CENTRALIA, PA - America's Burning Ghost Town (Documentary)
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- Опубликовано: 9 май 2024
- Supporters of my Patreon have access to an extended version of this documentary, as well as bonus content, including the story of a trolley crash in downtown Centralia in 1911.
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Famous across the world for the ongoing underground fire which forced the town's abandonment, Centralia is located in central Pennsylvania. Let's explore the remains of this town, looking into the history before the fire, from plane crashes to gang violence with the Molly Maguires, through the causes of the fire, and to the terrible management of the situation which led to the near-total abandonment of a town that once was home to nearly 3,000 people.
Segments:
0:00 - Introduction
1:22 - Centralia's Early History
4:18 - The Molly Maguires
6:29 - Exploring Railroad Street and Later History
10:07 - The Fire Starts
13:37 - Centralia's Centennial Celebrations
15:00 - Decline of Centralia
18:02 - Coddington's Gas Station
20:54 - Todd Domboski's Sinkhole
22:11 - Relocation and Evictions
24:24 - Exploring the Remains of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches
26:22 - Highway 61, "The Graffiti Highway"
28:25 - Exploring the Neighboring Ghost Town of Byrnesville
31:45 - Opening the Centennial Time Capsule
32:54 - Centralia Today
35:30 - Finding Smoking Fissures
This is why nobody watches TV anymore. High quality, engaging content presented excellently - for free on YT. You earned my subscription today. Thank you!
in England we used to have 4 channels that produced good quality tv.. now we have 100 channels that all either produce absolute trash, or repeats of old good tv shows... as with everything nowadays its quantity over quality
Yeah...right...LOL
Same here. I abandoned television years ago. I first learned of this place from one of Bill Bryson’s travel books: A Walk in the Woods, I think. So, to watching this takes the story forward for me.
But for independent small producers like these, it would be a bleak cultural landscape as regards little gems such as this.
Agreed. I canceled my cable 2 years ago and haven't looked back. $190 a month for garbage productions. smdh
Yes it's going to continuously to burn just like hell forever and ever and ever this whole world's going to be on fire soon someday after the Antichrist rules and rains for three-and-a-half years then Jesus will soon return or all those who had believe and receive his salvation thank you Jesus Christ amen
"The slow-moving fires that still managed to move faster than bureaucracy" killed me. Thank you for this visual update on such an iconic town!
Never leave the government to solve a problem. I'm not anti-government, I think they are important, but they are basically incapable of moving fast enough to solve problems on their own.
@@matthewmosier8439 They can move quickly and efficiently, the caveat is it has to be an immediate and existential threat to them, if there was a coal mine fire under the capitol you better believe they'd have it snuffed in a split second.
Yes, when you start looking at history it is amazing how often major problems have a government beginning. And yet, today, many look to government solve all their problems. Government is their god.
@@r.blakehole932 Governments can tackle any problem if it is adequately structured and financed to do so, the US is a hilarious example of what happens when it isn't.
Other countries' governments, although they have some issues, can still figure out firefighting, gun control, rehabilitative justice, worker's rights, equal access to education, housing, food, healthcare.
But you need a strong democratic citizenry removed from monetary interest and willing to fight for their rights for it to work.
Otherwise you get crony capitalism, theocracy, xenophobia and patriarchy in power and their interest do not align with the people's.
@@r.blakehole932 Amen to that...instead of working together as a community of people to solve problems, people just look to an arbitrary group of government people who have no real hand in their daily lives to solve all their problems--which is exactly opposite the ideals the US was founded on.
I absolutely love the way you put the old photos over the real time footage to show exactly where the pictures were taken. To see the difference in the old photos vs now is so interesting
Yess! I can't believe I had to scroll down this far to see someone compliment this slick editing. Bravo 🥳
I still haven't seen anyone mention the unique matching shirts these guys are wearing. I need answers!
I really liked that as well! Nice effects!
I noticed the same shirt colors when I noticed actually two guys instead of one talking when the magazine was discovered in the brush and all of a sudden a beard appeared on one of them. I am a photographer and noticed the overlay idea early on. Very good idea to show where old history had been and current history was. Subscribed right then
I am so grateful I came across your channel. I'm guessing it had enough likes so it showed up. I agree with the comments that people are making...your research is absolutely thorough, the music fits perfectly with your show, your dialog is fascinating, and I am always glad I sW your video and want to go to the next one! I am passing your channel along to anyone who has the desire to learn.
I grew up 15 minutes from here. My great grandfather was a coal miner. You did this story justice, thank you. It’s so eerie visiting now as an adult, but as a teenager it was an adventurous dystopia to explore.
Wow. Do you have any stories about Centralia to supplement this video?
God bless your family. We all have American stories. My mother's side fought in the revolution and for the confederates in the civil. My father's were immigrants from Germany.
We didn't choose our families but we should be interested in them.
i live in lancaster and i yearn to check centralia out someday
I think this is, for the time being, one of the best documentaries done on Centralia. No clickbait, no shock effect. Just the story of a town and its people. Well done, Tom and Emma.
the best
I think Centralia might be small enough to be ripe for takeover by extremist squatters, like Antelope Oregon and Grafton New Hampshire. We Antinatalists are considering it ourselves as a town where we could move in a majority and then fund abortion to save school tax, But Pennsylvania is not solidly Pro-choice and so might prohibit municipal abortion funding, but the gates of hell effect makes funny imagery, so it has that appeal.
@@alan6832 your a sick individual. lol. if you think the world needs less people then do it a favor by leaving it yourself 😂
@@alan6832 HEAD to Oregon please 🙏
I'm from the government I'm here to help we see how that worked out
This is not hyperbole: as a historian and professor of American history, I think this is better than most of what the History Channel and National Geographic produce. Each video is well-written and above commendable for what this channel is able to do.
100%.
Don't announce your alleged qualifications, just make your point and move on.
@@DrJ-hx7wv Someone sounds either a tad jealous, a tad touchy, or just feels the need to make an inane comment. Would you like me to “self dox” myself?
In responding to your obtuse comment, I will take advantage to once again say how well this RUclips channel is able to convey the re-telling of historical events. Thank you, because if it was not for you I would not make another comment on this video.
@@DrJ-hx7wv don’t announce you’re a douche bag just keep it to yourself 😉
These men are all wearing matching shirts...why?
This is THE best documentary of Centralia. My father grew up in Girardville and as a kid, I went thru Centralia many times in late 70’s and 80’s. Nothing really looked abandoned to me. Still many homes and some businesses left. I have pictures of St Ignatius church before it was demolished. I actually drove down Graffiti Highway (Rt 61) before it was abandoned. My dad would take me down the old bypassed Rt 61 (two lane) and now go figure, that’s the only one left.
This was done so tastefully. I remember seeing news stories about Centralia slowly being abandoned the entire time I was growing up in Pennsylvania, and feeling so sad for the residents. Thank you for considering their feelings while filming this.
I loved the overlays of historic photos over the modern streets.
Sad and amazing at the same time.
It is sad yet very interesting to see the comparison.
Imagine what the future holds with augmented reality. Being able to wear a pair of glasses / headset and walk around and then see the past in front of you in the form of pictures, video records or illustrations.
Me, too!
Yes, the overlays were absolutely excellent
I am obsessed with people matching up views of today with pictures of the past. This is incredible work.
Same. There's just something so amazing about seeing pictures like that side by side.
I know! Same here. This channel did an excellent job accurately placing the old photos. Love seeing the curbsides and edges of buildings in photos align perfectly with the remnants.
While wearing matching shirts for some reason. 😀
If you're interested in WW2 history, then you should watch some videos from a youtube channel called: "Ruiter Productions".
They show german cities today and then edits in images as an overlay to show what it looked like during Nazi-Germany.
@@stump182 I was wondering if I was the only one who noticed the shirts.
I've seen a whole bunch of content on Centralia before, but this is the first doc I've seen that I think really paints the whole picture. The fact that you travel to the locations you're covering really helps tell a fuller story than if you had just simply done some online research. I can tell that you have a great appreciation for history and respect for people in general. There is a great deal to be learned from stories like these and people should absolutely know about them. Thank you for the effort and professionalism you put into this channel!
Centralia holds a quiet place in my heart. My dad was from there and he told me so many stories from his childhood.
Finally a video that tackles Centralia in a way that seems professional and somber, restoring its humanity, rather than emphasizing the nightmare below ground
Get off his dick, this is the same as any other 1000 documentary’s out about this.
The town that was is a great documentary about it.
Agreed. I live not too far away & the S.H. franchise is my all time favorite.
My wife & I paid our respects to the burning giant under the town by visiting a few years back. We only made it once it was dark...and even though there wasn't much to see & the famous spray painted road is gone, people have poured so much emotional energy into this place being a ... real & devastated location, that when we started taking some different paths and roads down there...I had the most piercing feeling (to this day still) of being watched/patiently waited on... very. weird.
Actually, I think a good, determined attorney could muster up some more compensation for those residents who were chased off their land. After all, people 8n California are being compensated for their ancestors being paid unjustly by the government, right now. In fact, the land is being revoked by current owners, who did nothing wrong, and awarded to these descendants.
In this case, I think it's a pretty plausible possibility that these folks of Centralia were jipped out their inheritance, and are owed back pay to whomever survives from the original land owners. And they can use the California case up as a comparison case to prove their rights to compensation.... From our government!
Damn, I shoulda been an attorney! ✌️😁
We all want that nightmare, though. No one cares about small town USA except David Lynch.
My maternal grandmother lived on the east corner of Locust and Railroad Streets. My paternal grandmother lived across the street from Coddington’s Garage. Spent the ‘60’s through the ‘80’s visiting them every other weekend. How wonderful to see their homes again. Attended many a Mass, wedding and funeral at St. Ignasius. Thanks so much for the video!😊
My grandfather's family used to live there! They stayed there until the 1930s and then moved on to Wisconsin were the bought a farm and land in Clark county in 1941.
@@jacobhawley60 Gone but never forgotten, 🙏 the sacrafice made by the American people , in Centralla PA ‼️👍
Thank God for the people who made the fire happen
This place reminds me of an Australian ghost town (now officially "removed off the maps" by legislation) called Wittenoom. Abandoned because of asbestos toxicity, it was once the hub of Australia's asbestos mining industry. Great explore here mate and new subscriber 🇦🇺
I think I saw a Four Corners episode about that place. Blue asbestos blows across the road in clumps.
@aarondavis8943 yeah that's the one I saw. There was also a German made documentary on the last weatherman who monitored the weather there. He is quite a character in the doco
Burnsville and Ashland? That must seem like a horrible irony now.
Sounds to me like corruption, greed, cheapness and incompetence started this fire and is why it still burns today.
Actually the fire seems very symbolic somehow.
I've watched several documentaries on Centralia over the years, and this one is pretty damn good! It doesn't just cover the towns story, but includes a deep history of the towns beginning, recent past, as well as what remains today. Well done for all involved!👍
how did you feel about the matching polos? do you think they planned it or it just happened on its own, personally I think it was just a coincidence
I visited Centralia in the late 80's to early 90"s. At that time most of the houses had been torn down and all that remained were wildflowers where they once stood. There was still an auto parts store in town and several residences. We investigated the surrounding area and my sons walked on hot rocks that melted the soles of their boots, I think that they were 10-12 years old at the time. To this day now in their 40's they still talk about that adventure. I have searched for updated information on the town with little success until finding this well-done documentary. Thank you for sharing.
Last I heard some company bought the area and wanted people to stay out of there. Unfortunately, they have since covered up the road that people had tagged
Disgraceful how the government ripped off these poor people, brilliant documentary, best wishes from Yorkshire England
Seems to have never changed eather
Government doing what it always does.
Our government is famous for doing that. Nothing new. 😊
TOWN BY TOWN THE GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE YOUR LANDS , YOU WILL OWN NOTHING AND BE HAPPY .. . WAKE UP !@@rockstarofredondo
The idiots started it by burning their own trash, so they should be happy they got bailed out at all.
The magic of nature is at work here. There is a fire underneath the ground, a fire that forced thousands to relocate and millions of dollars in costs, and yet somehow, there is lush greenery above the same ground. Such an amazing sight to behold. Great work on the documentery guys👍👍
As a geocacher I knew about Highway 61 and “graffiti highway” but never got there to see it. But, it really is something when you do start cleaning up what looks like pure, untouched forest what you end up finding! Abandoned old cars, brown glass Javex bottles from the ‘40s, old wound farming fence wire…some really cool finds. Abandoned structures with stories to tell are always so interesting too. My area used to have a radial railway and remnants of it including a pump house still exist. Elsewhere, in Algonquin Park is a rogue set of tracks, a cement foundation including stairs, and a fire plug right by a lake. That used to be a full-service hotel with rail service from the south.
As a photographer, the matching up of old and new photographs is always cool too. Well done on this!
Graffiti road is covered in dumped dirt now. 26:36
My parents were both from Centralia, born two blocks apart. I spent a ton of time there as a kid, along with my siblings, and my mom's family still has an annual reunion held in Danville (closest decent hotels), which my family attends annually. I attended the 100th Anniversary party of the Centralia legion just a month ago. As the video notes, the Legion Post is now in Wilburton #1 (there are actually two Wilburtons roughly a mile apart on the back road to Mt. Carmel, alternately named Mid-Valley #1 and #2). My grandfather relocated to my parents' home in Virginia 1985, having accepted $25K for his house (waaay more than it was worth). These people in the video saying their houses appraised at $36K and $47K are delusional. Those row houses were selling for $3K - $5K at the time. They were very old, there was little industry left in the entire Anthracite region, and young people had been leaving for years (both my parents left upon graduating high school in the early 50's). Much of this video is accurate, but the people complaining about the relocation offers were simply looking to make a killing on assets that had very little value.
One minor quibble: the brick buttresses on the houses left standing for a time (the last of them were razed in 2009) are actually decorative cover for the steel buttresses that were used. Those were pretty ugly, so they attempted to improve the aesthetic by covering them with brickwork. Some people mistake them for chimneys at first.
Thank You - for sharing !
Thank you for the facts! Most people would've just left it I love that you said something fr!
Thank you for providing us with accurate historical and current info. What a fascinating story this is.
Live 30 miles away in what now is know as Jim Thorpe. Remember driving thru on way to knoebels as kid in 70-80s. Now that I have my own children we sometimes drive thru. Most coal mining towns are in decay. Tourism and county seat have kept our town in better condition. Most would not believe some of the row houses that dot the way on that stretch. Could have 8 house linked and 4 are caved in while people still live in rest.
What happened to the green "Centralia 1886" bench that I thought was in the location of the time capsule. I thought it was near the cemetery from what I remember being there but can't find it on satellite maps.
Most videos would rather cover the “wow look creepy abandoned town that’s on fire! WOW!” part of Centralia, but this video covers the topic in a way which shows the human aspect of it and actually treats the town with respect. Great job Tom!
I was there in the early 70's when people still lived there. Very sad.
Most of the stories I hear about just talk about the first initial trash burning, but it is wonderful to see all of this extra history, it gives you a new perspective to appreciate than just "inspiration for silent Hill" that a lot of retellings focus on
@@2pugman people lived there in the 90s, when I drove through, as a child and the ground emitted smoke and trees would burn, spontaneously here and there, throughout the town.🤔🤷
@@yknowiknow5937 By choice? Or because they didn't have any other options?
Seems like it would be a creepy place to live in the 90s, but I've been stuck places where I'd rather not have been too.
@@zxyatiywariii8 did you watch the entire video?? People did NOT want to leave the homes, their families lived in for over a century. They wanted the government to put the fire out.🤔🤷
This is the kind of documentary that needs to be for the sake of all who lived there and those that lost homes and had to relocate , shame this happened . Very well put together , Thank You and God Bless !!
Absolutely brilliant coverage, I live in NZ but found this truly heartbreaking but so informative...OUTSTANDING history and NO FLUFF TALK, factual and non-judgmental...THANKYOU. I too have subscribed!!!
I've driven through Centralia a number of times. The first few times I didn't even realize it. Just goes to show how quickly nature takes over and makes a once bustling town unrecognizable.
I am from Pittsburgh Pa. and a history teacher . This was the best doc . I have ever seen on the subject . excellently done and sufficiently covered . Thank you guys so much and I will be using this in my class .
Go Ravens~~~
It’s a great place to go see I’ve been there twice
@@robinbunnybuns3124 Dickens was a terrible writer and spelletr. Maya Angelou as well . I am not a English Lit. teacher , I teach History . So, since you have more interest in me than you do the video , let me focus on you . For you to be a pie face chubby girl , with a dated hairstyle , you take great risk at critizing anyone ..
@@dakotabarron2105 And you are a teacher? I feel sorry for your students.
@@robinbunnybuns3124 Like I said , you are a chubby very hard to look at and rude , so I respond in kind . worry about improving yourself , do something the hair lose some weight and focus on the subject matter .
The old picture references over current views/images of the town was incredible! You covered this story with such integrity. Thanks!
My family is from Schuylkill County and I've been through and have heard the stories of Centralia for years. This is the best documentary video on the subject I've seen. Great job.
Heartbreaking. Hard for a lot of us to imagine what it's like for the place you grew up to just... vanish completely. Physical locations do a lot to tie us to our past. They keep it alive and make it real. To no longer be able to go home is a tragedy.
Is this what's going to happen to East Palestine, Ohio?
I'd be happy to see my home town die out lol
@@tkatrich3 I hope you've found a better place to call home, then, or that you do in the future!
@@tkatrich3 no you wouldn't in reality
I actually find it very reassuring. It’s nice to think about the earth healing itself once our idiotic species dies off.
I like that you purposely withheld interviewing the residents. It shows a lot of respect that most people don't hold. One reason I love your content is because it's honest, never bias, and is as respectful as one can be. There aren't any twists, or surprises. No clickbait videos. In-fact the videos can often be lackluster and dry, but thats what makes them good. Sometimes I just wanna listen/ watch something that is purely informative.
The truth in a story can often times be dry and unappealing, but needs to be told to link the story together.
A very sad, but complete documentary.
@@markfortin421 Not all rocks are pretty... Not every story is glamours, but when you see the full picture it is.
I see it as; if they're not willing to sit through the dry dull stuff, they're not deserving of the enjoyment of the full story.
ive lived in mount carmel and shamokin.. the area surrounding centralia is FULL of inbred degenerates who seem to spend ALL funding their schools get on football equipment instead of books. they are several generations deep in uneducated cretins and make for awful interviews. its funny, they live in these cesspools yet they honestly in their hearts that its the best place on earth. dunning-kruger in full swing.i think they destroyed the last residents of centralias house (while they were at walmart) before covid, so theres literally no actual residents.
How STUPID!! Those last few residents would actually appreciate the visitors.
@@betsyogle8224 it’s about respect, Karen 🙄
I was born in coaldale Pa. hospital. I am very thankful for your video and historical documentary. I miss the winding roads through the small towns.
I'VE SEEN DOCS ON CENTRALIA OVER THE YEARS BUT N E V E R AS THOROUGH, COMPLETE WELL NARRATED & EXPLAINED IN DEPTH AS THIS ONE FROM PART TIMER- THANK YOU FOR SHARING
My mother’s family is buried behind the Ukrainian church there in Centralia. The Wargo family lived on North St.Remember as a young boy visiting my grandmother early sixties walking to Riley’ store and buying penny candy and five cent Coca Cola.Best presentation of Centrala I have seen!
so let me get this straight the town had an Irish church a Ukrainian church and a Russian church???????
The Ukrainian church is still there and still has mass. I'm surprised that it wasn't mentioned in this video.
Sorry, I just heard him mention it :)
@@hannahr77yes
@@hannahr77Nearby Mt. Carmel had 17 churches at the height of population. Every immigrant population wanted to worship in their own church.
This is so nicely done. I have no family ties there, but I was moved by your accuracy, detail, and most of all, the respect you show.
When I was a cna in Indiana, I cared for a wonderful lady that once lived there. Many times after clocking out, I would go to my resident family to tell them goodnight. (we’re not promised a tomorrow, which is too obvious in nursing homes) Anyway, she would get out her photo albums and show me her story. It gave her great joy that someone cared. She passed away in 2012. She would have loved this, and been grateful that you put a focus on the human aspect.
This is beautiful.
Really?
I wish I could give 10 thousand "thumbs up".🥰
You sound like an exceptional care giver!
Thank you for such kind words. It means so much.
This town has always fascinated me. Thank you for this I enjoyed this very much!
As someone who grew up and lives in nearby Shamokin, PA. This was extremely insightful, I never would have figured there was so much more that I didn't know about Centralia. My mom's friend actually grew up there. What a storied history! Thank you so much for exploring a piece of the 570 with great taste and knowledge 🖤 I also had no idea that Aristes is due to eventually catch fire (another nice, small town).
I can not get over all these town names. Shamokin, Ashland, Burnsville??? It is like I am having a weird dream and can only think of Firey names for the towns around this place.
I'm jealous I live in NJ and I think PA is so much nicer the parts of NJ I like the most are near PA or upstate NY
There was a similar fire in the Bituminous Coal fields of southern West Virginia. They successfully put it out by pumping several thousand gallons of shampoo down several bore holes. This was followed by pumping in several thousand gallons of liquid nitrogen. As the shampoo foamed up, the liquid nitrogen froze the domes of shampoo foam and smothered the fire out. The mine acted quickly and the fire was out in a couple of weeks. Thank you for the outstanding historical video!
I wonder if this would work even now in Centralia. Two towns have been destroyed and another is threatened. It's time to stop the fire before more small towns are gone.
Wow that's pretty cool! I thought I read it wrong when I saw shampoo
@@cbyoungblood4199 it could possibly work. In the southern West Virginia fire, the coal company went into action as soon as the fire started. The mine was evacuated and the Mine Engineers met and decided on the shampoo/liquid nitrogen approach. They had to drill several 700+ feet deep, four inch holes down to the section that was on fire. It took some very precise surveying as this took place back back in the 1970's. My Dad was on a drilling crew. They surrounded the fire hit it with shampoo and immediately followed it with liquid nitrogen. They continued to monitor for carbon monoxide for a couple of weeks. When no CO showed up, ventilation fans were turned back on and the section where the fire started was blocked off and abandoned; however production resumed until 1987, when the mine closed permanently.
Amppppoo
@@wythetrumpet6419 Was it Prell? Prell shampoo was big in the 1970s!
As someone who has lived in the area of Centralia my entire life, thank you for putting this together. I thought I knew everything about what happened but I learned so much from this.
I watched a video about this place years back, this one is packed to the brim with amazing info I missed! Thanks
Thank you for putting all the effort into making your own subtitles. Not many RUclipsrs do this it’s greatly appreciate it cause I’m commonly in loud places. You have earned my subscription.(it’s also good for people who have hearing problems)
This is sad, basically you have a massive failure of government starting with the new dumping policy, the picking of a new unsafe dump site, but really the half assed attempts too contain and extinguish fire afterwards doomed this town. Thanks for the documentary on this terrible tragedy hope the people of this town found peace elsewhere.
You are spot on.
like a friends family said, even with the fire they started, had they not been so stupid they could have put it out, but would have to put 24/7 effort into the job, also the idea of smothering the fire with a slurry of fly ash and water at least from my understanding, makes sense, if you can starve it of oxygen, it will go out... but they waited too long, and made things worse.. almost like somebody wanted to kill the town and mines...
Open-minded world A failure in governance... There I fixed it for you.
Sadly not only Centralia and it’s residents have suffered, but the townships of surrounding areas have and will continue to suffer.
Makes me angry and saddened.
Exactly. Government failure
This was so well done. My late mother is from Ashland and I remember when Centralia was a small town. I remember seeing the smoke in the woods etc. My 2nd cousin was born there and when I took my son there and took photos, even with the structures gone, my 2nd cousin was able to tell me what was there. He knew exactly what street etc. I makes me sad that Centralia suffered such a fate.
Excellent documentary. Head and shoulders above the majority of RUclips videos. Your clear, intelligent and useful commentary, and lack of emotional hype, makes for a refreshing change. Cheers from England! 🙂
One of the better videos I have seen on this subject. You approached it with a respect and understanding many others lack. I found your video not only informative but very heartfelt and sympathetic.
I have to say, not interviewing the residents was very respectful and I really appreciate that you were thoughtful enough to decide not to make them a spectacle, although I know that it must have been hard to not want to get a resident's take on the situation.
Thank you for this. Generations of my family lived there & I visited frequently in ‘70’s & 80’s till they relocated to Mount Carmel. Many are buried in St Ignatious Cemetery. Interesting twist is fire did not consume Cemetery, but went around.
That's amazing! Unfortunately, I have only just heard about this town and it's history; my love for Ghost Towns had me stumbling upon this vid! ^^
God protected them maybe
Well documented, people will be watching this for forever. Thank you for all your effort and including original footage from the time and showing us what it used to be.
Wow. This was very good. I grew up very near there and went to college before they started moving people out. Great documentary.
I've watched countless documentaries about Centralia and even visited it myself in the early 2000s. This is one of the best ones. I've seen footage, and found out about history I never knew or or saw before. You also did something most don't. Gave tangible footage of the current state of the fire with proof that it's still burning and spreading. You're incredible at this.
You know a video is exceptionally well done when you get nostalgic, teary and even homesick about a place that, before watching, you never even knew existed.
I'm going to need to check out more of your channel. 👍
Soooooo well spoken and spot on Mr. Stephen.
this is the first youtube video i’ve ever sent to my grandparents- that’s how good it is. well done!
I love history like this. You did such a good job with this video. Best I've seen about the town. So sad about the town. THANK YOU!!
To me the slickest part of this extremely good documentary (I've watched a few on Centralia and this is the best) is the superimposition of the old original photos over the current locations. I LOVE seeing the contrast that way in documentaries...it really makes it "real". And you included a LOT of old video I've never seen. 👍
So many are confused over the shirts you guys are wearing, but it makes great sense. Anyone who saw you all out there knew you were together, on the same team, and it looks professional compared to a ragtag group of guys in wife beaters and daisy dukes. 😛
This is a top-notch production. Great job!
Dude, I don't usually bother to comment or even to like videos on RUclips, but you guys deserve this and a lot more. What an amazing video and research effort! Congratulations on this work that I'm without word to describe how awesome it is.
Well said 😎
I didn't used too but now I try to alway give some feedback thumb up or down if not a comment as well. It's the least we can do.
Dude? What are you, 15 years old?
Same here
@irvingr.fatback886 why are you asking how old he or her is .
Man, this was so thorough! And love the old pics and footage that you added!!
This must've been the best video on the inferno of Centralia that I have seen on this site, or in general. Truly professional, and I do appreciate the privacy you & your crew gave to the few residents of this evanescent town.
Your attention to detail and the emphasis on the human aspect of this sad situation is why I enjoy your documentaries so much. Thank you for these. Well done.
The "then and now" shots at specific locations are amazing and really put the story into perspective. Fantastic video!
My cat likes your cat..😂
It adds so much context.
I just found this channel and so happy I did. How sad for these families. I will be looking at all the other documentaries. They are so well done. Thank you for your sincerity and thoughtful reporting. ❤
I've watched a lot of documentaries on this ans your's gave more information that i haven't heard before.Also I respect you for just letting the residents be even thoug it would have been interesting to get there in put ! Amazing work!!!!
I'm not sure how I ended up here but this was splendidly done. I've never heard of this town. But this is an historical recording for our era. I commend everyone who worked on this project. It felt like being in history class - I'm a history nerd 🤓 😅
Also a history nerd 🤓 this was a good find
History nerds are the best nerds!
Ever hear of the movie or game silent hill? I'm pretty sure this town is what that movie and game is based on just more exaggerated for effect of horror
@@scottwebber4865 it is based on this town 100%
@@scottwebber4865 one of my fav games of all time .. Silent Hill and the original Resident Evil… to best “scariest” games ever in my option
I grew up in the area. sad but amazing place. as a kid I remember driving through at night when tha main road was still open and you could see red glowing rocks on the side of the road with lots of smoke coming up. watched the town slowly disappear over the years. I used to service the 2-way radios for the fire station there in the early 90's. Great video. Thanks for making this!
This was an excellent documentary. Very well put together. I also liked how you were respectful and did not interview the remaining residents. Definitely earned a new subscriber!
This channel always delivers. Consistently interesting and the fact that he actually displays respect for the subjects and people involved only makes it better.
This is one of the best, if not THE best, documentary I've seen on Centralia. No gimmicks or crazy intros/interjections. Just dedicated storytellers constructing the events in a cohesive manner and ultimately celebrating what was Centralia rather than mourning it. Well done!
I really feel for the people that lost family land and homes and were offered so much less than their worth.
You are correct, and I fear that now the same scenario may take place in East Palestine, OH. I hope they will be treated better, but I don't have much confidence in our government these days.
@@patriciayohn6136 I don’t know anything about that location.
@@patriciayohn6136,I lived there for fifty two days while I worked out a contract.I found the people to be friendly and helpful!
I feel for the waste guys who started the fire can you imagine how devastated they are they never even said who the starter was that's how bad they feel
@@32ewing what does that have to do with one very small town in the middle of Pennsylvania
Excellent documentary. I have watched stories about this town in the past, but yours is by far the best. Thanks
I am from Pennsylvania, and have been through Centralia many times. Excellent video. Possibly the best on Centralia I have ever seen.
Have ypu ever been to west chester?
I've watched programs on this and none of them mentioned the "control" burn that started it. Thank you so much for the research and information you have provided.
you see you see their are terrorists in America already🤣
@@raven4k998 oh don't I know it, feels like they are popping up out the woodwork
@@raven4k998 how is a controlled burn terrorism
Even when I was a child , people didn't talk about that often. A lot of people would tell you a bunch of teenagers started it partying. -_- I live a few miles from Centralia.
Terrorism ? It's coal lady.
This is honestly the best documentary I’ve ever seen on Centralia and one of the best I’ve seen in general since being on RUclips for nearly 2 decades now. Absolutely love this channel.
Laying in bed not feeling well and watching this entire documentary from start to finish. It’s so interesting to hear about the story of Centraila. And you’ve made it so entertaining and informative to watch
My wife and I paused it and were trying to figure out why that house had those brick strips! Thank you so much for being thorough and explaining that they were buttresses!
This is what a documentary should look like. I have seen several videos on this town, but this is the first that actually made it feel like a real town that was lost and not just a moral statement or tourist attraction.
This is so well done. One of the best documentaries on Centralia.
Kudos to you for not wanting to disturb the few remaining residents there. That is incredibly respectful of you.
There's a point in every Silent Hill fan's life where they learn about Centralia. For me that point was 10 years or so ago and it blew my mind. I watched and read anything I could about this tragic story. This is one of the best looks at this poor town I've ever seen. Thank you for creating this hauntingly beautiful yet jarringly raw and ugly and I doubly thank you for showing the current residents respect. Their governments (federal, state and local) failed them all equally, intentionally, continually and thoroughly.
Sorry to tell you but this place didn't inspire Silent Hill. It's past about the coal mine fire was only used as a small piece of inspiration for the film's backstory after the writer learned of it while writing the script but that's all. Nothing more. Other than that Centralia has nothing to do with the Silent Hill series.
@@Oreonla you say it didn't inspire Silent Hill then describe it inspiring Silent Hill...I didn't say this and I was never here.
I wasn't replying to you unless this is your alternate account, so have no idea what you're talking about. But if you'd pay attention I was saying people think that Centralia inspired the Silent Hill game series. That is not true. The writer of the movie found out about Centralia while working on the film's script so he used the coal mine fire for the film's backstory though the movies are still based on the games, but that's it. That is what caused people to incorrectly assumed that Centralia inspired the series. That's where that common misconception spawned from.
I couldn't believe it either back then . It's true an it still blows my mind .the fire is still burning an they say it will take more towns ............
The Silent Hill franchise as a whole has a lot of things to credit for inspiration, including the book Phantoms by Dean Koontz. I've read that book and seen the bits they drew from it, but apparently a bunch of his other books and a ton of other stuff is also confirmed as inspiration for various parts of the Silent Hill multiverse (see the Fandom wiki for the whole list, which does say Centralia doesn't inspire the game version of Silent Hill).
As someone who's been watching documentaries ever since he was a child 30 years ago, I'm of course familiar with this story and have seen several documentaries.
I got to say, you've done a hell of a job with this one.
Very good work.
Right. This maybe the 3rd or 4th video essay about this fire that I've ingested on RUclips alone, and this one still kept my attention.
I've seen many videos on this town. This is the most in-depth and best I've seen. Learned more today then i did previously. Thank you. ❤😊
I really enjoyed your reports on the fire below towns. I read in school about the coal fire in the ground that could not be stopped and now many years later you answered many questions I had back in school. This was a real joy learning from you, you now have a new subscriber.
This is the type of documentary I used to love listening to at night while falling asleep as a kid. The story, just the details and facts. No glorification, no overdone stuff, just the straight up truth and history. ❤️
Your use of the "before and after" pictures is excellent! Sad and creepy, but excellent. It makes it crystal clear exactly how much was lost. It's absolutely amazing that an entire town can just disappear and be reclaimed by nature.
I looked the town up before re-watching "Silent Hill" movie. This documentary adds a great deal of realism to eerily absorb a horror flick. Well done!
abosolutely amazing job, well prepared, written and delivered, thank you for this great documentary
I lived in PA in the late 60's and early 70's and remember this town ... it is such a shame that once again our government does something and the people get screwed. One has to wonder if the original dump had been used forever if this would never have happened. You did and excellent job on this and I really enjoy all of your videos.
The fact that they were burning trash so close to coal veins proves how incompetent government sourced workers are.
I live in new jersey and i dont really like philly but i love the rest of PA even Pittsburgh was cool
@@leahflower9924 You like the correct city in PA. ;) (Pittsburgh native. We have to talk crap about Philly as a matter of principle. 😂 )
@@TrappedinSLCPhiladelphia is pretty rough now
I've worked extensively with anthracite at a coal fired pizza place. This stuff is very tough to get lit, but when it you manage to, it's impossible to extinguish. Burns hot and burns fast. So incredible to find this story of a vein being lit underneath the earth. Absolutely incredible.
This is the best documentary on Centralia I’ve ever watched. Very brilliant work!
Awesome documentary and he has that voice that’s relaxing and calming. Very informative. I found my new episodes to watch on Sunday.
The respect and courtesy you show in your videos towards occupants of the locations, and towards the sites themselves, is so refreshing in today's atmosphere of greed and insensitivity. Many thanks for your exceptionally civilized approach to your subjects.
this! I was so touched by the statement that he didn't want to bother the few locals left, because they deserved their peace.
By far the best coverage of centralia I’ve ever seen. You covered so much detailed history that all the other documentaries gloss over or don’t even mention it
Exactly. I made a similar comment. This is such a great mini documentary compared to the other stuff you find that focuses on the creep factor and make it scary. Adds a human aspect with the archives footage.
Ignorant politicians.
Crooked politicians.
I've heard stories about this from my parents, but I never really understood what they were referring to until now, thanks to your documentary. Loved this calm experience.
I'm very impressed with this documentary. I'm a big fan of video essays on YT and found you from your many ship disaster videos. I like that you were respectful, knowledgeable, and that you painted the picture of a town. You didn't make it into some doomed, "everything is on fire!", and unnecessarily glamourizing the unfortunate story.
I do have to ask, why are the three of you wearing the same shirt in the footage of walking around?
This is crazy. I recently thought to myself, "I hope PTE visits Centralia". I haven't even watched it yet but I'm really excited!
For many years, I've watched documentaries on Centralia. They've all been good and informative, but never covered the politics.
I want to express my gratitude for your 2022 update plus the historical politics that were so bad for the people.
My family is from PA. I know how both politicians and lawyers are greedy blood suckers instead of being proactive for the people.
It's shameful.
Yes, it was much cheaper for the evil government to offer residents pennies for their homes to relocate, rather than spend $ to put out the fires. Government taking care of itself rather than people. If "buying" out the town homes was the lesser expensive alternative by the government, the least they could have done was to be fair and pay the real appraised value of the homes. But where eminent domain seizure of property occurs, the government is never known to be fair. So sad.
@@jeanetteshawredden5643
Very true, Jeanette. I agree with you.
I live in PA. When people like Governor Wolf or Governor Rendell talk about "helping people" I reach for my wallet to protect it.
Ain't much better if Windbreak Ridge or Tom Tom Corbett speak the same.
Everyone wants to help in Harrisburg.... at some price.
@@jamallabarge2665
My family began moving every two years because my father joined the military. We'd vacation with the PA extended family as often as possible.
My parents hated shoveling snow. Dad's last duty station, after 22 years, was here in Southeastern Alabama. The people are great here. I don't want to live anywhere else.
Jamal, I wish you the very best for the day and time that we live in. May God bless you as you rely on Him.
@@jamallabarge2665 Best thing about PA is the winter months. It gets so cold that our politicians put their hands in their own pockets for a change.
Just subscribed after watching several of your maritime videos. I watch a lot these types of channels, and yours is top tier. I'm a history teacher, and I love that you go through American History that we don't teach in school
I visited Centralia in 2009 with my daughter. As we photographed some of the escaping gasses, we noticed that we were getting light headed and decided to get to higher ground. It was spooky seeing the roads leading to nowhere, overgrown with plants, and only a few die-hard residents remaining along with the fire station and the Ukranian church on the hill above the town. You have done an excellent job documenting the history, going much deeper than anything I found out at the time. Thank you!
My family is from Centralia. I have ancestors buried there. It makes me so sad whenever I watch a documentary on it.
My family too.
My dad used to say now and then, "They could have put that fire out. It was political."
"The threat of fire was on people's minds, but it was also literally in their mines." Well played sir
I'm pretty sure he said, "in their minds," due to the neurological side-effects of the fumes. The one lady even said she felt like a zombie, and people just wanted to go to sleep all the time.
I have watched a lot of footage and docos on centralia, this is the best I have seen, well done thank you for sharing.
Great documentary. Thanks so much for doing this. I’m a songwriter and I was searching info on ghost towns for inspiration. So glad to have stumbled upon your work!
Very accurate documentary! I first saw Centralia in 1984 and was shocked! I've been working nearby for 33 yrs now and slowly saw the town dissappear. I heard rumors that the fire was set deliberately to get the people to abandon the town so as the state could get the mineral rights the citizens had since the 1800's, also there is a rumor that uranium is among the coal seams in the area. If you drive around the different towns, most are looking like Centralia because coal is only mined by state contracted companies. 50 years from now, mining towns of yesterday will be gone and owned by the state! (All for proffit).
BTW.... if anyone disagrees with me it's because they believe it's OK to take for themselves anything that other people worked so hard for, and not have any guilt, repercussions, or remorse.
True. It has always been the global issue.
I know without doubt that you are absolutely right ✅️
Tell it !
What a great in-depth documentary. The overlays with photo’s really brought the story of Centralia to life. Excellent job sir.