Thinking About Going to Centralia

 
Boots
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Post by Boots » Tue. Dec. 18, 2012 4:38 pm

Who has been before, or recently? Is there anything in particular I should be sure to see? It is "open" to the public. Correct? Last I heard there are still a few people living there. Are they still there? Is there anything I should avoid?

Btw, I may be taking my brother- in- law, who is a photographer, with me. is there anything there thats really awesome that he would need to get pics of?


 
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dkononczuk
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Post by dkononczuk » Tue. Dec. 18, 2012 7:53 pm

I went there in May of this year on my way to see a customer.
It is a little strange to see all the roads cross but there are just the empy lots with overgrown grass.

Here are few pics....

Dan

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LDPosse
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Post by LDPosse » Sun. Dec. 23, 2012 10:39 pm

If you go, I would park near the cemetary, there is a section there that is paved in concrete, kind of looks like a sidewalk. From there, you can walk to the closed portion of PA-61. It's only about 1/4 mile walk to get to the section that is badly buckled and cracked. I've been there probably 2 dozen times in the past 10 years, and no one has ever said anything to me about looking around.

Here's a shot of yours truly posing along the highway.... This is several years ago.

Image

 
mojobe44
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Post by mojobe44 » Tue. Mar. 18, 2014 11:35 pm

My Mother was born and raised in Centralia. I know pretty much about the town if anyone has questions.

 
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2001Sierra
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Post by 2001Sierra » Tue. Mar. 18, 2014 11:40 pm

That place kills me when I see what it was and, stupid made it happen :mad:

 
mojobe44
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Post by mojobe44 » Wed. Mar. 19, 2014 12:18 am

Yes, it was a tragedy for the residents of this small tight knit community. The politics of the government taking via Eminent Domain, pitted neighbor against neighbor, regarding the decision to accept a buyout or stay.

 
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blrman07
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Post by blrman07 » Wed. Mar. 19, 2014 9:38 am

My church is in Ashland right next door to Centralia. There are no restrictions to walking the old highway and driving through the "town." There are four families that recently won an eviction and condemnation stay against the State of Pa. They can stay as long as current registered owner lives. They cannot sell, move or transfer ownership.

It is kinda weird seeing the streets going nowhere with nothing on them. Be prepared for some spray paint and chalk graffiti on the roadway that may not be family friendly.

Rev. Larry
New Beginning Church
919 Centre Street
Ashland Pa. 17921


 
lzaharis
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Post by lzaharis » Wed. Mar. 19, 2014 10:40 am

I would also suggest that you invest in the Books-

"Fire Underground" and Centralia burning by the same author.

He also wrote the excell;ent book titled "Epidemic" describing
in great detail the typhoid epidemic and deaths of many
Cornell students in Ithaca, New York.

I am so fortunate to have signed copy and it is a very well written book.

 
Davian
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Post by Davian » Mon. Sep. 22, 2014 8:12 pm

I remember driving through in the late 80s/early 90s right before they shut the road down. I remember hiking into the town from the berm in the late 90s with my friends. It was surreal...pretty much like the gates of hell with the steam coming from the ground and whatnot.

Dangerous as hell though as the ground could collapse beneath you at any time.

 
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LDPosse
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Post by LDPosse » Mon. Sep. 22, 2014 9:07 pm

I was there a few months ago and it was pretty disappointing. The section of old PA Rt 61 that is closed down shows no signs of fire anymore. If you go back into the area north of the cemetary, there were a few small whisps of steam coming from the ground. It seems that maybe the fire has either gone out in that area, or moved further underground.

 
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Frackstoker
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Post by Frackstoker » Wed. Oct. 01, 2014 11:25 am

I grew up in Frackville, a few miles from Centralia. I just drove past there on my way to the Bloomsburg Fair having not seen th e place in a long while. I was surprised how you can barely tell there was a town there any more. The fire seems like it is just about out (so now the state can take all the remaining coal once the last 2 people leave!). Growing up, lots of kids got caught drinking and smoking on the various dead end streets. I remember coming home from Knoebels when the road opened up and was closed from that point on.

Anyone remember who owned that breaker betweeen Centralia and Mt. Carmel and is it still open?

 
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SMITTY
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Post by SMITTY » Wed. Oct. 01, 2014 12:06 pm

Man, what a waste of coal ... Plus all the money that will never be recovered, and the disrupted lives of the residents. That's a tragedy right there ... :(

 
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Post by Starting Out » Sun. Oct. 05, 2014 11:01 am

Frackstoker, the breaker between Centralia and Mt. Carmel used to be Harmony. It's now called Glen Burnie, they do sell coal in bags and bulk. Bags are $5.95. They have a big banner on the outside fence stating the price for bags. I don't know where they get the coal from. SMITTY, you don't have to worry about the coal going to waste. Blaschak is mining about one mile from there and they just waiting for all the people to get out. When they do, you can bet they will go to the state for a mining permit.

 
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Post by nealkas » Thu. Nov. 20, 2014 4:12 pm

Davian wrote:I remember driving through in the late 80s/early 90s right before they shut the road down..
I delivered building materials all over up that way in the '80's.
Cold, wet days would really bring up the smoke and steam; it really looked a sight sometimes.

Makes one wonder about primordial forest fires and lightning lighting off coal veins and surface oil seeps.
Read once where some may have burned for hundreds of years.

I'd think by now either the fire has burnt anything under there or moved on by now.

Like most of Pee-Ay it sure is a pretty area.
But you can't eat the view without some kind of paycheck.

 
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Canaan coal man
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Post by Canaan coal man » Fri. Dec. 28, 2018 12:20 pm

Sorry to bring back an old thread. Not sure if anyone has interest in talking about Centralia.
But my question is how the heck dose this fire stay lit under ground with no air? And for all these years?


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