. Bham shootings is crazy now. I’ve never had trouble ever going there but I don’t roam around at night.
They have some nice artwork on the walls there. Sure beats the tagging you usually see.
I like when you say something about the towns
I read in an article about Birmingham that the Ensley area is gentrifying, so I came to watch this video. Sure doesn’t look like anything is happening here.
I live on 19th Ave j , was born at holy family hospital in 73 grow up most my life till like 85,86
Where is the old Ensley Theatre? Loved the video; thank you!
Everything is right downtown there. I don’t remember if I saw it
Thank you. My grandparents and many other relatives lived in Ensley. I visited often when I was young and the Ensley Theater was a big part of their downtown. I had hoped it was still standing. I was happy to see my grandparents home on Ave. G. in the video. Also St. Joseph's Catholic Church and kindergarten, I hope is still standing!
Very strange!!!!kinda spooky!!!especially after dark,I bet!!!
the green and yellow house is where i grew up,...but its not as bad as you think
Looks like many cities here in Connecticut. Empty factories that were once thriving brass mills, gun makers, foundries, textile plants, and so on. Once the factories close and the jobs go away, the places go to ruin.
Super Cool
Time Keep's On Moveing. And If You Stop And Look To Long It Will Leve You Behind. 9 Out Of 10 Time's It Dont Come Back. But As You See Some Time's Time Just Stop's And That's It. 😎👍✌.
Are we there yet? Oooo I’m getting car sick 🤢
wow! I only saw one person doing yardwork. A few cars. kinda spooky.
EA THAT IS A TOWN I WOULD LOVE TO METAL DETECT ALL THOSE EMPTY LOTS AND EVEN SOME OF THE YARDS. I BET THERE IS A LOT OF HISTORY BURIED IN THE TOWN. MAYBE YOU COULD GO BACK AND DO THAT.
6:48 if you stop at the stop 🛑 and look to the left I worked at that shop for a little while. Birmingham police put up listening devices to pin pont gunshots,I can't tell up how many times we set them off with cars backfiring and police pop up. That whole place has went downhill, now you don't feel comfortable unless your armed when driving through like you did. I feel like that and I've rarely met a person I couldn't get along with
I literally keep expecting zombies to come out from behind buildings. The architecture here looks a lot like the Atlanta of the Walking Dead.
ok, thank you.
So much boarded up...edging towards a ghost town 😔
A woman pulled into a gas station in Ensley in the early 00s and vanished. They found her car abandoned the next day.
I had the read that. It started like an old joke. Sorry not funny I know
@@ExploringAlabama haha yeah it does lol. Yes they found it torched in midfield the next day. Crazy stuff
Everybody left the stores and the community because of the crime rate, even the Walmart there close down many a year ago because of the theft rate. Sad to see ensley go that way, had a mini a kinfolk that worked at us steel there when they shut it down. When you are steel shut down an ensley that was the beginning of the end.
Wow!!! Who???owns these ,where are the homeless people?or squaters?
Some of my kin came from Alabama to Texas in the early 1800’s. I think they was running from the law,lol. Couple of ‘em ended up in the Texas army fighting Santa Anna. Anyway I like small town life & lifestyle, nothing better 😊👍🏽🇺🇸. Enjoy your videos.
Better pack some heat on that side o town. Lol
I been there
Niagara falls ny is the same way
Small town Americana is disappearing fast. 😕
Better than Aintry, Ga.
Didn't see much for businesses in that town no restaurants didn't see a gas station no Auto parts places yeah it's dying it's already dead
Them Birmingham cops and Jefferson County sheriff's is gonna write you a FWE if you keep driving like you did on this video....haaaaa
Filming while entertaining....
Not the suburbs😂
What a shame.I remember ensley was a Christian town
Better get out of the hood.
This is what happens when you have Black people in the government.Local😢
Slowly but surely your generation of hate is dying off. Earlier you said that Ensley used to be a Christian town. Do you realize Jesus the Christ was a Jew? Most like black hair, dark skin, and far from the average white guy? NOT the blue eyed white picture that probably hung in your church. Yes, you triggered me. Thanks