In 1966, only a few years after the Centralia, Pennsylvania mine fire began burning, the town buried a time capsule near the local veterans’ memorial. Both were in the lawn of the American Legion Post 608, which has since been razed. The reason for the capsule was to celebrate of the borough’s centennial. Centralia was founded in 1866 by Alexander Rea.
Inside the capsule was placed a miner’s lamp, coal, a Bible, as well as local souvenirs and literature. According to Joan Quigley in her book The Day The Earth Caved In: An American Mining Tragedy, these items were chosen to honor the town’s history and working class background as miners.
The capsule is to be opened in 2016, the year of Centralia’s sesquicentennial. Looking back, it’s sad to consider how much has changed for Centralia, Pennsylvania in the course of the last 50 years. The residents living in 1966 could hardly have imagined that when the time capsule was opened in 2016, the entire town and its people would be gone.
Centralia Veterans’ Memorial and Bench in 2008. Credit: centraliapa54196 .yuku.com/Donaldjr1969
Given the growing interest in Centralia, PA and the mine fire, many people have become concerned about the safety of the remaining buildings and relics around the town. This include the veterans’ memorial, whose bell was relocated in 2009, and the time capsule.
In June of 2014, after noticing the time capsule had been tampered with, borough officials decided to remove it, and place it into safe keeping. Though it has been removed from its original location, the capsule is still schedule to be opened in 2016. What an interesting and melancholy event that will be!
When will the time capsule be opened in 2016?
READ! It was opened early, in 2014. Already long gone.
IT was NOT opened it was relocated.
Hi Joseph. Yes, it was moved. However, it was opened shortly thereafter: http://www.centraliapa.org/centralia-pennsylvania-time-capsule-opened-early-2014/
Time to get it opened
it was already opened. it says it right at the top. read the article
Haha! These comments are hilarious. If your going to take the time to comment then take the time to read and re read an article before you comment. Come on people!
You got that right. Some people are just nuts. Sounds like a bunch of them lives in PA. I agree….come on People bet your act together.
@Melly… Are you going to the opening of the time capsule?!? It should be this year sometime!
I’m actually curious about the time capsule my self.
I read in this article that there was water inside when they opened the capsule in 2014. What am I missing?
I personally would love to move to the city. I’m just that kind of person who loves that level of solitude. I am betting it’s like most of these other cities where they have the underground fires. What I mean is emergency personnel won’t respond to calls in the cities and even postal services have been wiped away. These is actually one that has been removed from maps and roads in and out are blocked off by barricades saying Dead End. Still would love to buy one of these poor cities and refurbish it a bit. Even if it’s just to rent rooms out to tourists to pay for upkeep.
It was opened oct 4th 2014 2yrs early.they found miners helmet,pair of bloomers signed by a man that lived there and some other bits.all the papers that were in the capsule were destroyed because of the water that was in it.would love to visit the place ?
Damn, it’s 2023 and they still haven’t opened it yet. Don’t they realize that they are nearly 8 years late opening the vault!!! Jeesh…
(Being sarcastic of course- after reading many of the comments.)