Centralia, Pennsylvania: The Town That Burned Beneath
Where is Centralia Located?
Centralia is nestled in the heart of Pennsylvania's famed anthracite coal region, within the Appalachian Mountains. Situated in Columbia County, at the crossroads of PA routes 61 and 42, it lies west of Shamokin and Mt. Carmel and south of Ashland.
The Rise of Centralia
Founded in 1866 by Alexander Rea, Centralia was a bustling coal mining town. At its peak around 1890, the town boasted nearly 2,800 residents. It was a vibrant community with two theaters, five hotels, seven churches, twenty-seven saloons, one bank, one post office, and fourteen general and grocery stores. The town's prosperity was tightly intertwined with the coal mining industry, a common thread in the history of many such towns in the region.
The Centralia Mine Fire
Centralia's story took a tragic turn on May 27, 1962. According to David DeKok's "Fire Underground," local firefighters ignited the town landfill to clean it up in preparation for Memorial Day. This landfill was situated above an old strip mining pit. The fire wasn't fully extinguished and eventually ignited the coal seams beneath the town.
The fire spread through the abandoned mines, becoming a smoldering inferno beneath the streets of Centralia. By the early 1980s, the fire posed severe health and safety hazards, releasing dangerous levels of carbon monoxide and causing the ground to collapse unexpectedly.
The Decline and Abandonment
Efforts to extinguish the fire failed, and in 1984, a voluntary relocation program began. Many residents accepted buyouts and moved away, leaving their homes to be demolished. In 1992, the state of Pennsylvania claimed all property in Centralia through eminent domain, condemning the remaining buildings and urging the few remaining residents to leave. Legal battles ensued, and by 2013, only eight residents remained, allowed to stay for life but unable to pass on their property.
Centralia Today
Today, Centralia stands as a stark reminder of the town that once was. With most of its buildings gone, only the streets, a few homes, several graveyards, and a church remain. The underground fire continues to burn, a grim testament to the town's history. Modern-day Centralia has become infamous for the blaze beneath its surface and the graffiti-covered remnants of Route 61, known as "Graffiti Highway."
A Cautionary Tale
Visiting Centralia is not without risks. The area is extremely dangerous due to toxic gases and the unstable ground prone to sudden collapse. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection strongly advises against visiting the immediate area. Centralia's story is a sobering reminder of the potential hazards of mining and the long-term consequences of industrial activities.
Centralia, Pennsylvania, once a thriving mining town, now stands as a ghostly symbol of industrial disaster. Its story, from bustling community to smoldering ghost town, serves as a poignant example of how human activities can drastically alter the course of history. Despite its tragic fate, Centralia continues to captivate those who hear its story, a testament to the resilience and enduring spirit of its former residents.
