Byrnesville, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Byrnesville was a small town in Conyngham Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It was located between the towns of Centralia and Ashland. In 1985, about 75 people lived in Byrnesville, in 29 homes.
The Story of Byrnesville
Byrnesville was founded a long time ago, in 1856. Most of the people who lived there were Irish Catholics. They worked in the local anthracite coal mines, digging for coal.
The town was split into two parts: Upper Byrnesville and Lower Byrnesville. The first houses were built in Lower Byrnesville around 1856. Houses in Upper Byrnesville came a bit later, around 1865. Byrnesville even had its own elementary school, but it closed down in the 1930s.
The Fire's Sad Impact
Byrnesville became a "ghost town" because of the famous Centralia mine fire. This underground fire started burning in a nearby coal mine. It caused a lot of problems for the towns above it.
In late 1983, the United States Congress, which is like the country's main law-making group, approved $42 million. This money was meant to help families who were affected by the fire move to new homes. People in both Byrnesville and Centralia were offered help to relocate.
The very last house in Byrnesville was taken down in 1996. This marked the end of the town.
What Remains of Byrnesville Today?
Today, Byrnesville is mostly empty land. As of 2019, only a few things remain. You can still see a religious shrine dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary on a hillside next to Route 61. There's also a large metal storage box and the broken remains of an old garage. Nature has started to grow over these old structures.
The main road, Pennsylvania Route 61, used to go right through Byrnesville. But the underground fire caused the ground to sink. So, a new part of the road was built. This new section, called Byrnesville Road, is a two-lane road that bypasses the damaged area.
