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| Name: | Chris Novak |
| E-mail address: | canovak at google mail |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.thedarienplan.com/ |
| How did you find this site?: | Web search |
| Comments: | Thanks for the great info, used for research into my upcoming blog post about Centralia. Nice pics. |
| Name: | Sarah Snow |
| E-mail address: | snowbritnj@gmail.com |
| How did you find this site?: | round about way via google. |
| Comments: | This has been a great help. As a result of a chat with a friend, I am now researching Centralia to give a lesson to 5 homeschoolers next Tuesday (13 May). What I would really like is to find some video footage of any visits or the film A Town that was. However, other than 6 minutes or so on U Tube, I can't really find anything. Any help would be gratfully received. Please email me where I ought to look (my local library didn't have anything either).
Thank you for help & an interesting site. Regards, Sarah Snow |
| Name: | Eric |
| E-mail address: | number1arborist@yahoo.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://salisbury.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1330410137 |
| How did you find this site?: | Google search |
| Comments: | Your site (particularly the map) helped me out a lot in researching Centralia. I'm visiting soon with a few friends, so I've been looking for information all day. The Centralia Project was definitely very useful! |
| Name: | Bart Anello |
| E-mail address: | bartman19@hotmail.com |
| How did you find this site?: | |
| Comments: | First of all, great site, you did a real fine job. I 1st read about this town in the Phila Inquirer years ago & was fasinated by it. My wife & I were taking a ride out to Lewisburg PA in November'07 & we ended up driving up Rt 61. We drove thru some of the streets & I wanted to get out but my wife didn't want to, she just wanted to leave. My son & I intend to take a trip one Saturday so we can walk around & take some pictures. For some reason I can't stop reading about this town & I keep coming back to it. It's so sad a beautiful town can end up being a ghost town... |
| Name: | Kathy Griffin |
| E-mail address: | klgmom@verizon.net |
| How did you find this site?: | google search |
| Comments: | Hi. We visited Centralia (or tried to) today, 8/4/07. i couldnt find a way in. we were at the 61 road closed side. do you have any directions how to get in the town? thanks kathy |
| Name: | Ritcher John H |
| E-mail address: | lordraven1994@hotmail.com |
| How did you find this site?: | From searching about superfund sites |
| Comments: | This just goes to show you that our country can be so neglectfull on some things.I bet the president does not even know about this.This town did not have to die.And if something is not done,nearby towns could suffer the same fate.Perhaps its time for our govt to spend less time worrying about other countries and more effort on problems like this.Sad just plain sad.More people need to be aware of things like this.Im in the Army I love America but stuff like this I come across on the web makes me mad.The bad thing is there are other towns like this.Times Beach Mo comes to mind.The massive buildup of pcbs in the Fox River in my home town of Appleton Wi which is being cleaned up after years of debate.But anyway great site.I came across this by accident and I hope I dont learn of more places like this. God Bless John Ritcher USA |
| Name: | J. Payton |
| E-mail address: | Jdp5693@yahoo.com |
| How did you find this site?: | |
| Comments: | I was randomly searching Ghost Towns, and i found Centralia, and i was in shock, almost like i need to visit it for my self. I used to live in Southern Wv, where oddly people always made jokes about what would happen if the coal mines under beckley and oak hill were to ignite. So the thought of it was always something interesting if not macabre. So see your photos just makes it seem sad, and yet somewhat peacefull in an odd way. Thank you i love your site.
(sorry if my writing skills are off, i tend to write faster than i think ) |
| Name: | Mike Barron |
| E-mail address: | oldvstrom@yahoo.com |
| How did you find this site?: | |
| Comments: | Last year I visited the Huber site & other mine sites around Wilkes-Barre. It was a very pleasant tour on my m/c from Montreal. I intend to visit Centralia this Spring.
Thank you for making your knowledge of the area public. My grand father was a coal miner all his life in Fife, Scotland. |
| Name: | sherri vollmer |
| E-mail address: | sherriavollmer@hotmail.com |
| How did you find this site?: | google,and a Silent Hill site on google |
| Comments: | I was checking to see if the place actually exsisted that was in Silent Hill, and found Centralia, Pa.
I appreciate that you took the time to do this site, and I was fascinated by what you wrote, and the pictures you put up. I, too, would love to see an update as of 2007. I read that there are only about 11 people left, which means that 15 are gone since your visit in 2004. I wonder did they leave voluntarily, or were they forced out, or did they pass away. Did you get the chance to speak to anyone in the town, besides the police, who asked you if you needed any help? I am so curious now, I can't think of anything but this. I live in Michigan, so it wouldn't be that far to drive, and maybe one day I will. I just hope that something good can happen soon, so that the whole town isn't lost. I can't believe this really happened, as I am still in shock of the whole story. Thank you, Sherri |
| Name: | Patricia g morris |
| E-mail address: | pm.morris@hotmail.com |
| How did you find this site?: | Looking for information on Edwin Gaughn |
| Comments: | Edwin Gaughan was my Grandfather and married my Grandmother Lillian O'niel who was from Ireland. Since i was trying to locate any infromation on either of them i did come across some of the names and i am not sure if they are related
So, if anyone knows of name connected with them please email me thanks Pat Morris |
| Name: | Richard Zick II |
| E-mail address: | razii@att.net |
| How did you find this site?: | Search of general Coal references - GOOGLE |
| Comments: | Growing up in northern Susquehanna County, I remember seeing quite a bit of local news coverage on mine fires and flooding in the Scranton area during the 1960s and 70s. The area just south of the Viewmont Mall in Scranton along Rte. 81 used to show signs of smoldering mine fires which I looked for as as a kid when we made trips through that area. I am amazed that anthracite can burn underground with limited air induction. My coal stove (burning anthracite) will NOT stay lit unless it receives large amounts of forced air. Considering that the fire will not likely burn out until the fuel is exhausted (check the size of the regional coal field!), mining the resource to resolve the problem would be more sensible than any further attempt to douse it or let it continue to burn unchecked. |
| Name: | Tony Irvin |
| E-mail address: | patony01@verizon.com |
| How did you find this site?: | |
| Comments: | I was born in Centralia in January, 1931.
I have made several trips to view the areas as well as the cemetarys. My father (Anthony Irvin) was killed in an explosion in one of the Coal Mining Companies. I was at a very young age (3 to 5). Iwould like to know more of him. I have been to his gravesite at the cemetary to the left as you enter the Centralia areas |
| Name: | Karma |
| E-mail address: | thatgirl@femmefatale.com |
| How did you find this site?: | Link from Wikipedia |
| Comments: | Great site! Reality truly is stranger than fiction.. |
| Name: | Simon |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.pimptiva.com |
| How did you find this site?: | Offroaders.com |
| Comments: | Nice site. Lots of cool pictures and great info (I love the map you created).
But a LOT has changed since you've visted in 2000. I'd suggest a re-visit to snap some new pictures and revamp the website. From what I know, there are nowhere near 46 people living there anymore. I've heard it's dwindled to less than 20 at this point. You can see my Centralia pictures from my website at www.pimptiva.com under Photo Gallery and then Trips. |
| Name: | Eron |
| E-mail address: | bigred070@ncx.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://bigred070@ncx.com |
| How did you find this site?: | Just Checking On It |
| Comments: | Great Site A lot Of Info On A Old Town that booming at one time
Good Work Kept I Comming I Love Reading Stuff On Centralia Maybe Some Day It Will Come Back To Life Again. Eron Moscow Pa |
| Name: | Craig |
| E-mail address: | craig.bond@blueyonder.co.uk |
| How did you find this site?: | Reading about the Silent Hill film |
| Comments: | Very good site with excellent pitures to document Centralia. It is sad that towns can still fall to human error still. What is real sad is that the government pulled down the rest of the town taking away the history of the Centralia.
When are you going back to do a follow up and to document the new changes that has happened since your last visit. Would be good to know if the 46 people who still live there are still about and keep the memory alive. |
| Name: | Paul |
| E-mail address: | chemy60@yahoo.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.e-nca.tk |
| How did you find this site?: | Looking for old ghost towns and true life stories. |
| Comments: | Keep this site up, it good to keep memories of Centralia going as it be a shame if government got they hands on it to send more people to exploit the area, when they should try and make it safe and help the people there to rebuild Centralia and for the 46 living there to build businesses and bring in more people to live there in years to come. Good site and I will tell more about this site. Paul :) |
| Name: | Lisa |
| E-mail address: | musiqlovur@yahoo.com |
| How did you find this site?: | I had seen the film Silent Hill awhile ago and was wondering if the place Tolusca County, West Virginia exsisted since that is where they say the event took place. When I did that search, I read that the real story occured here in Centralia, Pennsylvania. I saw your site in my google search. |
| Comments: | I have to say this is a great site. There are beautiful photographs of this town and there is a great deal of interesting information. Since I have nothing else to do at 9:30 in the morning, I'm glad I found your site to take up some time. Great work! |
| Name: | Chelsea |
| E-mail address: | MaraJade13243@cox.net |
| How did you find this site?: | Awsome |
| Comments: | I first heard about Silent Hill because of the video games. I went to see the movie Silent Hill and then found out that it was based off of Centralia. It's So Cool! I Really want to see it. I'm interested in finding out if you can find the people that are still there moving around. I think it'd be creepy. I'm planning on buying an ATV so when I do go to see the town I'll bring that and my boyfriend so I won't be alone in the ghost town. Awsome site. |
| Name: | Zoltar |
| E-mail address: | zoltar@fuse.net |
| How did you find this site?: | |
| Comments: | Ok,i'm going to be a bit critical...the site was very good and had alot of good info in it considering that this subject is hard to find good info on for some reason.
I had become interested in this subject since the game "silent hill" came out on ps1.I have a fascination with ghost towns and dying towns.If it were up to me,i'd move there today! Why is info regarding centralia so hard to find?Yes i can find all the usual things such as using the mine as a landfill,then it catches fire and a few months later the townsfolk realizes something is wrong and sends people to investigate...but thats the jist of the town that i can find!Wheres the history of the town?How it came about,what happened in more detail?etc... I am planning a visit here myself,although i am not a writer or anything i plan to document as best i can the town,and try and obtain some history that seems to be lost. I would like to thank the people that puts this together,and maybe point them in the direction of the "tar creek" another similar sunject...maybe they can digg up info like centralia? It's sad to see a whole town lose it's population,history,and basically culture to a disaster that probably could have been prevented! Great site,sorry for the little rant,and hopefully more can be dug up on this subject...i'll be checking back frequently! good day! |
| Name: | Pako |
| E-mail address: | paco_pocho@yahoo.com.ar |
| How did you find this site?: | Dont remember,i think from another Centralia site. |
| Comments: | Very good site,i thjink one of the bests about Centralia.Maiby you should include videos for making the site better.
Good job!! |
| Name: | aaron sneddon |
| E-mail address: | enquiries@aviemoregolf.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.aviemoregolf.com |
| How did you find this site?: | |
| Comments: | Great, intriguing subject. This site documents Centralia in pictures as well as it could.
Does anyone out there have any videos of this place, perhaps digital ones from a digital camera? Well done guys! Aaron |
| Name: | andrew fabian |
| E-mail address: | cm1ret@comcast.net |
| How did you find this site?: | words from another party |
| Comments: | comming from a minning town that once was around the very late 1800 like 1892 very very sad |
| Name: | Mike |
| How did you find this site?: | Daughter sent me the link |
| Comments: | Very well written. Wealth of information. Stirred my emotions. And your right, very sad. |
| Name: | Jay Laughlin |
| E-mail address: | laughlinje@sbcglobal.net |
| How did you find this site?: | google search |
| Comments: | I'm trying to find information my family that settled here in Centralia in the 1880s.
So far I have: -William Laughlin b 1843 in Canada m Bridget b 1843 in Ireland 1896. They are on the 1880 census in Centralia -James F. Laughlin b 1870 d 1899 m 1895 to Elizabeth Chapman b 1871 (remarried to John McHale in 1905) -William James Laughlin b 1896 d 1937 m Florence Wetzel b 1904 d 1990 -Edward Joseph Laughlin b 1928 in Centralia d 1967 in Ashland m Mary Kull of Ashland (my grandparents) If anyone has anything that can help me i'd appreciate it. I already have lots of information on the Kulls and Wetzels. Thanks Jay Laughlin |
| Name: | Kimberly |
| E-mail address: | kjmueller@gmail.com |
| How did you find this site?: | google search |
| Comments: | My boyfriend and I watched a history channel show today about Centralia, and it blew my mind! I can't believe that a disaster like this happened, and that a massive fire continues to burn under a huge tract of land! What is even more mind blowing is that no one is doing anything to stop the burning. I imagine there is a potential for the fire to spread under neighboring towns.....it's so scary and sad. And why did I never hear of it before?!? Thanks for sharing your experience. |
| Name: | Lindsay |
| E-mail address: | KrwlngNMieSkin@yahoo.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.geocities.com/bleedrazorblade |
| How did you find this site?: | google search |
| Comments: | i had never heard of this town until someone mentioned how it reminded them of Silent Hill. It's always interesting to see sites about places like this. I grew up in a town with an abandoned mental hospital...I find things like this intriguing. |
| Name: | Mike Getchey |
| Comments: | Great site, I like the pics. I'm glad someone is willing to get off their a-- and display some history for this forgotten town. My wife lived in Centralia until she was forced to move in the late 1990's. I showed her the site and she noticed the vending machine pic outside the Speed Spot. She laughed and said they used to get a stick and put it in that machine for free sodas. I think you did a great job, but I hope someone would put together a site that displays the town as it was when it thrived. Some old pics, hey there was a movie with one of the Penn's (Sean Penn) that was filmed in Centralia, "Made In The USA" thanks again... |
| Name: | Judy |
| E-mail address: | Worldnet |
| How did you find this site?: | Googled Centralia |
| Comments: | Thank you for sharing your experience with all who check out this site. It was well written, great pictures and insight. I empathize with the remaining Centralians but the truth of the matter is the fire was an accident and unfortunately the result is the death of a once thriving community. Placing blame and searching out sinister plots only delays putting out this deadly fire. Ashland and the surrounding environment is at risk for death and destruction. Does anyone think that the community of Ashland wants to suffer the same fate as Centralia? Even if the few remaining Centralia citizens left today, November 2005 - it will be several years before that fire is extinguished if not longer. Coal is not the fuel source of the future - if it was the remaining individuals would have been removed long ago. The cost to put out the flames will never be recovered by the government. My heart breaks for what Centralia citizens have lost - truly. I hope someday soon, the Centralians will let go of their anger and allow the fire to be extinguished. |
| Name: | Jim |
| E-mail address: | jimuglydog@comcast.net |
| How did you find this site?: | Googled on Centralia, PA |
| Comments: | I was through Centralia on June 25, 2005. Very little remains of the city, but it's history has always piqued my interest; this was my first visit there. I intend to return to photograph the area and the explore it further.
Thanks for the wonderful job you have done in chronicling your experiences in Centralia. You have successfully conveyed the sadness and emotion of the town. |
| Name: | Ellen Saccoia-Smith |
| E-mail address: | ellenfsaccoia@hotmail.com |
| How did you find this site?: | Centralia Search |
| Comments: | I became facinated with Centralia after learing about the underground fire in the Public Policy class I took as an undergraduate student. I visited Centralia in 1988 and remember how eerie it felt as we drop by an abandoned church and graveyard. There were serveral abandoned house that still remained at that time and you could still drive down Route 61. I was shocked to see the photos you posted as not much remains. It truly is a sad ending to a once thriving coal mining town. |
| Name: | Lisa C |
| How did you find this site?: | looking up centrailia |
| Comments: | i went through centrailia about 10 years ago and never forgot the place,and not to far away from there i went on a train ride through the old cole mine ,it was pretty cool |
| Name: | Lisa C |
| Name: | KIYANNA |
| E-mail address: | YAHOO |
| How did you find this site?: | BY YAHOO MAIL |
| Comments: | MY COUISE IS THE BEST TO ME SHE IS LIKE A SISTER TO ME.SHE IS VERY COOL.HER NAME IS JASMINE BUT WE CALL HER JAY.I WISH SOMETIMES WE BE BEST FREINDS FOR EVER.LIKE MY OHER COUSE SHE IS MEAN IN BOSSE TO ME A LOT.BUT I DONT LIKE HER THAT MUCH |
| Name: | Robb Ware |
| E-mail address: | robb2004@robbware.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.robbware.com |
| How did you find this site?: | Link from somewhere... |
| Comments: | Great website Bethany! I'm going to Centralia tomorrow (today as of now) and just looking for more things to see and photograph while I'm out there.
Great job on the area map! Robb Aston, PA |
| Name: | Mel Segal |
| E-mail address: | mel.segal@hhinc.org |
| How did you find this site?: | |
| Comments: | A few years ago I saw a documentary on Centralia on PBS (Channel 12, Philadelphia). There was a short part that included people coming down the steps of "The Greek Church" (St. Michaels)in Shenandoah. I was shocked to be in my livingroom in Philly seeing my Aunt & Uncle on my TV !! My relatives are elderly so I'd love to find a copy of that documentary soon to surprise them as I was suprised. I called the PBS station right away but they said they didn't have it for sale & couldn't give me any info. Can anyone out there Please Help me ??? Thank you. |
| Name: | James Kerrigan |
| E-mail address: | jk222629@aol.com |
| How did you find this site?: | aol link |
| Comments: | Looking for information on my great grandparents who lived in centralia pa. Both of whom came from Ireland but I don't know when. His name was martin and hers was ellen, three children were william, bridget, and ellen. William was my grandfather who married mary coleman, and lived in moria pa.
Their children were, martin,john,francis, william, peter, ellen,mary,celcelia,and kathyrn. Any information on the kerrigans from centralia I would appricate. |
| Name: | Heather |
| E-mail address: | she_devil7898@msn.com |
| How did you find this site?: | Google search for Centralia |
| Comments: | I recently visited my fiancee's family in Hamburg, PA, and we passed through Centralia. My first trip through there was in 2000, and he had told me as much of the story as he knew. After this year's trip, I had decided to do some research of my own, as I'm fascinated by the place.
I'm planning on making an entry on my journal site about Centralia, and I'll be linking to your site. You'll be seeing an email about it soon, per your instructions. |
| Name: | Braden Parker |
| E-mail address: | bparker@bradenmikael.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.bradenmikael.com |
| How did you find this site?: | |
| Comments: | I've been doing some reading on Centralia, and I found your site one of the most informative. Your creative writing style immerses the reader in your experience. Well done. Thank you for the wonderful read. |
| Name: | Vonnie and Dave Byers |
| E-mail address: | alvin_15522@hotmail.com |
| How did you find this site?: | Visited Centralia today, and was searching the web for more info. |
| Comments: | This is a wonderful informative site! One of the best I've read on this subject. When I was a kid in the 70's, we went through Centralia on our way to our cabin in Bradford county many times each year. I remember the town as it used to be, a small PA mountain town, but a town nonetheless. I hadn't been to Centralia for many years now, but my husband is working the outage at the Susquehanna Nuclear Plant in Berwick, and I couldn't resist a trip. When the snow melts (IF it ever melts), we want to go back, and take a walk down old Rt. 61. I hadn't realized the road was diverted, so was surprised by the abandoned wash house. I find this subject very intriguing, and sad at the same time. Thank you for such a well written and assembled web site!
PS: Great pictures also! I'm an avid hobbyist photogragher, and will definitely be returning for more photos. |
| Name: | Mike |
| E-mail address: | marles@taz.cs.wcupa.edu |
| How did you find this site?: | Link |
| Comments: | Great website, very clean and presentable. I've been through Centralia a few times. It's a very interesting story, a small mistake costing so much money and heartache. My prediction: Fire continues to burn until final residents leave or die. Company/gov/group of former residents reclaim area, mine the good coal and pay off the cost to end fire and remove damaged subsurface. Clean fill replaced over bedrock and new community built. Would probably take one hundred years, but I have a feeling that the town of Centralia will come back to life. |
| Name: | Jon |
| E-mail address: | bandit__82@hotmail.com |
| How did you find this site?: | google search for centralia |
| Comments: | i live just outside bloomsburg and have spent the 21 yrs of my life in this area. As a small child i remember riding along rt 61 various times and hearing the story of centralia time and again (thankz dad haha). Anyway i remeber where there were house's lining main st that had yet to be vacated or torn down. As years passed and trips through the area contiued sporatically. I recall the speed spot from many passings and unfortunately has been removed. In the next few weeks before the snow hits i hope to take the 20min excursion and do some photography....wish me luck .... thanks for keep'n a small ghost town interesting to outsiders |
| Name: | Mark |
| How did you find this site?: | metacrawler.com
looking up centralia,pa |
| Comments: | Hey thanks a lot for making this site, you did a really great job on it. The writing and pictures definatly made me feel the eeriness. Thanks again
you guys are great. |
| Name: | Pam |
| E-mail address: | dmpm@hotmail.com |
| How did you find this site?: | google search |
| Comments: | I just wanted to let you know that you did a wonderful job on your Centralia Page. |
| Name: | MAYOR ABIA |
| E-mail address: | MAYOR@MAGA.COM |
| How did you find this site?: | INTERESTING |
| Comments: | KEEP OF MAYOR ABIA HAVE VISITED HERE................................................................................................................................................................................OK |
| Name: | Dina |
| How did you find this site?: | |
| Comments: | I am writing a paper about Centralia for an Environmental Hazards and Disasters class but I have really gotten engaged in the Centralia story. I originally found out about Centralia from Bill Bryson's book "A walk in the woods" I highly recommend it. Keep up the great job. |
| Name: | Edalene |
| E-mail address: | edalene@cuteandsingle.com |
| Homepage URL: | http://cuteandsingle.com |
| Comments: | Nice job on your web site! |
| Name: | Diana Campo |
| E-mail address: | diana_campo@hotmail.com |
| How did you find this site?: | web |
| Comments: | I just wanted to let you know your pics are great. I was there yesterday and it was qutie an experience. Although it was foggy we were able to make out some of the sites. We hope to go back with your map and see the other sites. Great site. |
| Name: | Mary McCloskey |
| E-mail address: | krazmary31@aol.com |
| How did you find this site?: | I was looking up Knobels my favorite place |
| Comments: | I am 45years old my Father Leo Forbes was born in Shamokin My mother Mary Lord Forbes was born in Mt. Carmel Every time we went to Grandmoms(both)or Knobels everyyear third sat in Aug for Family reunion we would drive through Centralia when I was very young we happened apon a truck which had literally fallen into a sink hole shortly after that it was all over the media The town is a very big part of my life It was good to read your story and bring back some good memories for me as a child as well as some significant not so good |
| Name: | KRiSTEN |
| E-mail address: | punkrockdork@comcast.net |
| Homepage URL: | http://www.kristensweb.com |
| How did you find this site?: | |
| Comments: | hey.. i drove through centralia on the way up north to go 4-wheeling a couple months ago. didn't know the name of the town at the time, i just knew the story. i'm planning to go back (minus the 4-wheeler) and spend some more time there. |