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Centralia
In May of 1962, Centralia PA’s volunteer fire company was busy with their annual set-the-landfill-on-fire Memorial Day spectacular when something went horribly wrong. A vein of coal ignited and spread to the mines beneath the little mountain borough. Forty six years later that fire still burns.
Since then, Centralia’s population has dwindled from about a thousand to about a dozen. Why? Occasionally the earth will split open, sucking anything on the surface into 150 foot chasms of fire and poison gas.
By the mid-80’s most of Centralia’s population had been relocated by the federal government. In 1992, the state of PA claimed eminent domain over the remaining properties. Those that were abandoned were torn down. Those who chose to stay do so at their own risk.
Which brings us to last Saturday. I took a trip with fellow photographers Albert Yee and Andrea Gingerich to the ruins of the burning town. None of us died, and a good time was had by all. Enjoy the photos:
Re-Taded sign:
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The nearby town of Ashville Ashland (also threatened by the fire) hasn’t seen much development. Gay Stores can’t event afford to replace its sign:
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And on to Centralia. This is the remains of Highway 61:
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Why Obama lost PA:
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Other graffiti:
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The dead town:
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Neighboring towns weren’t doing so well either. This teen hangout was converted to a NA meeting place. Heroin and meth are worse in these places than they are in the city:
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And on the way home, we stopped by my favorite haunted cemetery, New Bethel in Kempton, PA:
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~ The End ~
4 Comments
1. albert replies at 6th May 2008, 9:12 pm :
chroist - my face is *almost* as flat as Morimoto’s!
love that shot of the stairs to nowhere.
(it’s Ashland, not Ashville)
2. Chris replies at 7th May 2008, 6:47 pm :
Niiice. Looks like you went on the perfect day, too, what with all the mist in the distance. It really contributes to the creepiness of the place.
I’ve never been, but my friends and I have been thinking about heading out there sometime this summer. Where exactly is that graveyard? And do you have any suggestions as to the best parts of Centralia to look for?
3. andipantz replies at 8th May 2008, 11:40 am :
I love love love the gay store shot that you got!
4. andipantz replies at 8th May 2008, 11:44 am :
Oh, and might I add that even though I didn’t get many photos from the trip, I don’t think that I’ve laughed so hard in months. Such a fun fun time!
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