Centralia in the News
Big news on the relocation front
Those of you who follow the Centralia message boards already know this, but the state has begun moving the last dozen or so diehards out of Centralia. I confirmed this about two months ago with Steve Fishman, general counsel of the Department of Community and Economic Development, when I was writing the revised and updated version of Unseen Danger (now to be titled Fire Underground) that will be out Sept. 1 from Globe Pequot Press. My new book includes the old one but adds three new chapters and 50 color photos and takes the story up to the present time. I asked him if everyone was going to be moved out, and he said yes. If you recall, the Casey Administration invoked eminent domain against the handful of remaining Centralia residents in 1992. Some then left, but about a dozen stayed, living rent free and tax free in their homes but unable to touch the money paid for them until they actually left. Casey didn't want to force anyone out, and neither did Tom Ridge. Ed Rendell has agreed to be the bad guy. John Lokitis, Jr., star of the documentary, The Town That Was, and who according to Schuylkill County records has purchased a home near Ashland, told the Cent-Cony newsgroup that he has to be gone by Labor Day. Fishman told me the eviction timetable would depend on resolution of court cases filed by the residents challenging the eminent domain prices paid for their homes.
Centralia song out on CD
Pennsylvania folk singer Jay Smar's song about the Centralia mine fire, "The Fires of Centralia," is finally available on CD. The song, which Landingville, Pa., resident Smar wrote, is on his new disk, "Heritage and Coal Mining Songs of Northeast Pennsylvania." This is a well-made, professional album with high-quality musicianship. It should appeal to anyone who likes traditional American music. "The Fires of Centralia" is a mournful lament for, well, a town that was, and is closely based on my book. It has a catchy tune, and any artist who can work both DenMar Gardens and the AML Fund into a song deserves credit! But seriously, this is good stuff. You can catch Jay this coming weekend, April 25 at 7 p.m. at the Majestic Theatre in downtown Pottsville, Pa. He'll have copies of his CD for sale.
Other stuff
To find out what (mostly) former Centralia residents are thinking and talking about these days, check out Ritamarie Long’s website . Make your way down the page through the ads and click on Message Board to get to, well, the message board. Very lively and informative at times.
Read the Sunday New York Times review of Unseen Danger from Jan. 4, 1987.
Another very good discussion group about Centralia and Conyngham Twp. can be found here. You must sign up to use it, but that's easy to do.