Centralia; “the Town That Was”

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gaw
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Joined: Fri. Jan. 26, 2007 2:51 am
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Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KA-6
Coal Size/Type: Rice from Schuylkill County

Post by gaw » Sat. Jun. 27, 2009 7:00 pm

Anyone near Pottsville, PA may want to watch this movie at the Sovereign Majestic Theater, located in downtown Pottsville. Some of us saw the movie “Hard Coal” at this same theater. Below are the details as sent to me in their news letter.

The Town That Was

A documentary about Centralia

July 31, 2009 – 7:00 p.m.

August 1, 2009 – 2:00 p.m.

August 1, 2009 – 7:00 p.m.

Tickets: $5.00 per person

The Town that Was is an independent film directed by Chris Perkel and Georgie Roland depicting the life of Centralia residents remaining in the community today.

In 1962, a trash fire ignited a seam of anthracite coal beneath Centralia, Pennsylvania, a once thriving mining town of over 1600 people. By the mid 1980’s, giant plumes of smoke and deadly carbon monoxide gases billowed from fissures in the ground, the local highway cracked and collapsed, trees were bleached white and petrified, as the fire continued to rage unchecked. It wasn’t until a young boy nearly died after falling into a smoldering mine subsidence that the government was pressed into action. After estimating the cost of extinguishing the fire at over a half a billion dollars, the government opted to raze the town and relocate its residents.

Today, 11 die-hards remain.

Sovereign Majestic Theater
209 North Centre Street
Pottsville, PA 17901


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