Darwin, California: Life In A Lawless Town | Real Stories Full-Length Documentary

Comments · 7.8K

• PH

  @phedingsfield · 4 years ago

  These are the type of documentaries that need to be made more often no fake or staged people or stories pure raw emotions and stories

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• RO

  @roosterj2599 · 3 years ago

  My grandmother owned a trailer court here in southern NM. She bought the land in the late 50s and by the late 60s she had close to 30 trailers for rent. Most of the renters had been there since day one. Grandmother was very close friends with a lot of the people. It was neat how the people were like characters in a TV show. I grew up in and around that trailer court until grandmother passed in the late 80s. All of her friends knew me and my mom and brother as well as the rest of my family who lived in town. A tight knit, friendly, warm and welcoming community. I always felt so secure and welcome there. Grandmother was like the boss around there in some of the rent trailers there would be people fighting, getting drunk and loud. My aunt was married to my un le who was a biker who rode for the 1% MC here and they as well as a dozen others lived in the 4 rent trailers across from the office and grandmother's trailer. When things got heated the bikers handled it. It didn't get out of hand very often. I wish the trailer court hadn't been sold. I always had somewhere to live rent free if I wanted. The court was shady all spring and summer with pecan trees, willows and mulberry trees. There was grass on every lot. I used to love it when it rained. Other than the awesome monsoon storms that hit here for the summer the rains would flood parts of the court. My aunt and uncles yard was all grass and the low spot turned into a swimming hole. At 8 years old it seemed like deep water anyway. There was a little store next door with a gas station and laundromat. We used to rake lea as for quarters to go buy slushies and candy. I drve by that old lot here and there. It's got a bunch of tiny one bedroom houses on it. It isnt the quaint little paradise it used to be. It was a colorful community. A place that embraced us everytime we went over. I miss the pecans in a bottle of Coke. I miss grandmother. Darwin reminds me of our little community so much.

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• PA

  @pamelawoodall5891 · 5 years ago

  “In the mean time, I’m a postal worker and I’ve not killed anyone yet!”  Cracked me up !!

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• JE

  @Jennifermcintyre · 3 years ago

  I live relatively close to Darwin and was a FedEx delivery driver for the town. I had a paper hand drawn map to find the homes to deliver to because street names  and the addresses for homes or trailers are not easily found. Physical landmarks were the best way to navigate to different locations because street signs were not common. I once delivered a wedding dress for one of the residents who was having a pagan wedding in the circle art garden and she was very sweet and talkative but other than that you didn’t really see anyone around there at all. The Darwin Mine was hiring people a few years ago to work as laborers and offering lodging as part of their compensation but it doesn’t seem like the mine has stayed open since then. It’s got a lot of charming art sculptures around the town and neat old buildings from the mining days but most of the people seem to live in trailers. They are a 45 minute drive to any food or gas stations so I imagine it’s a tough place to live. Thankful for all the stories that were told by these residents of Darwin and wish there was a way to get another one for these people still living there!

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• BO

  @bobbicatt · 3 years ago

  Darwin reminds me of the island of misfit toys from the Christmas cartoon, yet these misfits have found a way to survive together in a cruel and unforgiving world. I admire them a lot and wish them the best.

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• DA

  @dallasclarke · 5 years ago

  I love documentaries like this. Just letting people talk and allowing them tell their own stories. Great job.

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• ED

  @edenjs1503 · 3 years ago

  Amazing to find a place where everyone, whatever their past and hardships, has found a sanctuary where they can live their lives in peace. Everyone in the video seemed so easy going and content.

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• GN

  @GnarlyKirk · 3 years ago

  The dude that invented the fire truck deserves way more than he has. Very thoughtful and community minded

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• JE

  @jewelssylva3738 · 5 years ago

  Susan, two weeks without smoking, "Meanwhile, I'm a postal worker, & I haven't killed anyone" ... with a totally straight face. She's a character!

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• TO

  @Torin961 · 4 years ago

  I lived in California for over 50 years and drove throughout California. But the closest that I got to Darwin was when I drove to Death Valley on the 190  which is 6.5 miles from the town.  It is desolate out there.

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• FI

  @Fifty8day · 3 years ago

  This is an outstanding documentary, beautifully photographed.<br>The good people of Darwin really opened up to the crew.<br>This documentary deserves many awards.

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• FA

  @fahkinlosah8469 · 5 years ago

  You should put more ads in, I don’t think 35 is enough....

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