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Illinois Munitions: A News Journal
of the Oak & Sangamon Ordnance Plants 1942-1950 Illiopolis, Illinois
[July 01, 2025]
COLLINSVILLE, Ill., –
Thelma Ball announces a new book, “Illinois Munitions : A News
Journal of the Oak & Sangamon Ordnance Plants 1942-1950 Illiopolis,
Illinois.” Now available and perfect for World War II fans about the
rise and fall of the largest defense plants, in size and personnel,
of their types in the United States. All that remain are memories,
the ruins in the fields and these articles.
In 1942, $40 million was allocated for two defense plants to be
constructed side by side at Illiopolis, east of Springfield,
Illinois. They encompassed 19,000 acres purchased from reluctant
farmers. One produced fuses and the other ammunition and bombs.
Hiring and retaining 15,000 employees from a rural community,
transporting those workers by road or rail and locating housing for
them became issues. WOWS, women ordnance workers, were the majority
of employees from central Illinois villages, towns and cities.
Ammunition was produced, packed and shipped by train to St. Louis or
Pennsylvania and flown around the world to European and Pacific
theaters.
Sporting and party events, cutting-edge daycare and wage equality
were accompanied by gas, tire and sugar rationing. Crime, fraud and
accidents were some downside activities.
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Thelma was raised near the
abandoned ordnance plants, whose ruins remain in the local fields. A
former library technician, her last position was a government
documents library specialist at Southern Illinois University
Edwardsville's Lovejoy Library. Thelma enjoys local historical
research; it has been a hobby for years. "Illinois Munitions”
evolved by a request from an Illiopolis resident and will be her
final historical project. This is her fourth local history project.
Author Contact:
Thelma Ball
ballthelma@gmail.com |
