Centralia PA - 40+ year mine fire - Who wants to go?

MerkurScorpio · Post by **MerkurScorpio** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 11:56 pm

I'm still all in for a Centralia trip! Keep me posted!

Post by **DPDISXR4Ti** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 12:26 pm

If there's interest, maybe I'd be up for something in April. The idea of visiting on the Thursday before Carlisle is also certainly a possibility.

MerkurScorpio · Post by **MerkurScorpio** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 1:31 pm

I think a weekend in April would be better. I know it would be hard for me to get that Thursday off too.

Post by **DPDISXR4Ti** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 3:24 pm

Well, it looks like I'll be visiting Centralia Monday (4/27) late afternoon. Maybe about a 4:30PM arrival. Anyone care to join me?

Post by **76Capri** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 8:15 pm

No, but I think a fall cruise would be great. I'd be up for it.

MerkurScorpio · Post by **MerkurScorpio** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 11:37 pm

So did you make it to Centralia Brad? I'd love to see some pictures if you took any!

Post by **DPDISXR4Ti** » Fri May 01, 2009 4:24 pm

MerkurScorpio wrote:So did you make it to Centralia Brad? I'd love to see some pictures if you took any!

Indeed I did. Very interesting trip - could have spent a lot more time - will bring a mountain bike next time! Pics to follow - still catching up from being gone all week.

Post by **DPDISXR4Ti** » Tue May 05, 2009 1:58 pm

View of "The town that was", showing perhaps the most famous of the few remaining houses that stand today. Just about dead center in the distance you can see the town municipal building.

Here's a zoomed-in shot of the municipal building from a slightly different vantage point. But really, I include this shot mostly to note the bug I caught in mid-flight!

You won't find this map on Mapquest, as most of the roads are no longer indicated...

Here's the building up close, falling into disrepair...

But still housing a fire engine and ambulance, with current registration stickers....

Note the handle on the door has been removed...

Who checks the mail?

A picture of the 700 block of North Locust Ave in 1982...

And how it looked one week ago today...

Looking from the north into "downtown" Centralia...

A trip down Apple Street - you can see remnants of house foundations on either side as you go down this street ...as well as evidence of subsidence (I got on my way in a hurry after seeing that).

Former Mayor Mervine's row house, which today stands alone on Troutwine St. He's now 92 and in failing health. The grim reaper will likely get both the mayor and his house soon.

The youngest remaining Centralian, who acts somewhat as the town caretaker, paints this bench on a regular basis. I spoke with him for quite some time - sadly, he's somewhat resigned to Centralia's ultimate demise at this point.

The memory of the town captured on the tombstone of one of Centralia's multi-generational families....

MerkurScorpio · Post by **MerkurScorpio** » Tue May 05, 2009 11:18 pm

Great pictures Brad. I really want to take a trip down there one of these days. I imagine by the time our child is our age, the only way to visit Centralia will be through Wikipedia or watching the History Channel. I don't think there's anywhere else in the country where you can witness the death throes of a once busy town quite like this.

Post by **DPDISXR4Ti** » Wed May 06, 2009 9:22 am

The DVD of The Town that Was becomes available in 10 days - you can pre-order on Amazon now...
http://www.amazon.com/Town-That-Was-Joh ... 273&sr=1-1

MerkurScorpio · Post by **MerkurScorpio** » Sun May 10, 2009 10:12 pm

DPDISXR4Ti wrote:The DVD of The Town that Was becomes available in 10 days - you can pre-order on Amazon now...
http://www.amazon.com/Town-That-Was-Joh ... 273&sr=1-1

I seriously may have to get that! I am so intrigued by Centralia now.

Post by **DPDISXR4Ti** » Mon May 11, 2009 7:36 pm

It's pretty easy to get immersed into the sad and bizarre story of Centralia. It's just so full of twists and turns over the course of the past 45 years - you couldn't have scripted it. And while the story is largely "done" at this point, it's not entirely over, as evidenced by the remaining 8-10 residents.

But even once they are gone - and it seems that will be happening relatively soon, it's not all over. What then becomes of the town that was? Does the state sell Centralia to a mining company who turns the former town into an open pit mine, as many have speculated?

Post by **DPDISXR4Ti** » Mon May 18, 2009 2:10 pm

DPDISXR4Ti wrote:The DVD of The Town that Was becomes available in 10 days - you can pre-order on Amazon now...
http://www.amazon.com/Town-That-Was-Joh ... 273&sr=1-1

Don't bother with Amazon - I just bought the first one sold on eBay for $3.99!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... SA:US:1123

Post by **DPDISXR4Ti** » Mon Jun 22, 2009 6:54 pm

The Commonwealth of PA is now taking steps to move the remaining residents out of Centralia.

If you want an idea of what becomes of Centralia in the future, this is probably the most accurate picture...

Post by **John Brennan** » Mon Jun 22, 2009 8:35 pm

Greek Orthodox grave site-- interesting.

I think AZ is the only State I've lived in (out of four) that doesn't have a Centralia!