Our first stop found us just a few miles south of the Harrisburg International Air port. Where a little island on the Susquehanna river sits with the title "Worst Nuclear Disaster in US Commercial History. You might recognize it better by its name, "Three Mile Island". Still a very much active plant, the towers that once cooled the TMI-2 reactor sit vacant and silent next to the towers that are still in use. Due to an intense fog, that made everything just a little eerier then it already was, very little could be made out of the plant and its operation.

From hear we headed up interstate 81 where you will find an exit for a town by the name of "Minersville" in the heart of the anthracite coal region of Pennsylvania. Where just up the road on route 61 sits a perfect example of mining neglect and its affects on a small community.


This community is called Centralia. What was once a small mining town of around 10,000 people, now is merely a valley of vacant lots, steam vents, and a 2 mile stretch off highway completely destroyed. Mining began in the small borough in the late 1800's. And continued uninterrupted for many years. In 1962, in typical fashion, trash was set fire in the towns landfill. However this particular time the trash set fire to an underground vein of coal. Many attempts were made throughout the 60's and 70's to put out the fire with no such luck. In the early 80's the Pennsylvania government began a huge effort to relocate the entire population of the town. Many moved to the surrounding areas of Ashland and Mt. Carmel. Several residents stayed, siting a government conspiracy to run them out of the town and turn the property over to the coal mining companies. According to the 2004 census, 18 people remained in Centralia. During our visit. we saw approximately 5 houses.


To this day the fire still continues to burn. The town has become some what of an internet legend. During our visit we were greeted by group after group, coming to see the vacant, burning town. One group we talked to had traveled from new york. Another from a small borough 2 hours north of Centralia. I first learned of it from a friend in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area of Pennsylvania (another area of environmental disaster caused by excessive mining).


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