A mural depicting formerly relevant historical characters in town is reflected in a broken glass window in Glouster, Ohio. Glouster was once a bustling town in Southeastern Ohio, due to the large deposits of coal in the area. Since the 1960's, when the coal mines moved out, Glouster has slowly become a victim of neglect.

Girls ride the Athens County Athletic Boosters float at the Chile Pepper Festival in Glouster, Ohio on July 31, 2010. The Chile Pepper Festival features a salsa cook off, live music, a parade and a small festival to celebrate the areas heritage of locally made salsa.

Rosie Spencer opens the front door at the Maffin's home in Glouster. The father, Ron Maffin, has been unemployed for a number of years, but is going to heavy machinery school this year.

The Washington family of Glouster, Ohio celebrates James (not pictured) seventh birthday on August 28, 2010. Due to complications of James Bickley's (right) child support payments for a previous relationship, the family often struggles to make ends meet.

Brody Spears waits in the back of a car after swimming in an abandoned coal mining pit in Drakes, Ohio on August 5, 2010. Spears, a Glouster resident, went swimming with his older sister and her friends. The mining pit is the only thing left to identify the southeastern Ohio ghost town.

Chantel Washington, 13, cries after her mother and stepfather gave her a curfew of midnight. Her parents agreed there's too much trouble in town to let her stay out any later.

Jim Bickley warms up a cheeseburger in the microwave. Grilled chicken and hamburgers are a staple meal for the family.

Boss, a pitbull owned by the Washington family in Glouster, Ohio jumps to the furthest extent of his chain on August 24, 2010. "Don't get too close to him," said Debbie Washington.

Nikki Vaughn and Lexi Armor drink malt liquor in the backseat of a car. Both girls have struggled with addiction to narcotics, both prescription drugs and heroin. Drug abuse has become a big issue in many Southeastern Ohio towns - The New York Times reported in early 2009 that the DEA refers to Route 70 in the Midwest and Route 33 in Ohio as 'Heroin Highway,' due to Columbus, Ohio's role in narcotics transshipment across the United States.

Kim Cox yells at her daughter Lexi after Lexi's friend stole three pairs of jeans and Cox's bi-polar medication. "I didn't ever think I'd end up here," Cox said once, referring to the home she lived in with her daughter owned by an older man named Bubba. Bubba allowed people with no where else to turn stay in his home in exchange for helping him get around.

Lexi Armor vomits after consuming too much malt liquor in the backseat of a car in Glouster, Ohio.

James Washington, 6, of Glouster, Ohio poses for a portrait on the railroad tracks in town. Due to complications of his father's child support for children from a previous relationship, James' family has struggled with poverty.