Centralia is a very isolated community now compared to its trade center status for local ranches and farms in the 1890s. It is said to have been named after and founded by J. H. Hargrove in 1898. On April 11, 1899, the post office was opened with Hargrove as the Postmaster. When the town was initially established, it was perfect for growth because of its location. Centralia was 16 miles from the nearest railroad in Bluejacket and 17 miles West in Delaware. This location drew ranchers and farmers from around the area into town for supplies, entertainment, and banking. Centralia quickly became a trade center for the area ranchers and farmers.
The City Grocery building was one of the few buildings constructed of brick, allowing it to survive the three fires that plagued the town. The first fire in 1907 devastated much of the town. In 1917 a second fire destroyed over a 3rd of the district. A third fire, in 1928, was not documented but remembered by residents who still live there.
Around 1929 the Post Office/Grocery store building was constructed. A 2 story building, it is now a residence. When you get to town definitely stop in and say hello to Debbie Hill and her husband.
You can find the Post Office sign hanging in Gene's Collectibles in Vinita. At some point, the second floor for the building was removed.
In the backyard of Debbie's home, you will find one of the swing sets from the Centralia school.
Debbie, an avid collector of Centralia history, will be happy to show you some signs from businesses that have been in town. One of the signs was from the Sunshine Biscuit company.
Behind the building, you will find the remains of a garage and parts store that used to be in town.
Going back to the beginning, the town had the foresight to create a plan for fires. Using a bucket brigade and utilizing the two public well systems that had been built the town thought it had its fire protection handled. The first fire, on January 11, 1907, turned out to be a losing battle for the brigade to some degree. Suffering from losing so much of the business district, the town rallied, rebuilding most of the business district.
The town continued to grow, and by 1915 it had reached its peak population of just over 750 people. The business district had grown to include three hotels, two banks, a newspaper (the Centralia Standard established in 1902), several doctors, an undertaker office, a blacksmith livery stable, and a feed mill. These businesses and establishments helped make Centralia a vital trading center for the area. As the town grew, four Churches were built, and a school was established to handle the education of the increasing number of children.
One of the town's unique features was that it was built around a town square and central park. The community used this square to host many of it's events including an annual carnival that had a merry-go-round and many enjoyed the horse races held in the center of the town—the only one of its kind in Craig's county.
The first school was a four-room building located in the Northern section of the town. This was used until a four-room structure was built in 1910 in the Southeast part of town and the original building was torn down. By 1925 several outlying areas had been annexed into the Centralia school district, and a new school was built. During the construction of the new school, classes were held in various homes and churches in the area.
The school in Centralia stayed in operation until the 1968-69 school year, when it was closed. When you search for the school now, you first find the arches for the school in the middle of a field with a wooded area behind it.
Continuing your quest to find the school, you must go behind the arches. That is where you start down an almost hidden tree-lined path that the students traveled each day as they went to classes.
At the end of the path are the remains of the school and the tornado shelter for the students. All surrounded by trees now, the area is both beautiful and macabre at the same time. Almost a testament to nature retaking its ownership.
A standard design of the tornado bunker for the school survived many years of abuse and abandonment. Like all things, time has been the final means of destruction and reclamation.
Two years after Centralia reached its peak population of 750 in 1915, the eventual downfall of the town began when a second fire (1917) destroyed much of the business district and local community.
By 1929 both of the banks had failed. The proposed rail system between Vinita and Centralia was started but never completed. The final nails in the Centralia Ghost Town coffin started with the economic depression of the 1930s and finished with the WWII migration of many residents to more prosperous communities to survive. By 1980 the U.S. Census reported the population at 43.
Driving into the town today, you see a community that appears to be a shadow of its original beauty and stature. If you only visit the remains of the downtown area, you will only see part of the continuing history of Centralia. Today, you will also see new homes and residences that want to keep Centralia alive.
A new and updated fire district office is now in town, and you will see signs of other improvements as you venture through the streets and back roads. The district office is built on the original grounds for the Town Square.
Located a couple miles outside of town are beautiful rolling hills and pastures. Nestled at the top is the top of one of the hills is the Centralia Cemetery. The perfect resting place.
Will Centralia live again? That is yet to be seen, but the long-time residents of the community are enjoying their day-to-day lives and love their country living styles.