Technology and Society

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Technology and Society

There is a town in eastern Pennsylvania called Centralia. It was a mining town fairly typical of Pennsylvania in the 1880’s. Today it is virtually a ghost town. Interestingly, it has not been degraded due to the decline in the demand for coal. The decline in population in Centralia is due to a mine fire that was started in 1962 and has still not been extinguished today.

Many discussions these days of coal energy and society would include such topics as the pervasiveness of coal as an energy source in the world as well as the environmental impacts of using coal for energy. Looking at coal in Centralia, these topics take on a different perspective. Coal energy has certainly pervaded the lives of the people who lived in Centralia in the later part of the 20th century, but it did so in an unorthodox way. The coal in Centralia has also had some unusual environmental impacts. The uniqueness of this story is important to energy and modern society, especially when put in a science, technology and society perspective.

The objectives of this paper are to provide a brief history of Pennsylvania coal and the town of Centralia, and to critically analyze the science, technology, and society issues embedded in this story, with a look at the interconnectedness of these three elements.

In the 1700’s and 1800’s, Pennsylvania coal helped to fuel the Industrial revolution. Across the state, mining towns grew and employed many immigrants from Europe.

Pennsylvania was the fourth largest state in coal production, generating 25% of the total coal mined in the country. There are two kinds of coal found in Pennsylvania. Bituminous coal is found mostly on the western side of the state, and anthracite coal is found only in...

... middle of paper ...

...ne Fire History." http://www.offroaders.com/album/centralia/centralia-history.htm (30 October 2001).

Coombe, Tom. "Flora, Fauna, Fire! Centralia’s Extremes Researched." http://www.centraliapa.com/extremes/ (30 October 2001).

Kentucky Educational Television. "Using Coal in America." http://www.ket.org/Trips/Coal/AGSMM/agsmmusing.html (30 October 2001).

Ohneck, Carolyn and Dean Mann. "Pennsylvania Coal: A Technological, Social, and Cultural and Legacy." 11 October 2001. http://www.ems.psu.edu/~eser/STS420/Penncoal.ppt (30 October 2001).

Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. "Pennsylvania State History: The Era of Industrial Ascendancy 1861-1945." http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/pahist/industry.asp?secid=31 (30 October 2001).

Wetzel, Joan. "Conyngham Township and Borough of Centralia." http://www.centraliapa.com/historytwp.htm (30 October 2001).

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