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  #1  
Old Posted Dec 10, 2008, 3:30 AM
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vasiliymeshko vasiliymeshko is offline
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Centralia - Pennsylvania's semi-ghost town

Many of you probably heard about Centralia, and the mine fire that has been burning underground since 1960's,
so I won't go into great details on the history of it. To make the long story short, it spread to underground network
of mines from a landfill fire. Due to mismanaged efforts of containment, the population of Centralia was reduced from
about 1200 in 1960's to about 7 currently.

Anyway, I became very interested in the area after having it as a subject of my final project for Geographical Information
Systems class. And today I actually got a chance for a quick visit, and of course, a few photos:

View from Aristes, PA.
Most of the houses have been condemned and demolished, with the state of Pennsylvania declaring eminent domain on all properties in 1992:


"South Hill." Smoke rises from the underground fire:














Windmills just outside the town:


Centralia Town Hall seen from South Hill:


Industrial wasteland:
Scroll >>>>


View from north along Trautwine Street towards South Hill


The subsided and abandoned section of PA 61:










The funny thing is, people clearly put things to make it burn more:




Dead end. The subsided section is blocked off at both ends by rocks and mounds of dirt, but pedestrian traffic is easily accessible:


Former site of Centralia town landfill, located behind Odd Fellows cemetery (top left) This is where the fire is presumed to have originated


Vents installed to keep underground gases from building up to dangerous pressures:


Centralia wide panorama from South Hill:
Scroll >>>
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Last edited by vasiliymeshko; Dec 10, 2008 at 5:44 AM.
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  #2  
Old Posted Dec 10, 2008, 3:38 AM
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Cool. Silent Hill.
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  #3  
Old Posted Dec 10, 2008, 4:00 AM
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That's one hell of a fire to keep burning that long.
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  #4  
Old Posted Dec 10, 2008, 4:08 AM
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Good old Centralia, PA. It was a different town in the past:

http://www.offroaders.com/album/cent...-1980s-era.htm
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Last edited by BigKidD; Dec 11, 2008 at 12:07 AM.
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  #5  
Old Posted Dec 10, 2008, 4:16 AM
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Wind energy!!! Centralia still has a mayor. Cool photos man
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  #6  
Old Posted Dec 10, 2008, 12:51 PM
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Centralia is a neat place, and it's been years since I've been there.

Quote:
Originally Posted by flar View Post
That's one hell of a fire to keep burning that long.
Supposedly there is enough coal in that seam to fuel the fire for another 250 years.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/10013541.html
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  #7  
Old Posted Dec 10, 2008, 1:55 PM
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I've seen a documentary on Centralia on French TV, this story is amazing!
I've heard there's a city in China which have the same fire.
Thanks for sharing these unusual pics
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  #8  
Old Posted Dec 10, 2008, 7:33 PM
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wow, that was different. What a crazy place, fires buring below your feet.
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  #9  
Old Posted Dec 10, 2008, 7:54 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by theWatusi View Post

Supposedly there is enough coal in that seam to fuel the fire for another 250 years.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/10013541.html
Wow, seems like a terrible waste of coal. Too bad there's no money (will) to put the fire out.
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  #10  
Old Posted Dec 10, 2008, 8:07 PM
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Nice pictures. I've never made it up there myself, although I am planning on it sometime soon. My dad grew up in that area, actually.
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  #11  
Old Posted Dec 10, 2008, 8:25 PM
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a real hive of activity. the development's amazing, i see the potential.

but, where are all the people?

-
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  #12  
Old Posted Dec 10, 2008, 9:53 PM
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awesome set!
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  #13  
Old Posted Dec 10, 2008, 11:54 PM
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Eerie, and yet interesting. There's no way I would have been one of those folks who have stayed. Thanks for the pics vasiliy, good stuff.
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Last edited by Ex-Ithacan; Dec 18, 2008 at 5:52 PM.
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  #14  
Old Posted Dec 11, 2008, 12:34 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flar View Post
Wow, seems like a terrible waste of coal. Too bad there's no money (will) to put the fire out.
It would cost upwards of $700M just to try to put it out, no guarantees.

Here is the satellite image of the town:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...43774&t=h&z=15
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  #15  
Old Posted Dec 11, 2008, 3:29 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flar View Post
Wow, seems like a terrible waste of coal. Too bad there's no money (will) to put the fire out.
They've already made a couple attempts in the past, but to no avail.
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  #16  
Old Posted Dec 11, 2008, 4:47 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LSyd View Post
a real hive of activity. the development's amazing, i see the potential.

but, where are all the people?

-
On the contrary.

As I mentioned above, the state of Pennsylvania declared eminent domain on all properties within town in 1992. The houses are being systematically demolished as people die or move out, to prevent any further inhabitation. In a few years there might not even be any more left standing. (Of the few buildings left, I noticed at least one, along Big Mine Run Rd, dilapidated and ready to give in)
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If you want to find a needle in the haystack, you have to be systematic about it, otherwise it's like looking for a needle in the haystack.
Check out the Wilkes-Barre thread
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  #17  
Old Posted Dec 11, 2008, 6:05 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vasiliymeshko View Post
On the contrary.

As I mentioned above, the state of Pennsylvania declared eminent domain on all properties within town in 1992. The houses are being systematically demolished as people die or move out, to prevent any further inhabitation. In a few years there might not even be any more left standing. (Of the few buildings left, I noticed at least one, along Big Mine Run Rd, dilapidated and ready to give in)
in case you couldn't tell, i was being sarcastic.

thanks for the pics though.

-
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  #18  
Old Posted Dec 11, 2008, 6:21 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flar View Post
Wow, seems like a terrible waste of coal.
Agreed
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  #19  
Old Posted Dec 11, 2008, 6:35 AM
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very interesting
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  #20  
Old Posted Dec 11, 2008, 11:39 AM
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weird place...
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