The Centralia Municipal Building is one of the last remaining structures in the town. Built in 1978 after the mine fire had already begun, the building played a major role in the history of the village.
Most notably, was the location of many heated Centralia PA Borough Council meetings. At these, residents butted heads with elected council members, as well as state and federal officials who were brought in to help decide the town’s fate.
It was at the municipal building where property owning residents came to decide the future of the town on August 8, 1983. During the referendum, they were asked to vote for or against relocating the town. Those in favor of relocation won the vote with nearly a 2:1 majority. And, it was with that Centralia, Pennsylvania’s fate was sealed.
Centralia municipal building from across Locust Ave. Credit: Flickr/mdmarkus66
The Centralia, Pennsylvania municipal building is located on the north end of town along Locust Avenue. Over the years it has fallen into disrepair. With only a few remaining residents, there is neither the money nor the manpower to tend to it.
The municipal building still houses a firetruck and ambulance. These are used to provide emergency services to residents in the surrounding towns such as Aristes to the north.
In late 2012 new siding was placed on the building. This replaced the old, yellow wooden siding that was slowly rotting away. Also, around the same time the sign hanging on the exterior brick wall was changed.
Previously letters near the entrance of the building read “Municipal Building, Borough of Centralia, Columbia, Co., Pennsylvania.” Today the sign simply reads “Municipal Building.” Slowly, any mention of Centralia, PA is disappearing from sight.
Are there any photos of the interior of the municipal building as it is today or recently?
Does anyone know what the state of the municipal building is as of recently? Is it abandoned?
As far as I know, it’s still in use. It houses a volunteer fire department that services Aristes and Ashland. As well as anything that’s still in Centralia. I hope someone more expert will correct me if I’m incorrect.
Our GPS took us through Centralia the other day. The municipal building is there and there and the fire truck is visible. Looks exactly like the picture on this page.
I wonder what happens to this building once the coal companies slowly muscle into town to dig up the coal once the last remaining resident is gone.
What if they were to send a few thermobaric (vacuum bombs) missiles into the entrances of the mines that have the fires and it should put them out by sucking all the oxygen from the mines will put the fires out as well as collapsing the tunnels a split second after detonation and sucking the oxygen from them.
What’s the point, Jesse? The town has been wiped away and throughout the fire is still consuming it, only nature lives there now. Relocating would be tough, Gov would have to work with sinkholes, and many damages caused by the fire; it’ll be tough, and a huge waste of tax payers’ money.