In the fall of Jesse James with Bill Anderson's bushwhackers, who constituted a band of Confederate guerrillas, plundered the depot and houses then executed 22 Union soldiers in Centralia. They then ambushed and killed 150 more Federals who set out in pursuit of the guerrilla group. The site of this massacre has been preserved and a monument with the story engraved sits at the Eastern end. There is also a marker at the depot relating the massacre and the battle of Centralia. Chance Gardens is a horticultural attraction built in the 1930's by the gentlemen for whom it is named an an expression of his gratitude to the community for it’s support of his company, which built power systems, through the years. The Centralia Historical Society museum otherwise known as the Chance museum is a Victorian style house was built around 1904 by a pharmacist and later owned by the same gentleman who built the gardens adjoining it. The building is adorned with elaborate details such as the carved woodwork, leaded, curved, beveled, stained-glass windows, built in china cabinets and butler's serving window.

Hon. Michael Bradley

While SR 22, SR 124 and SR JJ border Centralia; SR cc and SR Z run through it.