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Centralia

The Fire Beneath Their Feet

Explore Centralia, Pennsylvania with lecturer Mandy Apgar. Following the May 27, 1962 decision to light a trash dump on fire, Centralia’s residents found their dream community becoming a nightmare.

Centralia, Pennsylvania was in most aspects a picture perfect town - the single exception being the blight of the town's trash dump. A 300 by 75 foot eyesore, the citizens had grown tired of its image clashing with their lovely community. It was on May 27 of 1962 that the decision of the Town Council to light the dump on fire (in an attempt to make it disappear for the upcoming Memorial Day festivities) was put into effect. What they most likely (although that is debated) did not know is that the dump was atop a gigantic coal seam - and numerous fires soon began sprouting up throughout town. Accompanied by cave ins and toxic gases, Centralia's residents soon found their dream community becoming a nightmare. But, as many scientists and activists fought for closure of the town; many residents still fought to keep it open, asserting that they had a right to their property and that the area shouldn't be closed. Some asserted that the fires were left ongoing in an attempt to access mineral resources.

Which side of the story is correct? Or are things somewhere in the middle?

Centralia, a modern day ghost town, is still occupied by the stalwart few who will not leave. They are subject to gawkers who risk arrest, by local and volunteer police. It was only in 2013, that the people who still live in Centralia, won their battle to stay there with the added agreement that when the last remaining citizen is deceased, the town and its land will be state property via eminent domain. 

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