Looking for the Sandlot

[Bubba]

Not positive, but I would guess that they were utility/maintenance tunnels.

[TexKan]

Well I found this piece on tunnels... seems like they didn't find them... also noticed a Convention Center Hotel I guess was supposed to be part of the Urban Renewal in 1970?? Some interesting reading of what the promises were 30 years ago...... Check out the "note" at the bottom..........

Meanwhile anyone else know about tunnels? - that pretty interesting stuff if true..... would love to know if perhaps someone has family that saw them.

We used to play in some short tunnels on Beeson Road down the street from old Stottlers (I think) I know we got caught and got the tar tanned out of us. It was neat for a kid tho. I don't know what it was but we sure had fun! Had rooms and everything course sure it seemed bigger than it was but they were dug under this mound of dirt that we played on............don't know who built them and don't think they had a purpose could have been an old storm shelter for all I know. Was sure fun tho

Urban Renewal Destroys Front Street, Dodge City, Kansas: Ford County Historical Society

[Detector]

As far as the tunnels I'm going to shoot from the hip because I can't remember where I read this to verify it.

I've read somewhere that Chinese were imported to help lay the railroad with a promise of free land. Of course the government didn't follow through with the promise, and with nowhere to go, they went underground. At one point there was a complete city under dodge complete with a red-light district.

Most of the downtown businesses had an access to this underground city and used it often. Sometimes it was used during Prohibition to avoid raids and sometimes it was used to just remain anonymous when people of status wished to visit the brothels.

[TexKan]

Well no matter where ya shoot it from - sure makes for good reading! That's what folk lore is about.......... ya always spend hours wonderin if it's really true! Good story Detector - I like it!

[Made in the USA]

That's where my relatives hid out so the law couldn't find them!

[TexKan]

Hell that's where probably most of my relatives was born!!! LOL

[BroncoFan]

I, myself, have heard stories of tunnels that still exist in downtown. I suspect they only exist in partial walkways, etc. I would be interesting to find what actually exists, but moreso, what actually did exist in the past.

[Made in the USA]

Originally Posted by TexKan

Hell that's where probably most of my relatives was born!!! LOL

You mean we could be related??!!!

[Helper]

Originally Posted by BroncoFan

I, myself, have heard stories of tunnels that still exist in downtown. I suspect they only exist in partial walkways, etc. I would be interesting to find what actually exists, but moreso, what actually did exist in the past.

I can tell you that there is a partial one under the front street by The Steer, I have been in it, I got to it by way of The Locker Room, it goes about as far as the Trail of Fame Medalion right there, as when the workers were cutting the concrete, they about cut right into the electrical lines that feed the electrical boxes in that area. But not too far past that it is concreted up and you can't get past. kinda cool to think about who all has been there!

On another note, I was told that at 1st and Wyatt Earp or between Wyatt Earp and Front Street, where the big metal plates are in the street, there is a HUGE underground phone system, any truth to that?

[TexKan]

Originally Posted by Made in the USA

You mean we could be related??!!!

I never had too much doubt....... coulda been in a past life but we sure think the same on some subjects!! LOL