Chicago's Pullman district is becoming a national monument
On Chicago's far South Side, fenced off and rusting in the winter wind, are the pad-locked ruins of a time gone by, soon to be designated a national monument by President Barack Obama.
It's what's left of the industrial colossus built by railroad titan George Pullman -- a man whose sleeper cars once set the standard for rail travel and whose workers were among the first Americans to enter the middle class.
"I enjoyed working there," said Ray Quiroz. "I couldn't wait to get to work because I had fun."
Ray and his brother Al, worked at the Pullman Standard Factory for more than 20 years. They have lived in the Pullman neighborhood all their lives.
"We've got our roots here, I could kiss the ground," said Al. "Good memories, I used to go to work, I never missed a day, they taught unskilled people a trade."