Illinois Ordnance Plant and Works

From the July 29, 2010, Morris (Ill) Daily News "Tourists discover impact of WWII munitions."

The Elwood Ordnance Plant and Kankakee Ordnance Works were created to prepare the United States to meet the demand of the upcoming large scale warfare of World War II.  There were other plants converting to building the guns, planes, tanks and other items of fighting, but these needed bullets, shells and bombs.

In 1939, the U.S. Ordnance Department established a network of ammunition plants to be government-owned and contractor-operated.

In 1941, these were the 5th and 6th of the 60 that were built.  Kankakee was to manufacture TNT, DNT and raw materials to make explosions.  Elwood made artillery shells, bombs and other munitions.

An extensive internal railroad system moved the materials around in the 23,500-acre compound.  Many buildings, warehouses and bunkers were also built, providing many jobs for locals and attracting others to move to the area.  At its peak operation, the two places employed 17,000.

Tours are occasionally offered at the Joliet Munitions Plant as it is now called and the old Route 66 runs right past it. 

Just one more proof that the U.S. was preparing for war even before it entered it.

GreGen