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All the United States Pennsylvania Ashland Byrnesville

Byrnesville

An underground blaze turned this village into a ghost town.

Ashland, Pennsylvania

Added By
Ophelia Ravenia
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Shrine maintained by the Reilley Family of Byrnesville   Ophelia Ravenia / Atlas Obscura User
Shrine maintained by the Reilley Family of Byrnesville   Ophelia Ravenia / Atlas Obscura User
  Ophelia Ravenia / Atlas Obscura User
  Ophelia Ravenia / Atlas Obscura User
  Ophelia Ravenia / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Byrnesville, Pennsylvania was a village between the towns of Centralia and Ashland. In 1856 a handful of Irish Catholic families settled in Byrnesville, and were employed in the local coal mining industry. Many of these families remained in the village for generations.

In 1962, the coal veins beneath the neighboring town of Centralia caught fire, likely due to a routine burning of the town's local dump igniting the coal fire. Initially, the fire didn't seem to have much impact on Centralia or Byrnesville. But by the 1980s, there were signs of trouble from the fire. Sinkholes started appearing and toxic gases arose from underground.

The village was abandoned and razed in 1996. All that remains is the ruins of an old garage, as well as a roadside shrine that is still maintained by the Reilley family, who had resided in the village. The shrine and ruins are visible from Pennsylvania Route 61 between Centralia and Ashland.

Related Tags

Coal Disaster Areas Fires Ghost Towns

Know Before You Go

The shrine and ruins are visible from Pennsylvania Route 61 between Centralia and Ashland.

Community Contributors

Added By

Ophelia Ravenia

Published

November 8, 2023

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Sources
  • https://www.centraliapa.org/byrnesville-pennsylvania-centralia-mine-fire/
  • http://byrnesville.com/
Byrnesville
Byrnesville Rd
Ashland, Pennsylvania, 17921
United States
40.795307, -76.338764
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Nearby Places

Centralia

Aristes, Pennsylvania

miles away

Ashland Mother's Memorial

Ashland, Pennsylvania

miles away

Centralia Ghost Town Church

Centralia, Pennsylvania

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Ashland

Ashland

Pennsylvania

Places 3

Nearby Places

Centralia

Aristes, Pennsylvania

miles away

Ashland Mother's Memorial

Ashland, Pennsylvania

miles away

Centralia Ghost Town Church

Centralia, Pennsylvania

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Ashland

Ashland

Pennsylvania

Places 3

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