Centralia, PA or Hell on Earth...

VisualXpressionsVisualXpressions Registered Users Posts: 860 Major grins
edited January 23, 2009 in Journeys
Centralia is a borough in Columbia County, Pennsylvania. Its population has dwindled from over 1,000 residents in 1981 to 12 in 2005 and 9 in 2007, as a result of a 46-year-old mine fire burning beneath the borough. Centralia is now the least-populous municipality in Pennsylvania.

http://www.centraliapa.com/ http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=479

Most of the buildings are gone...



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The earth is very hot where the steam escapes...

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strange rock formation

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some old factory remains...

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A mobile home survived...

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There were 3 well maintained grave yards and an Orthodox Church
http://www.vxphotography.smugmug.com/

Comments

  • Cygnus StudiosCygnus Studios Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited December 29, 2008
    What a great story you have told. A well done series.
    Steve

    Website
  • chakraschakras Registered Users Posts: 18 Big grins
    edited December 31, 2008
    Very interesting photo tour. Thanks for posting thumb.gif
    Suvendra
    http://chakras.smugmug.com/


    The world is going to pieces and people like Adams and Weston are photographing rocks!     - Henri Cartier-Bresson
  • moose135moose135 Registered Users Posts: 1,420 Major grins
    edited January 3, 2009
    Great photos, thanks for posting them, and for reminding me about Centralia. I have family near Wilkes-Barre, and get out there quite often. I'd heard about Centralia, but never realized how close it is to where I visit. I was there over New Years, and seeing your photos prompted me to check it out. I took a ride through and shot some photos on a very cold New Year's Day. When I'm back out that way in the spring, I'll have to take the time to explore Centralia further. Again, thanks for a well done set of photos!
    The Moose is Loose!
    http://www.moose135photography.com
  • Shootin1stShootin1st Registered Users Posts: 288 Major grins
    edited January 3, 2009
    Sad story but a great series.
    Constructive Criticism Welcome!
    All photos are Copyrighted and Registered. Please don't use without permission.

    5DSR 16-35 2.8L III 24-70 2.8L II 70-200 2.8L IS II
  • richterslrichtersl Registered Users Posts: 3,322 Major grins
    edited January 5, 2009
    Great series, Winston! I remember reading about Centralia some years ago. What a shame! Thanks for providing the link for more information. I spent a lot of time yesterday between your photos and the others on the link.
    Linda

    http://lrichters.smugmug.com
  • grimacegrimace Registered Users Posts: 1,537 Major grins
    edited January 6, 2009
    Cygnus Studios wrote:
    What a great story you have told. A well done series.

    I agree. Well done.
    -Adam
    www.adamstravelphotography.com

    Facebook
  • leaforteleaforte Registered Users Posts: 1,948 Major grins
    edited January 6, 2009
    It's not 'Keep Out', it's 'Get Out!'. Kind of some creepy scary movie foreshadowing there! Cool series. thumb.gif
    Growing with Dgrin



  • VisualXpressionsVisualXpressions Registered Users Posts: 860 Major grins
    edited January 6, 2009
    thanks all for checking out my shots... tried to do more road trips over the holidays but it never panned out... I was a little disappointed there were'nt more vacant houses to explore... and shoot in Centrallia... I want to go shoot the Pennhurst State mental institution which was shut down over allegations of abuse... some day when the weather is nice...

    Winston
    http://www.vxphotography.smugmug.com/
  • ceemitchceemitch Registered Users Posts: 14 Big grins
    edited January 7, 2009
    Re: Centralia
    Looks like a really interesting place to shoot. I was through there years ago when people still lived there. Looks very forlorn now.

    Cheers,

    Christine
    I shoot with: Canon Digital Rebel XTi | 18-55mm | 50mm 1.4 | EF 70-200mm f/2.8
    I process with: Adobe Lightroom 2.0 | Adobe Elements 5
  • dirtfandirtfan Registered Users Posts: 26 Big grins
    edited January 10, 2009
    VisualXpressions wrote:
    thanks all for checking out my shots... tried to do more road trips over the holidays but it never panned out... I was a little disappointed there were'nt more vacant houses to explore... and shoot in Centrallia... I want to go shoot the Pennhurst State mental institution which was shut down over allegations of abuse... some day when the weather is nice...

    Winston

    great set of pictures of Centralia I to was up there over the New Year's very sad story .If you got to Pennhurst be very careful they partrol very heavy and if they catch you you will be arrested.I grew up in the the town of Royersford near Pennhurst and remember riding my bike threw there when it was open very creepy.
    www.darrenlandis.smugmug.com
  • anonymouscubananonymouscuban Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 4,586 Major grins
    edited January 14, 2009
    Wow... very interesting. Can't believe places like that exhist in the US. I'm a city boy, born and raised in Los Angeles so this is very foreign to me.
    "I'm not yelling. I'm Cuban. That's how we talk."

    Moderator of the People and Go Figure forums

    My Smug Site
  • KwartaKwarta Registered Users Posts: 152 Major grins
    edited January 15, 2009
    Fantastic series.
    http://kbkphoto.com/


    There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept.~Ansel Adams
  • BlinkingsBlinkings Registered Users Posts: 124 Major grins
    edited January 23, 2009
    Great shots. Did you try the match on the ground trick. It lights!
    All the best,
    Andrew
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