B
bach2yoga
Guest
Steve and Ken, here's some info re: where we were yesterday. It has a fascinating history, much more so than I had realized.
(Steve and Ken and Joe and I and our children were at Amatol yesterday. We visited the Amatol train junction, the passenger station, and found some round foundations in that vicinity as well. We also explored some of the area of the plant munitions where the 75 mm etc were produced, some that Joe and I had found the day before, and some new ones. Then headed over to the village where we explored an area that Barry and I had explored a couple of months ago, and also found some new foundations that we hadn't seen before.)
I've recapped alot of the info from the documents I found at the Atlantic County College Amatol website. The book is available online, or the Hammonton library. The documents are on the website.
Disclaimer: My typing isn't perfect, and I was working quickly, so there may be typos, etc.
Also, the map I photocopied for you is in this book, and broken down into more detail.
Renee
Home page:
http://venus.atlantic.edu/amatol/amatol_book_home.html
Pictures of the 75 mm plant…note the conveyors. Look familiar?
http://venus.atlantic.edu/amatol/p-067_75_MM_Plant.html
map of the town:
http://venus.atlantic.edu/amatol/p-179_Amatol_New_Jersey.html
The town itself—view of the street:
http://venus.atlantic.edu/amatol/p-183_Typical_Street_Views.html
Panoramic view:
http://venus.atlantic.edu/amatol/p-185_Panoramic_Views_Of_Town1.html
View of typical residence-very interesting:
http://venus.atlantic.edu/amatol/p-189_Typical_Residences.html
House plans:
http://venus.atlantic.edu/amatol/p-191_Plan_Of_Houses.html
Metal lath and cement construction:
http://venus.atlantic.edu/amatol/p219_Typical_Metal_Lath_And_Cement_Construction.html
There was a piggery to get rid of the garbage, the pigs were fattened for food:
http://venus.atlantic.edu/amatol/p-243_Piggery_Utilization_Of_Garbage.html
Fire protection:
http://venus.atlantic.edu/amatol/p-247_Town_Fire_Protection.html
Amatol was a mixture of two chemicals, ammonium nitrate and trinitrotoluol (TNT)
http://venus.atlantic.edu/amatol/p-099_Ammonium_Nitrate_Storage.html
http://venus.atlantic.edu/amatol/p-107_Trinitrotoluol_Storage.html
“Construction on the plant began March 4, 1918. Two miles away from the plant site , the town that would house the workers, was also constructed. This distance would ensure the safety of the residents from any accidental explosions at the munition plant. This circumstance was dramatically demonstrated in the terrible accident at the Naval Ammunition Depot, Lake Denmark, New Jersey in 1926. Both Amatol and Town-site were complete within nine months time. The plant was designed for safety and redundancy. The plant was laid out so that an explosion in one building should not damage any other buildings. This was accomplished by designing the buildings in such a way that an explosion would move upward rather than outward. Additional protection, in some cases, was provided with soil filled barricades. Hazardous operations were carried out in duplicate buildings so that if one were destroyed in an explosion the entire operation would not be jeopardized.â€
The operation of the loading process is excellently described in the book Shell Loading at Amatol, N.J. : " Whether the shell be large or small, it is placed lengthwise on the conveyor belt and moves along at a constant speed to the next process. When it reaches the proper point a workman stationed there simply rolls it off the belt on the bench. In the case of large, heavy shell this method not only saves time, but a vast amount of physical exertion...While the pressure of war needs was on it was necessary to load amatol rather than straight T.N.T.... The mix has as high explosive power as T.N.T., the one disadvantage of using it being that ammonium nitrate absorbs moisture rapidly, and in time deteriorates. The life of the shell loaded with straight T.N.T. is indefinite--certainly 25 years--while the condition of shell loaded with amatol would be uncertain after perhaps five years."
Plant Safety
"In the matter of protection, the plant has been covered in many respects beyond the usual means of care to lessen risk. The operating buildings are practically all steel-frame with composite lath and cement construction or corrugated metal sides. Hydrants are placed inside and outside the building in such position that all parts can be covered with water. One hundred feet of hose is provided for each outside hydrant. Hose racks are placed in the buildings at short intervals and fire buckets 20 feet apart. A water line patrol is constantly at work to detect defects in the system or accidents, such as broken mains..." " Buildings where T.N.T. is poured undergo constant cleaning and are flushed out with steam daily. Exhaust air systems are installed to carry away the fumes and dust. A safety patrol looks to the cleaning up of T.N.T. dust and the clearing away of waste. Personal cleanliness among operatives is insisted upon as the best safeguard against possible dangerous effects from working in T.N.T...."
The Town
The references to the planning that went into the development of the Plant echo the focus on planning evident in the building of the town. This is no accident, the early part of the twentieth century saw the dawning of planned communities. Architects like Andrew J. Thomas, Henry Wright, Robert D. Kohn, Clarence S. Stein, Frederick L. Ackerman and Thomas Adams were actively involved in the design of towns that incorporated the elements of English Garden Cities. The planned town of Yorkship Village near Camden, New Jersey was also built during World War. They attempted to combine the best features of the town and the country. Comparison with similar installations suggests the designers of Amatol were familiar with the principles of town planning used by the major architects of the time. Great pains were taken to build a town that workers would find attractive and stimulating.
In 1922 the government auctioned off a lot of the items of various sorts from Amatol the plant:
http://venus.atlantic.edu/amatol/amatol_auction_sale_catalog_contents.html
This is interesting—apparently the town was occupied until 1924. In 1922 a report was done as to the possibility of housing the headquarters for the 3rd brigade First Division Light Field Artillery of the US Army 6th regiment of the field artillery and to construct permanent barracks. That reports finds practically all of the foundations are made from wood posts cleared from the site, with no basements; 7/8†cement plaster on composite wire lath against insulated roofing paper over 7/8†wood sheathing nailed to 2†x 4†studding with interior plastered walls on composite wire lath. The roofing was poor corrugated iron, roofing paper and flint coat.
http://venus.atlantic.edu/amatol/condition_report_2.html
The SJ Star reported on April 21 1922 that the plan had been approved and that the 6th regiment of the 3rd brigade would be moving in about 10 days. The townspeople were in favor.
http://venus.atlantic.edu/amatol/SJ_Star_April_21_1922.html
On April 24, 1922 the War Department issued orders as such.
For some reason, which I have not been able to ascertain, those orders were rescinded on May 5 1922.
http://venus.atlantic.edu/amatol/War_Department_May_5_1922.html
On June 22, 1922, a letter was written by Norman Schwarskopf, Colonel and Superintendent of the NJ State Police, with the desire to obtain a section of the property for troop headquarters. It was also asked that all of the buildings, furniture, equipment, machinery, etc. be sold to the State of NJ for use by the police.
On June 26, 1922 the Office of the Chief of Ordnance of the War Department wrote the Quartermaster General of the Army proposing that the state police be able to use the buildings until permanent occupancy became available, The electricity, water and other services that were provided by the Ordnance Department would be shared with the Ordnance Department and the state police would bear their share for services rendered. It was thought to be a mutually beneficial relationship, as there was apparently a guard problem at Amatol. This revocable lease was completed on July 13, 1922.
Orders were given by the Secretary of War for the abandonment of the Amatol Arsenal as an Ordnance Reserve Depot. On August 21 it was declared surplus and would be disposed of in a manner “to the best interest of the United States, as soon as the property now sorted there is removedâ€.
In a January 11, 1923 letter to the Quartermaster General, Charles Baxter, Assistant for the Chief of Ordnance reports that Amatol was then in the process of evacuation, and expected to be vacated by May 1st. He notes that the sale of the plant may now be considered, as long as the “possession or access is retained…until Ordnance property can be removedâ€.
In September 1923, the Forester report was published, a result of an exchange between the Sec’y of War and the Sec’y of Agriculture “concerning the possibility of developing and utilizing the forest resources of certain of the military reservations without in any way hampering the use of the terrain for military purposes…to ascertain whether such
A dual use is practicableâ€. By this time most of the frame buildings had been salvaged along with the pipe lines, except the sewer. The stucco buildings, for the most part, still remained. Such dual use would have required an act of Congress to create a National Forest at Amatol Arsenal, as was done at Fort Wingate in New Mexico. This act would provide the War Department use for military purposes and preserve the legal status as a military reservation. The land would come under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture “for the purpose of development subject to its dominant use for military purposesâ€. The reservation would require only one Forest Ranger, and one or two Forest guards, employed on a per diem basis, to be engaged in the suppression of forest fires.
I found no further information concerning this report.
On June 6, 1924, a letter was sent from Curtis Bay Orndance Reserve Depot in Maryland to the Office of the Chief Ordnance in Washington D.C. concerning the destruction of explosives at Amatol. Apparently there was “such quantity (of explosives) as to require considerable labor in getting it out and to a safe place to burnâ€. Approximately 4000 lbs. Of TNT were found in five buildings that were formerly used as drying houses. These buildings were annexes to buildings that had been previously turned over to the Post Office Department. The TNT was found in the dryer and blower cases, and connecting pipes as well. Explosives were also found on the floor and scattered on the ground outside. Some of the explosives had fallen from the belt conveyor and wound up on the ground.
On August 24, 1924 the Quartermaster General ordered that the caretaking force at Amatol (guards, firemen, engineer, etc) be immediately reduced to not more than 3 persons, a caretaker and two assistants. Date given for evacuation is August 9, and the reason given was “the inavailability of funds for the further retention of the present entire force.
Mullica Township Clerk Karl Bieselin wrote the Quartermaster on February 3, 1934, inquiring as to the possibility of an airport on this tract.
A letter from Joseph Winslow, attorney at law, to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, dated September 22, 1934, says this:
“The title to this property (Amatol munitions base) was formerly in the Island Realty Company of NJ, and later in the name of Mrs. C.M. Counsel who bought out the interests of the Island Realty Company. On May 5, 1934, all interest of Mrs. Counsel in this tract of land was sold and assigned to Mr. Albert Pollick of Pittsburgh, PA. The title to the property, however, remains in the Federal Government, against which the Government has a claim of $27,500.00 plus interest, which aggregates, at this writing, $31,340.00. Against this indebtedness there has been deposited wit the War Department, Liberty Bonds of the par value of $29,000.00 which bonds are the property of Mr. Willard A. Mitchell, attorney at law….â€
Mr. Pollick’s intent was to sell his interest in the property to a group of Russians from New York State, who intended to establish a colony of Russian-Americans. His equity in this property was approximately $100,000. However, Mr. Pollick was unable to refinance the property. His lawyer contended that if the War Department should liquidate its interest in the property, Mr. Pollick would be out that $100,00. An extension was requested to either further negotiate the sale or the refinancing of the property.
He continues: “Mr. Mitchell himself has been very kind and patient with respect to the outstanding indebtedness, and we feel quite sure that he will continue to be so, unless the government brings the matter to an issue by insisting upon payment of the indebtedness due the government. Realizing the gracious attitude of your administration towards citizens who are honest and unable to meet their obligations, it is our hope and prayer that, as the Chief Executive of our country, you will make use of your kind offices with respect to the subject matter of this letter and suggest to the War Department that any proceeding with respect to re-taking the property….â€
Finally, in 1926 Charles Schwab, Marshall Ward, H.E, Clark, and S.D. Clark purchased a portion of the property and built the Amatol speedway.
Speedway info
http://venus.atlantic.edu/amatol/speedway.html
Some of the munitions property is currently used by hunters who reportedly pay a thousand dollars a year to hunt there. Suggestion, don't visit during hunting season. They don't take too kindly to it. :|
The town however, is behind the Mullica Township recreational park and a portion is an ATV park.
(Steve and Ken and Joe and I and our children were at Amatol yesterday. We visited the Amatol train junction, the passenger station, and found some round foundations in that vicinity as well. We also explored some of the area of the plant munitions where the 75 mm etc were produced, some that Joe and I had found the day before, and some new ones. Then headed over to the village where we explored an area that Barry and I had explored a couple of months ago, and also found some new foundations that we hadn't seen before.)
I've recapped alot of the info from the documents I found at the Atlantic County College Amatol website. The book is available online, or the Hammonton library. The documents are on the website.
Disclaimer: My typing isn't perfect, and I was working quickly, so there may be typos, etc.
Also, the map I photocopied for you is in this book, and broken down into more detail.
Renee
Home page:
http://venus.atlantic.edu/amatol/amatol_book_home.html
Pictures of the 75 mm plant…note the conveyors. Look familiar?
http://venus.atlantic.edu/amatol/p-067_75_MM_Plant.html
map of the town:
http://venus.atlantic.edu/amatol/p-179_Amatol_New_Jersey.html
The town itself—view of the street:
http://venus.atlantic.edu/amatol/p-183_Typical_Street_Views.html
Panoramic view:
http://venus.atlantic.edu/amatol/p-185_Panoramic_Views_Of_Town1.html
View of typical residence-very interesting:
http://venus.atlantic.edu/amatol/p-189_Typical_Residences.html
House plans:
http://venus.atlantic.edu/amatol/p-191_Plan_Of_Houses.html
Metal lath and cement construction:
http://venus.atlantic.edu/amatol/p219_Typical_Metal_Lath_And_Cement_Construction.html
There was a piggery to get rid of the garbage, the pigs were fattened for food:
http://venus.atlantic.edu/amatol/p-243_Piggery_Utilization_Of_Garbage.html
Fire protection:
http://venus.atlantic.edu/amatol/p-247_Town_Fire_Protection.html
Amatol was a mixture of two chemicals, ammonium nitrate and trinitrotoluol (TNT)
http://venus.atlantic.edu/amatol/p-099_Ammonium_Nitrate_Storage.html
http://venus.atlantic.edu/amatol/p-107_Trinitrotoluol_Storage.html
“Construction on the plant began March 4, 1918. Two miles away from the plant site , the town that would house the workers, was also constructed. This distance would ensure the safety of the residents from any accidental explosions at the munition plant. This circumstance was dramatically demonstrated in the terrible accident at the Naval Ammunition Depot, Lake Denmark, New Jersey in 1926. Both Amatol and Town-site were complete within nine months time. The plant was designed for safety and redundancy. The plant was laid out so that an explosion in one building should not damage any other buildings. This was accomplished by designing the buildings in such a way that an explosion would move upward rather than outward. Additional protection, in some cases, was provided with soil filled barricades. Hazardous operations were carried out in duplicate buildings so that if one were destroyed in an explosion the entire operation would not be jeopardized.â€
The operation of the loading process is excellently described in the book Shell Loading at Amatol, N.J. : " Whether the shell be large or small, it is placed lengthwise on the conveyor belt and moves along at a constant speed to the next process. When it reaches the proper point a workman stationed there simply rolls it off the belt on the bench. In the case of large, heavy shell this method not only saves time, but a vast amount of physical exertion...While the pressure of war needs was on it was necessary to load amatol rather than straight T.N.T.... The mix has as high explosive power as T.N.T., the one disadvantage of using it being that ammonium nitrate absorbs moisture rapidly, and in time deteriorates. The life of the shell loaded with straight T.N.T. is indefinite--certainly 25 years--while the condition of shell loaded with amatol would be uncertain after perhaps five years."
Plant Safety
"In the matter of protection, the plant has been covered in many respects beyond the usual means of care to lessen risk. The operating buildings are practically all steel-frame with composite lath and cement construction or corrugated metal sides. Hydrants are placed inside and outside the building in such position that all parts can be covered with water. One hundred feet of hose is provided for each outside hydrant. Hose racks are placed in the buildings at short intervals and fire buckets 20 feet apart. A water line patrol is constantly at work to detect defects in the system or accidents, such as broken mains..." " Buildings where T.N.T. is poured undergo constant cleaning and are flushed out with steam daily. Exhaust air systems are installed to carry away the fumes and dust. A safety patrol looks to the cleaning up of T.N.T. dust and the clearing away of waste. Personal cleanliness among operatives is insisted upon as the best safeguard against possible dangerous effects from working in T.N.T...."
The Town
The references to the planning that went into the development of the Plant echo the focus on planning evident in the building of the town. This is no accident, the early part of the twentieth century saw the dawning of planned communities. Architects like Andrew J. Thomas, Henry Wright, Robert D. Kohn, Clarence S. Stein, Frederick L. Ackerman and Thomas Adams were actively involved in the design of towns that incorporated the elements of English Garden Cities. The planned town of Yorkship Village near Camden, New Jersey was also built during World War. They attempted to combine the best features of the town and the country. Comparison with similar installations suggests the designers of Amatol were familiar with the principles of town planning used by the major architects of the time. Great pains were taken to build a town that workers would find attractive and stimulating.
In 1922 the government auctioned off a lot of the items of various sorts from Amatol the plant:
http://venus.atlantic.edu/amatol/amatol_auction_sale_catalog_contents.html
This is interesting—apparently the town was occupied until 1924. In 1922 a report was done as to the possibility of housing the headquarters for the 3rd brigade First Division Light Field Artillery of the US Army 6th regiment of the field artillery and to construct permanent barracks. That reports finds practically all of the foundations are made from wood posts cleared from the site, with no basements; 7/8†cement plaster on composite wire lath against insulated roofing paper over 7/8†wood sheathing nailed to 2†x 4†studding with interior plastered walls on composite wire lath. The roofing was poor corrugated iron, roofing paper and flint coat.
http://venus.atlantic.edu/amatol/condition_report_2.html
The SJ Star reported on April 21 1922 that the plan had been approved and that the 6th regiment of the 3rd brigade would be moving in about 10 days. The townspeople were in favor.
http://venus.atlantic.edu/amatol/SJ_Star_April_21_1922.html
On April 24, 1922 the War Department issued orders as such.
For some reason, which I have not been able to ascertain, those orders were rescinded on May 5 1922.
http://venus.atlantic.edu/amatol/War_Department_May_5_1922.html
On June 22, 1922, a letter was written by Norman Schwarskopf, Colonel and Superintendent of the NJ State Police, with the desire to obtain a section of the property for troop headquarters. It was also asked that all of the buildings, furniture, equipment, machinery, etc. be sold to the State of NJ for use by the police.
On June 26, 1922 the Office of the Chief of Ordnance of the War Department wrote the Quartermaster General of the Army proposing that the state police be able to use the buildings until permanent occupancy became available, The electricity, water and other services that were provided by the Ordnance Department would be shared with the Ordnance Department and the state police would bear their share for services rendered. It was thought to be a mutually beneficial relationship, as there was apparently a guard problem at Amatol. This revocable lease was completed on July 13, 1922.
Orders were given by the Secretary of War for the abandonment of the Amatol Arsenal as an Ordnance Reserve Depot. On August 21 it was declared surplus and would be disposed of in a manner “to the best interest of the United States, as soon as the property now sorted there is removedâ€.
In a January 11, 1923 letter to the Quartermaster General, Charles Baxter, Assistant for the Chief of Ordnance reports that Amatol was then in the process of evacuation, and expected to be vacated by May 1st. He notes that the sale of the plant may now be considered, as long as the “possession or access is retained…until Ordnance property can be removedâ€.
In September 1923, the Forester report was published, a result of an exchange between the Sec’y of War and the Sec’y of Agriculture “concerning the possibility of developing and utilizing the forest resources of certain of the military reservations without in any way hampering the use of the terrain for military purposes…to ascertain whether such
A dual use is practicableâ€. By this time most of the frame buildings had been salvaged along with the pipe lines, except the sewer. The stucco buildings, for the most part, still remained. Such dual use would have required an act of Congress to create a National Forest at Amatol Arsenal, as was done at Fort Wingate in New Mexico. This act would provide the War Department use for military purposes and preserve the legal status as a military reservation. The land would come under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture “for the purpose of development subject to its dominant use for military purposesâ€. The reservation would require only one Forest Ranger, and one or two Forest guards, employed on a per diem basis, to be engaged in the suppression of forest fires.
I found no further information concerning this report.
On June 6, 1924, a letter was sent from Curtis Bay Orndance Reserve Depot in Maryland to the Office of the Chief Ordnance in Washington D.C. concerning the destruction of explosives at Amatol. Apparently there was “such quantity (of explosives) as to require considerable labor in getting it out and to a safe place to burnâ€. Approximately 4000 lbs. Of TNT were found in five buildings that were formerly used as drying houses. These buildings were annexes to buildings that had been previously turned over to the Post Office Department. The TNT was found in the dryer and blower cases, and connecting pipes as well. Explosives were also found on the floor and scattered on the ground outside. Some of the explosives had fallen from the belt conveyor and wound up on the ground.
On August 24, 1924 the Quartermaster General ordered that the caretaking force at Amatol (guards, firemen, engineer, etc) be immediately reduced to not more than 3 persons, a caretaker and two assistants. Date given for evacuation is August 9, and the reason given was “the inavailability of funds for the further retention of the present entire force.
Mullica Township Clerk Karl Bieselin wrote the Quartermaster on February 3, 1934, inquiring as to the possibility of an airport on this tract.
A letter from Joseph Winslow, attorney at law, to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, dated September 22, 1934, says this:
“The title to this property (Amatol munitions base) was formerly in the Island Realty Company of NJ, and later in the name of Mrs. C.M. Counsel who bought out the interests of the Island Realty Company. On May 5, 1934, all interest of Mrs. Counsel in this tract of land was sold and assigned to Mr. Albert Pollick of Pittsburgh, PA. The title to the property, however, remains in the Federal Government, against which the Government has a claim of $27,500.00 plus interest, which aggregates, at this writing, $31,340.00. Against this indebtedness there has been deposited wit the War Department, Liberty Bonds of the par value of $29,000.00 which bonds are the property of Mr. Willard A. Mitchell, attorney at law….â€
Mr. Pollick’s intent was to sell his interest in the property to a group of Russians from New York State, who intended to establish a colony of Russian-Americans. His equity in this property was approximately $100,000. However, Mr. Pollick was unable to refinance the property. His lawyer contended that if the War Department should liquidate its interest in the property, Mr. Pollick would be out that $100,00. An extension was requested to either further negotiate the sale or the refinancing of the property.
He continues: “Mr. Mitchell himself has been very kind and patient with respect to the outstanding indebtedness, and we feel quite sure that he will continue to be so, unless the government brings the matter to an issue by insisting upon payment of the indebtedness due the government. Realizing the gracious attitude of your administration towards citizens who are honest and unable to meet their obligations, it is our hope and prayer that, as the Chief Executive of our country, you will make use of your kind offices with respect to the subject matter of this letter and suggest to the War Department that any proceeding with respect to re-taking the property….â€
Finally, in 1926 Charles Schwab, Marshall Ward, H.E, Clark, and S.D. Clark purchased a portion of the property and built the Amatol speedway.
Speedway info
http://venus.atlantic.edu/amatol/speedway.html
Some of the munitions property is currently used by hunters who reportedly pay a thousand dollars a year to hunt there. Suggestion, don't visit during hunting season. They don't take too kindly to it. :|
The town however, is behind the Mullica Township recreational park and a portion is an ATV park.
She is long gone... did you notice the date on that post?
