>>> EARLY IN THE 20TH CENTURY, THE UNITED STATES WAS FACING A SERIOUS CRISIS.

AMERICA WAS COMING INTO ITS OWN AS AN INDUSTRIAL GIANT, BUT ITS YOUNG MEN HAD GONE OFF TO FIGHT IN WORLD WAR I.

>>THIS HAS SHRUNK THE LABOR FORCE NEEDED TO KEEP THE COUNTRY'S ECONOMIC ENGINE GOING.

COTTON FIELDS IN THE SOUTHWEST, BEAT FIELDS ACROSS THE PLAINS, AND STEL MILLS IN THE MIDWEST ALL NEEDED WORKERS TO FILL THE ACUTE WARTIME LABOR SHORTAGE.

EVERY WHERE THE RAILROAD, THE BACKBONE OF THE COUNTRY, NEEDED TO MAINTAIN AN EXPAND THOUSANDS OF MILES OF AGING TRACK.

AT THIS CROSSROADS, AT THIS I AM TOO OF DESPERATE NEED, THE UNITED STATES TURNED FROM IMMIGRANT WORKERS FROM ONE COUNTRY IN PARTICULAR FOR HELP.

THAT COUNTRY WASN'T ITALY OR IRELAND OR POLAND, OR ANY OTHER WHOSE PEOPLE PASSED THROUGH ELLIS ISLAND AT THIS TIME.

THAT COUNTRY WAS MEXICO.

IT IS ESTIMATED THAT BETWEEN 1910 AND 1930, MORE THAN A MILLION MEXICANS CAME TO THE UNITED STATES TO WORK.

MOST WERE RECRUITED AT THE BORDER BY REPRESENTATIVES OF AMERICAN INDUSTRY AND ESPECIALLY OF THE RAILROADS.

SOME OF THESE REPRESENTATIVES EVEN WENT INTO MEXICO TO RECRUIT, BREAKING BOTH MEXICAN AND UNITED STATES LAW IN THEIR AGGRESSIVE QUEST FOR WORKERS.

>> THERE WAS PLENTY OF JOBS BECAUSE AT THAT TIME WHEN MY FATHER GOT HERE, WE WAS PROBABLY INTO WORLD WAR I, AND AT THAT TIME ALL OF OUR MEN THAT WERE OF AGE WERE SERVING IN THAT WAR, AND THE UNITED STATES CALLED MANY HISPANICS TO COME ON OVER TO HELP WITH THE JOBS THAT WERE LEFT VACANT BY OUR SOLDIERS FIGHTING OVER IN EUROPE.

>>THE MEXICANS WHO CAME TO THE UNITED STATES AT THIS TIME LEFT THE COUNTRY IN TREMENDOUS UPHEAVAL.

IT WAS THE TIME OF THE MEXICAN REVOLUTION, A BLOODY TEN YEAR CIVIL WAR, A TIME OF CHAOS, VIOLENCE AND FAMINE.

THE REVOLUTION BEGAN IN 1910 WHEN THE MEXICAN PEOPLE ROSE UP TO OVERTHROW THE DICTATOR, PORFIRIO DIAZ WHO HAS RULED MEXICO SINCE 1876.

DURING HIS PRESIDENCY, DIAZ HAS MODERNIZED MEXICO, BUT HIS RULE IMPROVED LIFE FOR ONLY A FEW, THE SMALL BUT POWERFUL WEALTHY CLASS AND FOREIGN INVESTORS.

THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF MEXICANS LIVED IN GRINDING POVERTY.

THEY LIVED PRIMARILY IN RURAL AREAS, FARRING LANDS TRADITIONALLY HELD IN COMMON.

UNDER DIAZ' RULE, WEALTHY LANDOWNERS HAD TAKEN OVER THESE LANDS IN ORDER TO CREATE MASTIFF, EXPORT PRODUCING FARMS.

AS A RESULT, MILLIONS OF MEXICANS LOST BOTH THEIR HOMES AND THEIR SOURCE OF FOOD.

WHEN THE MEXICAN REVOLUTION BROKE OUT, IT FOR THE COUNTRY FROM NORTH TO SOUTH.

BLOODSHED AND TERROR WERE ADDED TO THE FAMINE AND POVERTY MEXICANS LONG ENDURED.

WITH NO WAY TO SURVIVE IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY, MANY MEXICANS HEADED NORTH.

BUT THEY WERE ALSO DRAWN BY A RUMORS THAT A BETTER LIFE WAS POSSIBLE IN THE UNITED STATES.

THERE IS WORK IN THE UNITED STATES, THE RUMORS RAN, AND THEY WANT A LOT OF US.

GET TO THE BORDER, AND YOU WON'T NEED TO LOOK FOR WORK.

IT WILL COME LOOKING FOR YOU.

>>RAILROADS WERE LOOKING AND PAYING $3.50 A DAY, TEN TIMES THE RATE.

IN GALESBURG, ILLINOIS, TWO RAILROADS, CHICAGO BURLINGTON AND QUINCY, AND TOPEKA IN SANTA FE WERE HIRING.

THEY PROVIDED THE TRANSPORTATION, A JOB, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY FOR THESE UPROOTED MEXICANS, A PLACE TO LIVE AND RAISE A FAMILY.

THEY PROVIDED A HOME.

I MY NAME IS JENNY MARIA VASQUEZ.

MY DAD CAME TO BAILS GURGE ALMOST 100 YEARS AGO.

HE WAS FROM LEON, GUANAJUATO OR >> LEE: ON, GUANAJUATO, MESS CO, AND HE WAS BORN IN MARCH 19 -- 1892.

HE CAME TO THE UNITED STATES LEGALLY ONLY PAID THREE CENTS TO CROSS THE BORDER, AND HE CAME LOOKING FOR HIS DAD BECAUSE HIS DAD LEFT HIS FAMILY, AND THEY HADN'T HEARD FROM HIM FOR A LONG TIME.

HE CAME TO GALESBURG AROUND 1915.

HE NEVER WENT BACK TO MEXICO.

EVER.

HE NEVER SAW HIS MOTHER AGAIN.

>> >>JOSE'S PADILLA'S JOURNEY WAS TYPICAL.

THEY WERE TRANSPORTED IN BOXCARS OR CATTLE CARS FROM ONE AMERICAN TOWN TO ANOTHER, WHEREVER THEIR LABOR WAS NEEDED.

WHEN JOSE PADILLA ARRIVED IN 1915, THERE WERE ONLY A FEW MEXICANS LIVING IN GALESBURG.

ONE OF THEM WAS ZACATECAS MACIEL.

>>HE CAME IN 1908.

THE DOCUMENT I HAVE FOR CITIZENSHIP PAPERS GAVE ME THAT INFORMATION.

HE CROSSED FROM JUAREZ INTO TEXAS, IN 1909.

>>MY MOTHER CAME IN 1908.

JUAN LUNA WAS WORKING AS A GOLD MINER IN HIS HOME TOWN OF ZACATECAS, MEXICO, WHEN HE WAS RECRUITED TO BE ATTRACT WORKER BY THE SANTA FE RAILROAD.

>>HE WAS GIVEN PAPERS AND TRANSPORTATION, AND ARRANGED EVERYTHING FOR HIM TO COME ACROSS, AND TRANSPORTATION FOR THE JOB.

>>HE WENT FROM EL PASO WHERE HE GOT MARRIED, UP TO ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, HE ENDED UP TO SAN ANTONIO, AND ENDED UP IN KANSAS CITY WHERE THERE WAS A LOT OF RAILROAD WORK.

HE WENT TO ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, AND FROM THERE, HE WORKED HIS WAY UP TOWARD CHICAGO.

THIS IS WHERE HE ENDED UP IN GALESBURG.

HE DIDN'T WANT TO GO UP TO CHICAGO BECAUSE HE KNEW IT WAS A BIG CITY.

HE DIDN'T WANT TO LIVE IN THE BIG CITY.

HE ENDED UP HERE IN GALESBURG.

THIS IS WHERE HE ENDED UP HERE AT THE CAMP.

>> BUT WE ALL LIVED THE SAME, BOXCARS.

NOBODY HAD ANYTHING MORE THAN THE OTHER PERSON.

WE LIVED IN A BOXCAR.

YOU SEE THE TRAINS GO WITH BOXCAR.

THAT'S WHAT WE HAD.

THEY TOOK THEM OFF THE FOUR WHEELS AND WENT AND SET IT OVER ON THE GROUND WHERE THEY HAD ENOUGH ROOM FOR A BOXCAR.

THAT'S WHERE THEY PUT IT AT.

ONE TIME I HAD TWO BOXCARS.

THE OTHER FAMILY HAD THREE BOXCARS, BECAUSE THEY HAD A BIGGER FAMILY.

>> THE IDEA OF MAKING HOMES FROM BOXCARS WAS NOTHING NEW.

RAILROADS HAD BEEN USING BOXCARS AS TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR TRACK WORKERS ALMOST FROM THE BEGINNING.

SOME RAILROADS CREATED ROLLING VILLAGES, MADE UP OF TWO OR THREE BOXCARS CONVERTED TO BUNKS AND ONE TO BE USED AS A COMMISSARY.

IN THE EARLY DAYS, ONLY SINGLE MEN WERE BROUGHT UP FROM MEXICO AND HOUSED THIS WAY WHEREVER THEY WERE WORKING ALONG THE RAILROAD LINE.

AS TIME WENT ON, THINGS CHANGED.

IN MANY PLACES, INCLUDING GALESBURG, THE BOXCARS USED BY THE RAILROAD TO HOUSE MEXICAN WORKERS WERE TAKEN OFF THEIR WHEELS AND SET ON THE GROUND IN BOXCAR CAMPS OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS AND RIGHT NEXT TO THE TRACKS.

THESE BOXCARS HOUSED THE TRACK WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, NOT JUST SINGLE MEN.

ONCE SET ON THE GROUND, THE BOXCARS WERE OUTFITTED WITH WINDOWS, DOORS, AND POT BOL ID STOVES.

>> >>MR.

PEREZ FIRST LIVED IN RAILROAD HOUSING BUT EVENTUALLY OBTAINED A BOXCAR AND TURNED IT INTO A HOME NEAR THE SANTA FE CAMP.

>>I DIDN'T FIND OUT ABOUT IT UNTIL LATER IN LIFE.

I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT AS A CHILD.

NO ONE EVER TALKED ABOUT IT.

WHEN I DID FIND OUT ABOUT IT, I TRIED TO PLACE IT WITH P MY INTEREST IN A STORY CALLED "THE BOXCAR CHILDREN" WHICH WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITE STORIES GROWING UP AS A CHILD, FIRST, SECOND, OR THIRD GRADE.

I WAS JUST INTRIGUED BY THE STORY "THE BOXCAR CHILDREN," NOT REALIZING THAT THAT REALLY HAD SOME BACKGROUND WITH WHAT I HAD FROM MY HERITAGE.

>> I FOUND OUT LATER I COULD WORK ON THE RAILROAD, BUT I HAD TO SIGN A MINOR'S RELEASE, I WAS 15 ACTUALLY, AND I PASSED OFF AS 16.

I TOLD THEM I WAS 16.

MY DAD SIGNED A MINOR'S RELEASE IN CASE I GOT HURT OR SOMETHING.

AND JOHN BAXTER, THE FOR MAN, HIRED ME.

I GOT ON A SECTION GANG, I WAS 15, AND I GOT TO THOUGH ALL THAT ABOUT RAILROADS.

I WATCHED THE OLD-TIMERS AND ALL THAT.

MAINLY I WORKED WITH MR. JIM PONCE.

HE TOOK ME ON AS A PARTNER, YOU KNOW LAYING TIES AND DRIVING SPIKES AND EVERYTHING.

IT WAS HARD WORK.

>> AND THEY WORK HARD ON THE RAILROAD.

ESPECIALLY IN THE WINTER, MY DAD WON'T COME HOME FOR THREE WEEKS.

THEY WON'T COME HOME FOR THREE WEEKS, CLEAN ALL THE SWITCHES.

THEY USED TO GO CLEAN IT.

THEY WOULDN'T COME HOME FOR THREE WEEKS.

WHEN HE DID, CLEAR UP TO HIS WAIST HE WAS WET.

HIS BOOTS WERE ALL FROZEN.

HE WORE SPECIAL KIND OF SLIP-ON BOOTS, AND PUT HIS SHOES IN HIS BOOTS.

WHEN HE COME IN, THREE WEEKS, NOT CHANGING, THEY WOULD GO IN, AND HIS FEET WAS JUST FROZEN.

I WOULD TELL HIM SIT DOWN, I WILL TAKE THE BOOTS OFF, HIS SOCKS, IT WAS JUST ALL IN ICE.

>>I WORKED ON THE SECTION -- I WOULDN'T SAY PROBABLY A COUPLE MONTHS OR MONTH OR SO, BUT JUST BEFORE I WENT IN THE SERVICE, AND THAT WAS -- THAT WAS HARD WORK BECAUSE YOU USED TO CARRY TIES, AND YOU USED TO USE A SPIKE HAMMER AND YOU USED TO USE A PICK.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THEM PEOPLE COULD EVEN, YOU KNOW, EVEN WALK HOME.

I MEAN THOSE WERE HEAVY.

ONE DAY MY DAD, HE BROUGHT ONE HOME.

HE WANTED TO SEE -- SO WE COULD SEE ONE UP CLOSE.

I AM TELLING YOU, YOU COULDN'T EVEN LIFT IT.

YOU COULD DRAG IT, BUT YOU COULDN'T PICK IT.

>>A SPIKE HAMMER ON DISPLAY AT THE GALESBURG RAILROAD MUSEUM WEIGHS TEN POUNDS.

THIS TOOL WAS WIELDED COUNTLESS TIMES Aú DAY BY SECTION WORKERS, ALSO KNOWN AS GANDY DANCERS AS THEY LAID OR REPAIRED SECTIONS OF TRACK.

>>THE ORIGIN OF THE TERM "GANDY DANCER" IS NOT CLEAR.

ONE POPULAR THEORY SUGGESTS IT CAME FROM THE MANY INTRICATE TASKS THE WORKERS PERFORMED THAT REQUIRED THEM TO MOVE IN UNISON, LIKE A DANCE.

RAILS WERE TOO HEAVY FOR A SMALL CREW TO HANDLE.

IT TOOK A DOZEN MEN TO CARRY ONE OR EVEN TO NUDGE ONE BACK INTO ALIGNMENT.

ALMOST ANY JOB WAS EASIER THAN GANDY DANERS, AND A FEW MEXICAN WORKERS WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO LAND BETTER ASSIGN.

S. CARLOS LUNAS A FATHER, JUAN, WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO MOVE BEYOND BACK BREAKING TRACK WORK.

>>HE STARTED OUT A SECTION, YOU KNOW, SECTION WORKER.

BUT EVENTUALLY HE HAD THE MOST SENIORITY, AND WHEN THEY WANTED -- THEY CREATED THIS JOB, TRACK WALKER.

HE WOULD INSPECT SWITCHES.

AND HE CARRIED, I DON'T KNOW, SOME KIND OF IRON WRENCH, A SPIKE MALL, AND HE WENT AROUND AND HE WOULD ADJUST THEM FIRST ONE DAY.

AND HE WOULD GO BACK THE NEXT WITH A BUCKET OF OIL, AND HE WOULD OIL THEM DOWN AND SO FORTH.

BUT THAT WAS HIS JOB.

BUT HE DID A LOT OF WALKING.

HE LIKED IT.

HE LIKED IT.

>>WHEN I WAS ABOUT 15, I STARTED WORKING ON THE RAILROAD AT THE ICE HOUSE WHICH WAS OVER THERE BY THE DAVIS CAMP.

WE USED TO ICE THESE REFRIGERATOR CARS.

AND IT WAS -- I USED TO LIKE THE JOB BECAUSE IT WASN'T ACTUALLY ALL THAT HARD.

WE WERE JUST PUSHING THE BLOCKS OF ICE AND BREAK THEM UP AND PUSH THEM IN THE REFRIGERATOR IN THE HOLES AT THE END OF THE BOXCAR WHERE THE REFRIGERATION WAS.

>>JOSE PADILLA'S SONNY, MANNY WAS WORKING FOR THE CB & Q IN THE 40'S WHEN A NEW WAVE OF MEXICAN WORKERS ARRIVED.

THEY WERE PART OF THE BRACERO PROGRAM, TO MAKE UP FOR THE LABOR SHORTAGE CAUSED BY THE UNITED STATES ENTRY INTO WORLD WAR II.

>>BRACEROS IS SPANISH FOR "LABORER."

THERE IS NO MYSTERY ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF THIS TERM.

A BRACEROS IS A MAN WHO WORKS WITH HIS BRAZOS.

>>HIS ARMS.

>>THE ROUND HOUSE WAS FULL OF BRACEROS.

THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS I GOT THE JOB THERE AT THE ROUNDHOUSE BECAUSE I COULD SPEAK BOTH LANGUAGES.

AND I GOT ALONG WITH THEM REAL GOOD.

THEY WERE REAL GOOD WORKERS.

I HAD A VERY GOOD JOB THERE.

I WAS ABLE TO MEET ALL THESE ENGINEERS, AND GAVE THEM ALL THE TOOLS THEY NEEDED, OIL CANS AND WHATEVER.

SO THAT WAS A NICE JOB THAT I HAD.

AND THE REST OF MY FRIENDS, THEY WERE WORKING INSIDE THE ROUNDHOUSE.

THEY WERE -- THEY WERE FIREMEN, YOU KNOW, BUILD A FIRE, FOR THE STEAM ENGINE.

>>ALTHOUGH THE RAILROADS PROVIDED THE MOST JOBS, MAL I CAN'T BELIEVE FOUNDRY WAS THE SECOND LARGEST EMPLOYER OF MEXICANS IN GALESBURG.

>>ONE OF THEM PLACES WHERE I MEAN IT WAS ROUGH WORK, HOT.

THEY MADE ALL KINDS OF MOLDS FOR THE TRAINS AND FOR DIFFERENT KINDS OF TRUCKS.

YOU NAME IT, THEY WOULD MAKE IT THERE.

THEY HAD THE MOLD.

>> >>MY DAD WORKED THERE 25 YEARS.

HE WAS A MOLDER.

YEAH, HE WAS A MOLDER.

ME AND MY SISTER USED TO TAKE HIM LUNCH AT DINNER TIME.

WE WOULD BE THERE, BE SURE TO BE THERE BY LUNCH TIMING AND WE WOULD TAKE HIM AND STAND IN THE DOOR AND WATCH HIM WORK.

IT WAS HARD WORK.

IT WAS SO SMOKY INSIDE.

IT WAS BLUE INSIDE.

IT WAS DARK IN THERE.

AND YOU COULD HARDLY SEE THEM IN THERE.

MY DAD CARRIED A GREAT BIG KETTLE WHERE HE WOULD CATCH THE IRON, AND THEN RUN OVER TO THE MOLDS AND PUT IT IN.

IT WAS -- HE WORKED AT 25 YEARS DOING THAT.

25 YEARS.

MY DAD WORKED REAL HARD.

>> >> MY FATHER TOLD ME LATER BEFORE HE PASSED AWAY, "SON, DON'T WORK IN THE FOUNDRY, AND DON'T WORK IN THE RAILROADS."

>> I WAS BORN IN GALESBURG, ILLINOIS, AT THE WEST HUMPS YARDS IN 1921.

I LIVED IN THE WEST HUMPS FROM WHEN I WAS BORN TO 1930.

AND FROM 1930 TO '39, I LIVED AT THE DAVIS.

FROM '39 TO 1950, I LIVED AT THE SANTA FE.

>> MARY MACIEL PONCE LIVED IN ALL THREE OF GALESBURG'S MAIN RAILROAD CAMPS ON THE CITY'S SOUTHWEST SIDE.

THE WEST HUMPS CAMP, OPERATED BY THE CB & Q, WAS CLOSED IN 1931, AND ITS TENANTS MOVED TO THE DAVIS CAMP.

MEANWHILE, THE SANTA FE RAILROAD WAS MOVING ITS TENANTS INTO BRICK ROW HOUSES BUILT TO REPLACE THE BOXCARS.

AN OFFICIAL RECORD EXISTS OF THE MEXICANS LIVING IN GALESBURG AT THIS TIME.

IN 127, GEORGE T EDSON, A FIELD RESEARCHER FOR THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS WAS SENT TO THE SURVEY THE MEXICAN COLONIAS, OR SETTLEMENTS, TAKING ROOT ACROSS THE MIDWEST.

IN GALESBURG, EDSON FOUND A COLONIA OF OVER 300 MEXICANS, ROUGHLY HALF OF WHOM LIVED IN BOXCARS AT THE HUMPS OR THE DAVIS.

EDSON DESCRIBED THE LIVING CONDITIONS AT THE DAVIS CAMP AS "MISERABLE."

>>IT WAS ROUGH.

IT WAS ROUGH.

ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAD TO GO OUTSIDE, IN THE BATHROOM, IT HAD TO BE OUTSIDE.

MY DAD HAD A LITTLE HEATER IN THERE.

HE HAD KEROSENE.

HE'D GET UP IN THE NIGHT, GO SEE IF THE KEROSENE WAS ENOUGH IN THE WINTER.

SO IT WOULD BE WARM.

>>FOR WASHING, WE JUST HAD TUBS WE WOULD HAUL WATER, AND HAULED WATER AND HAUL MORE WATER.

WE WOULD HAVE OUTDOOR FIRE AND BIG TUBS AND THEY WOULD HEAT THE WATER UP.

THEN THEY JUST HAD A WASHBOARD.

>>BESIDES THE NOISE, VIBRATIONS, AND SHOWERS OF BLACK SOOT FROM THE STEAM LOCOMOTIVES, LIVING NEXT TO THE TRACKS HAD MORE SERIOUS DRAWBACKS, ESPECIALLY FOR THE PARENTS OF SMALL CHILDREN.

>>ONE OF THE DANGERS OF LIVING AT THE CAMP, AND WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT WE LIVED OUT WHERE THE STREET IS, BUT -- ON THE BACK, ON THE BACK END, THERE WAS FAMILIES THAT WERE LIVING -- I'D SAY LIKE 15, 20 FEET FROM THE TRACKS.

THERE WAS ONE FELLOW, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM, BUT HE -- HE LOST A LEG.

HE LOST A LEG WHEN A TRAIN RAN OVER HIM.

>> OUR LIFE THERE WAS A LITTLE HARD.

WE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH.

MY DAD TOOK SICK WHEN I WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD.

THE FIRST YEAR I WENT TO L ZOO.

HE WAS HANDICAPPED.

IT WAS SOMETHING THAT TODAY COULD BE TAKEN CARE OF.

HE WAS DISABLED, AND MY MOTHER WAS THE BREADWINNER.

SHE HAD TO HARNESS A HORSE, AND WE HAD A WAGON, NOT A BUGGY, A WAGON.

SHE WOULD COME INTO TOWN TO DO ERRANDS.

SHE DID LAUNDRY, AND SHE DELIVERED THE LAUNDRY TO THE EXTRA GANGS BECAUSE THEY WERE ALL SINGLE MEN.

SHE WOULD COOK -- I DON'T KNOW REMEMBER HOW OFTEN, BUT SHE O WOULD COOK TAMALES, AND SHE WOULD BE READY BY THE TIME THE WORKERS GOT OUT OF WORK.

AND THEY WOULD ALL COME WITH THEIR LITTLE PANS, CONTAINERS TO BUY TAMALES FROM MOM BECAUSE THEY WERE ALL SINGLE.

THEY HAD NO COOKS.

>>AT AGE 27, HE MEAL IA MACIEL SUDDENLY HAS TO CARE FOR DISABLED HUSBAND, FOUR SMALL CHILDREN, AND EARN A LIVING AS WELL.

BORN IN MEXICO, BUT RAISED IN GALESBURG FROM THE AGE OF EIGHT, SHE IS COMPLETELY BILINGUAL.

LIKE MANY OTHER MEXICAN WOMEN, SHE BRINGS MONEY IN BY COOKING AND DOING LAUNDRY, BUT HER ENGLISH SKILLS GIVE HER WIDER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

>>SHE USED TO COME INTO DOWN DO DO MANY ERRANDS.

SHE DROVE THAT HORSE AND BUGGY.

SOMETIMES SHE WOULD BE DETAINED IN TOWN UNTIL DUSK.

I COULD SEE THAT LITTLE LIGHT COMING DOWN THE ROAD, ON HENDERSON STREET, WHEN SHE WAS COMING HOME.

SHE HARNESSED HER OWN HORSE.

SHE DID EVERYTHING.

SHE WAS A SMALL WOMAN, PROBABLY FOUR FOOT.

SO MY MOTHER WAS DOING THE LAUNDRY, AND IT WAS TIME FOR LUNCH.

IT WAS A BASEMENT AT THAT TIME THE BASEMENT IN HOMES WERE VERY NICE.

SHE WAS DOING THE LAUNDRY, AND WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR LUNCH, MRS. WOLF CAME DOWN WITH A TRAY WITH FOOD.

MY MOTHER WAS TO EAT IN THE BASEMENT.

MY MOTHER SAID "WHEREVER ELSE I WORK, I GET TO EAT IN THE KITCHEN.

AND I AM NOT ABOUT TO EAT IN YOUR CELLAR."

SHE WALKED AWAY AND LEFT HER LAUNDRY, EVERYTHING, IN HER HANDS.

SO MY MOTHER WASN'T GOING TO TOLERATE WAY BACK THEN THAT KIND OF TREATMENT.

BECAUSE MY MOTHER WENT TO SCHOOL.

SHE KNEW ENGLISH.

SHE KNEW HOW TO DEFEND HERSELF, SPEAK FOR HERSELF.

>> AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 20TH CENTURY, AMERICAN CORPORATIONS BECAME INTENT ON FINDING WAYS TO MAKE LABOR MORE EFFICIENT AND, THEREFORE, MORE PROFITABLE.

THE SANTA FE RAILROAD TOOK THESE DEVELOPMENTSp SERIOUSLY.

ASú EARLY AS 1906, IT BEGAN TO RETHINK ITS RECRUITMENT STRATEGY.

INSTEAD OF STARTING FROM SCRATCH AND RECRUITING A NEW GROUP OF SINGLE MEN AT THE BORDER EVERY SPRING, THEY STARTED HIRING MARRIED MEN AND ENCOURAGING THEM TO BRING THEIR FAMILIES.

LIKE OTHER RAILROADS, THE SANTA FE PROVIDED BOXCAR HOUSING FOR ITS MEXICAN WORKERS.

IN HIS 1927 REPORT, GEORGE EDSON DOCUMENTED THAT FIVE FAMILIES WERE PAYING TWO DOLLARS A MONTH TO LIVE AT THE SANTA FE CAMP.

BUT SOON AFTER EDSON'S VISIT THE SANTA FE UPGRADED.

IT REPLACED BOXCARS WITH BRICK ROW HOUSES IN THE CAMPS, AS FOR EXAMPLE, IN FORT MADISON, IOWA.

>>WE WERE THE LAST FAMILY TO MOVE OUT OF THE SANTA FE CAMP, AND WE MOVED OUT IN 1956.

MY MOM AND DAD LIVED THERE FROM 1923 WHEN THEY GOT MARRIED UNTIL 1956, AND THEN WE MOVED INTO TOWN.

>>ACTUALLY, THE SANTA FE CAMP WASN'T A BAD LIFE.

WE RUNNING WATER AND WHOLE THING, YOU KNOW.

>> >>I REMEMBER HAVING A LOT OF FUN.

AT THAT TIME WE DIDN'T HAVE TV OR ANY OF THEM THINGS.

WE GREW UP MORE OR LESS OUTSIDE ALL OF THE TIME IN THE SUMMERTIME, AND EVEN IN THE WINTERTIME WE WERE OUTSIDE, MOSTLY SHREDDING AND SLIDING AND THINGS LIKE, DOING THINGS LIKE THAT.

IN THE SUMMERTIME, WE USED TO PLAY PICKUP GAMES OF SOFTBALL, FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL.

AND THERE WAS ALWAYS PLENTY OF KIDS TO PLAY WITH, AND KIDS USED TO COME DOWN AND LIKE LUPE PEREZ WHO LIVED UP THE HILL, AND HE USED TO COME DOWN AND PLAY WITH US.

MY OLDER SISTERS LOVED TO SING.

WE HAD AN OLD VICTROLLA.

WE DIDN'T HAVE ELECTRICITY.

I GRADUATED IN 152, AND WE STILL DIDN'T HAVE ELECTRICITY.

HELPING MOM WITH THE LAUNDRY, EVENTUALLY WE -- DAD BOUT HER A MAYTAG WASHER WITH A MOTOR ON IT.

THEN WE WOULD HELP HER START IT IN THE MORNING WHEN WE'D LEAVE FOR SCHOOL.

WE WOULD GAS IT UP FOR HER, AND KICK START IT FOR HER.

AND SHE WOULD LEAVE IT ON, AND SHE'D WASH.

BUT SHE HAD TO HANG IT OUTSIDE AND ALL THAT.

>>COAL AND USED RAILROAD TIES WERE THE MAIN FUELS FOR HEATING AND COOKING.

AT THAT TIME THE SWITCH ENGINES WERE ALL COAL FIRED: THEY DIDN'T HAVE DIESEL.

THEM SWITCH MENUSSED TO THROW COAL OUT TO US, AND WE ALWAYS USED TO PICK IT UP, AND WE ALWAYS HAD PLENTY OF CAME.

MY DAD AND I USED TO -- HE HAD A TWO MAN SAW, AND I USED TO CUT THEM OLD TIES INTO BLOCKS.

AND THEY WOULD FIT INTO THE STOVE.

THAT'S -- WE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEM HEATING.

MY MOM USED TO COOK REAL DELICIOUS MEALS ON THAT COOK STOVE.

SHE USED TO MAKE HER OWN BREAD.

SHE MADE HER OWN NOODLES.

>> WE WERE ALWAYS LIKE A BIG, ALL BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THE LUNAS, PADILLAS, PONCES, AND PEREZ, LEONES, AND SER VAN TES, THE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T LIVE IN THE CAMP, ITSELF, BUT WERE NEARBY, AND WOULD WALK WITH US TO SCHOOL, AP WE ALL WENT TO THE SAME SCHOOL.

>>ROSE HOBEN WELCH TAUGHT SCHOOL IN GALESBURG OVER 60 YEARS.

SHE TOUCHED SO MANY LIVES THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT NAMED A BUILDING AFTER HER.

BUT FEW REMEMBER HER AS FOPPEDLY AS THE CHILDREN OF THE SANTA FE CAMP.

>>WE WENT TO MARY ELLEN WEST GRADE SCHOOL, AND THAT'S WHERE WE WENT TO SCHOOL, AND WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GO TO LT STONE.

BUT NONE OF US KNEW ENGLISH WHATSOEVER.

>>SO THEN MRS. WELCH, ROSE HOBEN WELCH, HEARD OF US, AND SHE SAID THAT WE COULD GO TO MARY ELLEN WEST.

SHE WOULD TAKE US ALL, NO MATTER WHAT, WHETHER WE KNEW ENGLISH OR NOT.

SHE WAS REAL NICE.

WE ENED UP ALL GOING TO MARY ELLEN WEST.

>>WE WERE REAL LUCKY TO TO HAVE ROSE HOBEN WELCH AS THE PRINCIPAL OF THE SCHOOL WE WENT TO.

SHE WAS A HUGE INFLUENCE ON ALL OF OUR LIVES.

>>MRS.

WELCH ALSO WENT TO THE LIBRARY AND SAW TO IT THAT THE CHILDREN WERE GIVEN LIBRARY CARDS.

>>THEY FINALLY GIVE US A LIBRARY CARD.

THEY WOULDN'T GIVE US ONE.

>> NOT AT FIRST.

>>THEY FIGURED WE WOULDN'T BRING THE BOOKS BACK BECAUSE WE WAS MEXICAN KIDS.

THEY FINALLY GIVE US A CARD.

WE WENT IN THERE, AND -- TO THE KID'S DEPARTMENT BE AND CHECKED OUT BOOKS.

THEY WOULD ONLY ALLOW US TWO BOOKS, NO MORE THAN TWO BOOKS.

WHEN WE BROUGHT THEM BACK, WE WERE ALLOWED ANOTHER EXTRA BOOK IF WE BROUGHT THE OTHER TWO BACK.

BUT THAT'S WHERE WE LEARNED A LOT OF BOOKS AND STORIES THAT WE KNOW NOW AND LEARNED BACK THERE WHEN THE REST OF THE KIDS AHEAD OF US KNEW ALL THEM.

ROSE HOBEN WELCH LITERALLY OPENED THE DOORS OF FORMAL EDUCATION, BUT THE CHILDREN HAD TO WALK THROUGH THEM.

>>AS WE STARTED LEARNING ENGLISH, THEN WE COULD SPEAK TWO LANGUAGES.

THEN WE REALLY ENDED UP EDUCATING OURSELVES BECAUSE WE WANTED TO BE THERE WITH EVERYONE ELSE.

>> MOST OF THE FIRST MEXICANS WHO A CAME TO GALESBURG ARE NOW BURIED IN ST. JOSEPH'S CEMETERY ON GALESBURG'S WEST SIDE.

BUT NOT IN THIS SECTION.

THIS IS WHERE MOST OF THEM ARE BURIED.

ALTHOUGH THEY LIVED MOST OF THEIR LIVES IN THE HEARTLAND, FIRST MEXICAN I GRANTS RETAPED THEIR ROOTS IN THE HOMELAND.

THESE ROOTS ARE STILL STRONG.

THEIR GRAVES ARE LOVINGLY DECORATED FOLLOWING MEXICAN TRADITION.

TRADITION WAS THE GLUE THAT HELD DAILY LIFE TOGETHER IN THE CAMPS.

WOMEN MADE TORTILLAS BY HAND EVERY DAY FOR EVERY MEAL.

THE VIR VING OF GUADALUPE WERE EVERY WHERE TO HELP THE SPIRIT.

FOR THE BODY, THERE WAS HOME REMEDIES AND CURANDERAS OR HEALERS, TIODORA PACHECO AT THE DAVIS CAMP WAS SAID TO HAVE A GIFT.

>>I HAD ONE SON THAT WOULD GO TO SCHOOL, AND COME HOME WITH A HEADACHE, AND ONE EYE CLOSED AND A HEADACHE.

THAT'S WHEN MY MOTHER WOE GET AN EGG AND CUP OF WATER, AND PUT IT ALL OVER HIM, PUT UNDER HIS HEAD AND ALL THAT.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT 20 MINUTES.

HE WOULD FALL ASLEEP.

SHE CRACKED AN EGG AND PUT IT IN A CUP.

GOT A LITTLE STRAW, AND MADE A LITTLE CUP, AND MY SON WOULD SLEEP.

WHEN HE GOT UP, HE WOULD LOOK AT HIS HEAD.

WHEN HE GOT UP, IT LOOKED AT IT, HE SAID, I TOLD YOU I WAS SICK.

THAT EGG LOOKED LIKE IT WAS COOKED IN HOT WATER.

>>PARENTS WORKED HARD FOR THEIR CHILDREN, AND CHILDREN WERE EXPECTED TO DO THEIR PART SOMETIMES AT A VERY YOUNG AGE.

MY DAD HAD A SAYING, YOU CAN DO EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO DO, BUT FIRST, YOU HAVE TO DO WHAT HE WANTS YOU TO DO.

AND THAT WOULD COME TO HAULING THE WATER, CHOPPING THE WOOD, TAKING CARE OF THE COAL, AND THE SUMMERTIME AND FALL, WORKING IN THE GARDEN WE HAD TO MAKE OUR OWN FOOD.

WE HAD A BIG GARDEN, PUMPKINS, AND CUCUMBERS AND TOMATOES, AND THE HOT SAUCE.

PEPPERS FOR THE HOT SAUCE.

MOST BOXCAR CAMPS HAD GARDENS.

THESE WERE A CRUCIAL SOURCE FOR FOOD AND OFTEN QUITE EXSENSE SIVE.

SANTA FE ALLOWED JOSE PA DE IA TO PLANT CORN FOR HIS HOGS ON THE RAILROAD RIGHT-OF-WAY.

DURING THE DEPRESSION, THE CAMPS WERE ONE OF THE PLACES THE HOBO COULD GET A MEAL IN EXCHANGE FOR WORK.

MOM ALWAYS SAID, IF YOU SHARE, THE LORD WILL BLESS YOU MORE.

SHE ALWAYS FED EVERY HOBO THAT CAME TO THE DOOR.

SOMETIMES WE USED TO GET KIND OF MAD BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT HER TO FEED THEM.

SHE WOULD SAY, I DON'T KNOW IF ONE OF THESE DAYS ONE OF MY SONS WILL BE DOING THAT.

>> AT THE DAVIS CAMP, WE WENT TO JAMAICA, THEY HAD BIG DANCING THINGS THERE, YOU KNOW, BIG CELEBRATIONS.

>>CELEBRATIONS FEATURING MEXICAN FOOD, MUSIC, AND DANCING, CALLED JAMAICA WERE HELD AT THE DAVIS CAMP AND ATTRACTED CROWDS FROM GALESBURG AND NEARBY TOWNS.

>>EVERYBODY WOULD GET TOGETHER AND MAKE A -- HAVE A BOOTH WHERE YOU WOULD ALWAYS MADE TAMALES, MY DAD WAS REAL GOOD AT MAKING TAMALES.

AND SOME WOULD MAKE ENCHILADAS OR BEANS, AND PEOPLE WOULD COME FROM FORT MADISON AND EVEN CHICAGO, FOR JAMAICA, AND THEY WERE LIKE THE 12TH OF DECEMBER FOR OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE, AND -- BUT IT WAS A WONDERFUL TIME.

EVERYBODY WOULD JUST LOOKING FORWARD BECAUSE WE HAD MUSIC FROM FORT MADISON, HE CAME AND PLAYED THE MUSIC FOR US.

WE WOULD ALL GET UP AND DANCE.

MY DAD ESPECIALLY WOULD MAKE A LITTLE PLATFORM, AND THAT'S WHERE WE GOT UP AND DANCED.

WE HAD A VERY GOOD TIME .

MUSIC WAS A CONSTANT IN DAILY LIFE, NOT JUST DURING JAMAICA.

ON SUMMER NIGHTS, A FIDDLE ORGY TAR AND FEW VOICES WERE ENOUGH TO GET DANCERS ON THEIR FEET.

THEY DANCED IN SIP DERS, THEIR LEGS COVERED IN DUST UP TO THEIR KNEES BY THE TIME THEY WERE THROUGH.

>>THEN THERE WAS ALWAYS MUSIC, SINGING.

MY MOTHER SANG A LOT.

SHE LOVED MUSIC, IN FACT, SHE -- THEY USED TO HAVE VAUDEVILLE AT THE ORPHEUM, AND SHE SANG BEFORE ONE OF THE VAUDEVILLE ACTS, YOU KNOW, LIKE AN OPENING ACT.

SHE DID SING AT THE ORPHEUM.

SHE ALWAYS TOLD US ABOUT THAT.

>> >> I HAD SOME BROTHERS WHO MADE, MY BROTHER, EDDIE, USED TO PLAY SAXOPHONE.

MY BROTHER JOE PLAYED GUITAR, AND PATO, EVERYBODY CALLED HIM PATO, HE PLAYED THE BASS.

>>THE BAND, PADILLA BROTHERS WERE IN WERE CALLED THE HUNGRY FIVE.

BILLED AS THE HUNGRY FIVE, AND STARVING ONE, WHEN MARY JO SHAFFER SANG WITH THEM.

IN 1961, EDDIE AND JOE WERE STILL PLAYING MUSIC, FOR LOWS CRISTALLIS, WHOSE SONG, CRYSTAL ROCK WAS A HIT IN CHICAGO AREA POP CHARTS.

>> MY GRANDFATHER WAS SOSTENES PEREZ.

>>IN THE MID 1930'S, SOSTENES PEREZ WAS ONE OF THE FIRST MEXICANS TO BUY PROPERTY IN GALESBURG.

HE BOUGHT A PLOT OF LAND LESS THAN A BLOCK FROM THE SANTA FE CAMP.

HE WENT INTO BUSINESS HIMSELF.

>> >>I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER THE COMEDY SHOW, "SANFORD AND SON" WHERE FATHER AND SON HAD A BUSINESS, AND COLLECTED RUBBISH AND THINGS FOR THE COMMUNITY.

THAT'S WHAT MY GRANDFATHER DID AFTER HE WORKED FOR THE RAILROAD.

HE WAS AN ENTREPRENEUR AND STARTED HIS OWN BUSINESS WHICH WAS COLLECTING THE RUBBISH IN GALESBURG.

>> MR. PEREZ WAS A REALLY SMART MAN HE DIDN'T WANT TO WORK FOR ANYBODY ELSE.

HE WORKED FOR OTHER PEOPLE.

HE WORKED AT THE TIE PLANT AND THAT.

BUT HE BOUGHT HIMSELF A LITTLE CAR, AND THEN HE TOOK THE BACK SEAT OUT AND MADE A BED FOR IT, LIKE A TRUCK, AND HE STARTED HAULING TRASH THAT WAY.

>>THEY HAD BASEBALL TEAMS.

THEY HAD ONE IN FORT MADISON, ONE IN GALESBURG, AND ONE IN THE TRI-CITIES.

MR.

PER MEZ HAD THE TRUCK, FOR US, THAT WAS THE ONLY TRANSPORTATION.

SO HE PUT BENCHES OR FOLDING CHAIRS IN THE BACK OF HIS TRUCK, AND THERE WE ALL GO TO TRI-CITIES LIKE THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES.

>> >> OUR NEIGHBORS WERE MOSTLY BLACK.

IT WAS THE WHITE PEOPLE ENDED, AND THE BLACK PEOPLE STARTED, AND THEN THE MEXICANS WERE AT THE VERY OUTSIDE.

THE BLACK PEOPLE WERE ALWAYS -- THEY WERE GOOD, HARD WORKING, HONEST PEOPLE, AND ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORS, THE HALL'S, FRONIABARGERS, HOWELLS, ASHBYS, AND THE DUKE'S.

THEY WERE GOOD PEOPLE, AND LOOKED OUT FOR US.

>> >>CHARLIE ANDERSON WAS ONE SUCH NEIGHBOR.

HE OWNED A GROCERY STORE IN BERRIEN STREET.

BUT HE BECAME MORE THAN JUST A GOOD NEIGHBOR TO THE LEON FAMILY.

PEDRO LEON, WAS RECRUITED BY THE SANTA FE RAILROAD, BUT SOON WAS WORKING 54 HOUR A WEEK AT THE MALLEABLE FOUNDRY.

HE MADE $3.75 A DAY, ENOUGH TO FEED HIS HOUSE AND FAITHFULLY SEND MONEY HOME TO HIS SISTERS EVERY PAYDAY.

I KNOW MY DAD WAS BORN IN 1887.

HE CA I AM FROM MEXICO DOWN HERE, LOOKING FOR A BETTER LIFE.

WE HAD A ONE ROOM HOME LATER ON MY FATHER ADDED ANOTHER ONE, AND I BELIEVE EVEN THE THIRD ROOM WAS ADDED FOR A FAMILY OF SEVEN OF US.

I LOST MY MOTHER WHEN I WAS AGE THREE.

HER NAME WAS DELFINA LEON.

MY FATHER AND OLDER SISTERS WERE LIKE MOTHER AND FATHER TO ME.

WE WENT THROUGH HARD TIMES, BUT NOT TIMES THAT WE COULDN'T FEEL VERY PROUD.

>>AFTER DELFI IN.

A DIED, PEDRO STRUGGLED TO KEEP THE FAMILY GOING.

CHARLIE ANDERSON, THE 74 YEAR OLD GROCER, STEPPED UP TO HELP.

HE TOOK CARE OF SAM WHILE PEDRO PUT IN LONG DAYS AT THE FOUNDRY.

>> HE WAS AN AFRICAN NEGRO, BUT TO ME, HE WAS A FATHER, TOO.

BECAUSE I AM SAYING THAT IS THAT MY SISTER WOULD LEAVE ME THERE AT HIS PLACE, HE WAS MY BABY-SITTER.

HE HAD A STORE, AND I WAS IN GOOD HANDS WHEN I WAS WITH MR. CHARLIE ANDERSON.

I THINK I CALLED HIM MISTER, BUT TO HIM, I WAS HIS BABY.

HE LOVED ME, AND I HUGGED HIM MANY A TIME.

BUT THAT'S A STORY THAT HAS TO BE TOLD BECAUSE IT IS A GREAT MOMENT, A GREAT MOMENT IN MY LIFE.

>>MANY IN GALESBURG REMEMBER AL REED, THE BLACK ENTREPRENEUR WHO SOLD BARBECUE NEAR LAKE STORY ON SUMMER WEEKENDS.

>>HE USED TO LIVE ON THE CORNER OF HARDING AND BERRIEN STREET, AND THERE USED TO BE AN EMPTY LOT THERE, AND HE WOULD SET UP A SCREEN AND SHOW MOVIES.

AND HE WOULDN'T CHARGE YOU NOTHING FOR IT.

>>THERE WERE BENCHES MADE OUT OF ORDINARY WOOD.

WE NEVER COMPLAINED.

WE JUST LAUGHED BECAUSE OF THE GOOD TIMES.

>>TODAY WE STILL THINK OF AL REED AS THAT PERSON WHO BROUGHT ENTERTAINMENT INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, THE WEST PART OF TOWN.

>>BOTH RAILROADS CAMPS WERE PART OF ST. PATRICK'S, THE CHURCH A TWO BLOCKS FROM THE DAVIS CAMP.

IN NEAR RY, ALL CATH LIS WERE ALLOWED TO WORSHIP THERE.

>> SOMETIMES YOU WOULD SEE PEOPLE AT LOOK FUNNY WHEN YOU SAT IN THE PEW, THE CHURCH COULD BE FULL, AND IF IT WAS FULL.

THEY WOULDN'T LET YOU SIT.

IT WAS REALLY CROWDED.

IT IS LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT, YOU KNEW WAS DISCRIMINATION.

THE PRIESTS WERE NEVER THAT WAY.

I MIGHT BE WRONG, BUT MY FEELING TODAY, SOME OF THE PARISHIONERS REALLY DIDN'T WANT YOU THERE.

SO THEY MADE IT A POINT TO SEPARATE US, WE WOULD HAVE OUR OWN CHAPEL AT THE DAVIS WHICH WE ENJOYED VERY MUCH BECAUSE IT WAS CLOSE.

>>MEXICANS WHO LIVED IN THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS GOT THE SAME TREATMENT.

MARY MARTINEZ GRANDFATHER, ELIO RIOS OWNED A HOUSE SINCE 1918 BUT 25 YEARS LATER, MARY WAS STILL NOT WELCOMED AT HER PERISH CHURCH.

>> WE COULDN'T GO TO THE CHURCH.

WE HAD TO GO TO A DIFFERENT CHURCH.

WE WENT TO THE ONE THEY HAD AT THE DAVIS CAMP.

I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY I HAD TO GO TO CHURCH OVER THERE.

BUT CHURCH IS CHURCH.

>>TO REMEDY THE SITUATION, THE BURLINGTON RAILROAD SUPPLIED TWO BOXCARS AND EXTRA BUILDING MATERIALS.

THE PEOPLE AT THE DAVIS CAMP MADE THEM INTO OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CHAPEL.

WE HAD A CHURCH THAT WAS KIND OF GIVEN TO US.

MY FATHER WAS THE ONE IN CHARGE OF FIXES IT UP, AND HE WOULD GET UP IN THE MORNINGS ON SUNDAY MORNINGS AND MAKE SURE THE CHURCH WAS WARM AND HE CLEANED AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

>> FAIR FALEN CAME FROM ST. PATRICK'S TO SAY MASS, AND VOLUNTEERS FROM THE CATHOLIC SCHOOL A FEW BLOCKS AWAY TAUGHT RELIGION CLASSES.

THEY SOON BECAME FOND OF THEIR MEXICAN STUDENTS.

>>WE HAD SOME BEAUTIFUL GIRLS FROM ST. JOSEPH ACADEMY.

THEY WOULD COME ON AND TEACH US OUR LIG UP OF THEY ALSO WOULD CERTAIN TIMES THEY WOULD BRING US A TREAT.

>> THE MOST IMPORTANT DAY ON THE MEXICAN CATHOLIC CALENDAR IS DECEMBER 12, THE FEAST OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE.

>>THE CHILDREN DRESSED UP FOR IT.

>>THERE WAS A LADY THAT CAME FROM STREETOR, AND DRESSED THEM IN SANDALS, AT IN THE MORNING, SINGING!

>>WERE YOU AWARE, THE SANTA FE CAMP, 11 OF US SERVED THIS COUNTRY.

11 OF US.

FIVE THE LUNA FAMILY, AND I THINK THREE OR FOUR FROM THE PADILLA FAMILY, AND TWO FROM THE PONCE FAMILY.

LIKE OTHER AMERICANS, GALESBURG'S MEXICAN AMERICANS WERE NOW BEING ASKED TO SEND THEIR SONS OVERSEAS TO FIGHT WORLD WAR II.

YOUNG MEN ANSWERED THE CALL READILY, JOINING THE FLOOD OF MEXICAN AMERICANS WHO WERE ENLISTING ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

ONE OF THEM WAS SERGEANT FRANCIS G RIOS, BALL TURRET GUNNER FOR A B17 FLYING FORTRESS BOMBER.

>>MY COUSIN, FRANCIS, HE DID A LOT OF MISSION, WAS IN A LOT OF MISSIONS.

THEY HAD TO GO DO 35 MISSIONS BEFORE YOU COULD COME HOME.

EVERY TIME HE WOULD COME BACK FROM A MISSION, HE WOULD VOLUNTEER TO GO FOR THE NEXT ONE UNTIL HE COMPLETED HIS 35 MISSIONS TO BE ABLE TO COME HOME.

HE DID IT.

HE GOT A LOT OF AWARDS, A LOT OF MEDALS.

>>FRANCIS RIOS WON THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS AND HELD ALSO THE AIR MEDAL WITH FOUR OAK LEAF CLUSTERS.

>>MANUEL AND MARIA HIGAREDA'S FOUR OLDEST SONS ALSO SERVED IN WORLD WAR II.

>>LALO WAS THE OLDEST, AND HE ENLISTED IN THE ARMY, AND THEN MY BROTHER, JOHN, WAS IN THE NAVY.

AND THEN JOE WENT INTO THE NAVY, AND PEEWEE.

WE WERE ALL WORRIED ABOUT MY BROTHERS.

EVERYBODY.

WE ALL AT CAMP, WE KNEW WHO WAS IN SER SERVICE, WHERE THEY WERE AT AND HOW THEY WERE DOING.

MY BROTHER PEEWEE WAS HOME.

THEN WHEN HE GOT READY TO GO BACK TO THE TRAIN, WE DIDN'T GET UP AND GO WITH HIM.

AND, SO, THEREFORE, WE ALWAYS THOUGHT ABOUT THAT.

BUT ANYWAY, THE WESTERN UNION FELLOW ON HIS BICYCLE CAME, AND THAT'S THE WAY THEY DELIVERED THE NEWS OF YOUR -- I GOT THE TELEGRAM, AND YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, EVERYBODY ELSE -- I SHOWED IT TO EVERYBODY, AND WE ALL WAS CRYING AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

AND SO ALL I COULD THINK OF WAS GOING NEXT DOOR TO VIT APARTMENT, MY GOOD FRIEND.

AND WE WENT TO THE CHURCH AND PRAYED.

IT WAS VERY, VERY SAD.

BUT FOR THE LONGEST TIME, WE DIDN'T HAVE A STONE PUT UP FOR HIM OR ANYTHING.

FINALLY MY BROTHER JOHN AND I WENT AND TALKED TO THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO GET A FLAG AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

THEY GAVE HIM A FUNERAL BECAUSE HE NEVER HAD ONE BECAUSE HE WAS BURIED AT SEA.

HE WAS IN THE NAVY.

GERMAN SUBMARINE SUNK THEIR SHIP, AND HE WAS ONE OF THE ONES WHO DIED.

>>A FEW WEEKS AFTER THE TELEGRAM, HIGAREDAS WERE GIVEN MORE DETAILS OF THEIR SON'S DEATH IN A LETTER FROM LIEUTENANT, JA COMLY, COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE USS FISK.

>>OUR SHIP WAS LOST ABOUT NOON, AUGUST 2, 1944.

AS A.

HE WAS ON HIS BATTLE STATION AS 40-MILLIMETER GUNNER PERFORMING HIS DUTIES WITH THE HIGHEST DEGREE OF LOYALTY AND EFFICIENCY.

EVEN THOUGH HE SUFFERED FROM A BROKEN AND SEVERELY LACERATED LEG, HE WAS ALWAYS IN THE BEST OF SPIRITS AND COMPLAINED OF LITTLE PAIN.

HE WAS TREATED ABOARD THE RESCUE SHIP BY A MOST CAPABLE MEDICAL OFFICER, BUT HIS STRENGTH FAILED HIM ABOUT 8 P.M. THAT SAME DAY.

HE PASSED INTO THE NEXT WORLD WITH A SMILE UPON HIS LIPS.

>> >> OVER ONE HUNDRED YOUNG MEN FROM GALESBURG'S SMALL MEXICAN COMMUNITY FOUGHT IN WORLD WAR II AND KOREA.

BESIDES GIVING THESE YOUTHS AWAY TO SERVE THEIR COUNTRY, THE MILITARY OFFERED THEM A WAY OUT OF THE BOXCAR CAMPS.

>> >>WHEN THE SOVIET UNION IMPOSED ITS BLOCKADE ON WEST BERLIN IN 1949, CARLOS LUNA EXPECTED THERE WOULD SOON BE YET ANOTHER WAR IN CENTRAL EUROPE.

HE WENT DOWN TO THE RECRUITING OFFICE TO SEE WHAT BRANCH HE MIGHT JOIN.

WE ASKED THEM WHAT THEY HAD.

WE DIDN'T WANT -- WE DIDN'T KNOW WOULD WE WERE GETTING INTO ACTUALLY.

BUT HE ENLIGHTENED US.

HE SAID "WELL I CAN SEND YOU TO JAPAN.

PREASSIGNED TO THE 11TH AIRBORNE DIVISION."

AND WE ASKED HIM "WHAT IS 11TH AIRBORNE DIVISION?"

HE SAID THAT WAS THE PARATROOPERS.

WE LOOKED AT HIM AND NEVER BEEN IN A PLANE BEFORE.

>>CARLOS LUNA WANTED TO HELP HIS COUNTRY, BUT HE ALSO WANTED TO HELP HIS FAMILY BUY A HOUSE.

>>I WANTED THEM OUT OF THE SANTA FE CAMP.

I HAD BEEN SENDING HOME A THAT $50 JUMP PAY TO, I SAID BUY A HOUSE, LOOK FOR A US WHO, AND DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE HOUSE PAYMENT.

IT WILL BE COMING HOME IN THE MAIL.

>>CARLOS SERVED, THE LUNAS, BOUGHT THE HOUSE THEY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD WITHOUT HIS JUMP PAY.

WHEN CARLOS WAS FINALLY DISCHARGED AND CAME HOME, IT WAS NO LONGER TO THE SANTA FE CAMP.

IT WAS TO HIS FAMILY'S OWN HOUSE.

>>WHEN I KNOCKED ON THE DOOR, I COULD SEE MY DAD SITTING THERE READING IN HIS CHAIR.

I KNOCKED ON THE DOOR, AND HE GOT UP, PUT HIS PAPER OR HIS BOOK DOWN.

HE DID A LOT OF READING.

HE COME TO THE DOOR AND HE OPENED IT, AND HIS EYES JUST WENT WIDE OPEN.

HE SAID "HIJO" HE GRAND ME AND HUGGED ME.

THEN HE CALLED MOM.

AND MOM WENT BERSERK.

BUT IT WAS NICE.

IT WAS NICE.

>> >>DURING WORLD WAR II, MANY OF GALESBURG'S YOUNGER MEN FIGHTING OVERSEAS WERE FIRST GENERATION MEXICAN AMERICANS.

WHEN THEY RETURNED FROM WAR, THEY BROUGHT BACK A NEW ATTITUDE ABOUT LIFE IN THEIR HOME TOWN.

>>GALESBURG IS A GREAT PLACE.

I LOVE IT, BUT ALL MY LIFE, I HAVE HAD TO PUT UP WITH DISCRIMINATION.

ALL MY LIFE.

IT IS SUBTLE NOW, MORE SUBTLE NOW, BUT IT IS STILL THERE.

>>WE COULDN'T GO H EAT ANY PLACE.

THAT'S FOR ONE THING OF THEY WOULDN'T LET US GO EAT, YOU KNOW, IN RESTAURANTS AND THAT.

WHEN WE WENT TO THE MOVIES, WE HAD TO SIT IN THE BACK IN A CERTAIN SECTION OR UPSTAIRS AT THE ORPHEUM.

>> JOHNNY WAS A FIGHTER.

HE FOUGHT FOR EVERYTHING THAT WE GOT.

WE TRIED TO BUY A HOUSE, NEAR THE CHURCH, AND THEY SIGNED A PETITION THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT US THERE.

SO MY BROTHER JOHN, HE DID A LOT OF THINGS FOR PEOPLE.

HE WASN'T AFRAID TO SPEAK UP.

>>AFTER THE WAR, JOHN HIGAREDA AND HIS BROTHERS WENT TO THE ORPHEUM THEATER AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IGNORED THE USHER DIRECTING THEM TO THE SECTION WHERE MEXICANS AND AFRICAN AMERICANS COULD SIT.

>>WHEN THE USHER ASKED THEM TO MOVE, JOHN ASKED TO SPEAK TO THE MANAGER.

HE SAID, "THINGS HAVE TO CHANGE.

WE PAY OUR MONEY JUST LIKE THE WHITES DO.

SO WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SIT ANYWHERE WE LIKE.

FOUR OF US FOUGHT FOR YOU, AND ONE OF US DIDN'T COME BACK.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO COME BACK TO THE WAY THINGS WERE."

THE MANAGER LISTENED.

>>BY 1947, JOHN HAD JOINED SEVEN OTHER HISPANICS AND BLACKS TO FORM A LOCAL CIVIL RIGHTS GROUP.

PROGRESS WAS SLOW.

12 YEARS LATER, GALESBURG'S BEACHES WERE STILL SEGREGATED.

>>PROBABLY WHEN I WAS AROUND FOUR OR FIVE, I REMEMBER WE WENT TO THE SOUTH BEACH.

WE HAD SOUTH BEACH AND NORTH BEACH HERE IN GALESBURG.

I REMEMBER SWIMMING AND ASKING MY DAD "HOW COME WE CAN'T GO SWIM OVER THERE.

I WANT TO GO SWIM OVER THERE."

MY DAD SAID "DON'T YOU WORRY ABOUT THAT.

JUST SWIM.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT."

>>WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY PLACE FOR FUNCTIONS.

WE HAD TO BEG PRACTICALLY.

WE USED HAIR ROLLER RINK.

THE BLACK PEOPLE HAD TO HAVE THEIR OWN ROLLER RINK.

THEY COMPLAINED A LOT BECAUSE WE HAVE A DIFFERENT WAY OF CELEBRATING.

WE ARE A LITTLE LOUD.

WE HAVE A FELLOW THEY LIKE TO WHISTLE AND STUFF.

EVERYBODY THINKS HE IS FIGHTING.

HE IS NOT FIGHTING.

HE IS ENJOYING HIMSELF.

BUT HE SCARCE SOME OF THE WHITE FOLKS.

>>A MINOR INCIDENT AT MEXICAN DANCE, A SHOUTING MATCH IN THE PARKING LOT BECAME THE CATALYST FOR THE NEXT STEP GALESBURG MEXICAN AMERICANS TOOK FOR THEIR CIVIL RIGHTS.

THIS WAS DUE, NOT TO THE INCIDENT ITSELF, BUT TO HOW THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER REPORTED IT.

>>THEY SAID THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE UP THERE IN THE STREET, AND -- WELL, LET ME TELL YOU, THAT'S WHEN WE START FIGHTING BACK.

YOU KNOW.

WE WENT -- WE DIDN'T MEAN NOBODY ANY HARM MANY OF WE WENT, AND WE CALLED THE CITY MANAGER, AND THE MAYOR, AND THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND EVERYBODY, AND THERE WAS -- A LOT OF OUR MEMBERS WENT.

AND WE TOLD THEM HOW IT WAS, AND HOW THEY PRINTED IN THE PAPER SOMETHING THAT WASN'T TRUE.

AND I SAID -- AND THE POLICE ACTED TOWARDS US LIKE THEY WERE THE GESTAPO.

THAT'S THE WAY I PUT IT.

>>TO WORK FOR CHANGE, GALESBURG MEXICAN AMERICANS JOINED THE LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN-AMERICAN CITIZENS.

LULAC.

>> >>WE STARTED IT TO TRY TO EDUCATE AND FIGHT DISCRIMINATION.

>>GALESBURG WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE A COMMUNITY THAT BLOSSOMED TOGETHER TO BUILD THE BUILDING.

I BELIEVE THERE IS VERY FEW LULACS IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE A BUILDING, AND GALESBURG IS ONE OF THE FEW.

>> >>THERE WERE MANY THINGS MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS HAD TO LEARN WHEN THEY FIRST ARRIVED IN GALESBURG MORE THAN A CENTURY AGO.

FOR THE MEN, THERE WERE THE JOBS THEY WERE RECRUITED TO DO.

UNSKILLED IS A CONVENIENT TERM, BUT IT MISSES THE MARK ENTIRELY.

>> THERE IS A SKILL TO BEING A GANDY DANCER, ATTRACT WORKER MOVING IN RHYTHM WITH HIS FELLOWS, TOGETHER LIFT A RAIL NONE COULD DREAM OF MOVING ALONE.

THERE IS A SKILL TO INSPECTING TRACKS, HOISTING A HE H I TOOL ACROSS THE SHOULDERS, KNOWING HOW TO USE IT.

THERE IS A SKILL, TOO, POURING MOLTEN METAL DAY AFTER DAY IN HAZE OF TOXIC SMOKE WHILE TRYING TO KEEP ARMS, LEGS AND FACES FROM HARM.

FOR THE WOMEN, THERE WERE THE WAYS OF KEEPING HOUSE AND RAISING A FAMILY IN A NEW LAND THE WOMEN HELPED ONE ANOTHER WITH COOKING, CLEANING, SOMETIMES EVEN CHILD REARING, TAKING IN ONE ANOTHER'S CHILDREN AS NECESSARY.

LIVE IN THE NEW LAND TOOK ROOT.

BUT ONE THING THE EARLY MEXICANS IN GALESBURG DIDN'T HAVE TO LEARN, ONE THING, IN FACT, THAT THEY TEACH SPEN DIDDLY IS GRATITUDE.

NEARLY EVERY STORY ABOUT THOSE LONG AGO DAYS TURNS SOONER OR LATER TO SOMEONE WHO HELPED, GAVE, ENCOURAGED, OPENED DOORS.

AND THOSE WHO BENEFITED FROM THOSE KIND ACTS, PAID THE KINDNESS FORWARD TO THEIR HOME, AMERICA, WITH HARD WORKING LIVES, COURAGEOUS CIVIC INITIATIVE, AND OUTSTANDING MILITARY SERVICE.

GLADLY PAID, ALL OF IT, FOR A NEW HOME TO LOVE.

>>O WE ARE ALL FASCINATED BY AMERICA.

YOU READ SO MUCH ABOUT IT.

EVERYTHING COME FROM AMERICA.

SO INDUSTRIOUS, EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL.

OH, YES, YOU DREAM ABOUT AMERICA.

I WISH I COULD SEE THAT.

IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT AMERICA, HOW BEAUTIFUL, HOW WONDERFUL IT IS, FOR AN OLD MANLIKE ME,