TNT LbNA #57015
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Add Location| Owner: | Family Grave Seekers  |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Feb 17, 2011 |
| Location: | Rt 62, Potter Creek Road |
| City: | Point Pleasant |
| County: | Mason |
| State: | West Virginia |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Found by: | Shalar |
|---|---|
| Last found: | May 8, 2011 |
| Status: | FF |
| Last edited: | Feb 17, 2011 |
TNT
Trinitrotoluene, commonly known as TNT, is the explosive material popularly used in military bombs because it does not explode on impact and is therefore unlikely to self detonate during handling. It is also the standard of measure for the strength of bombs.
There is an area north of Point Pleasant, W. Va. known by the locals as “the TNT area” because during World War II, it was West Virginia Ordnance Works, a munitions facility that manufactured 720,000 tons of TNT a day for the war effort. The most notable structures remaining are the dome-shaped concrete bunkers (called igloos by the locals) built to store the explosive materials. They were constructed in a grid pattern so that one explosion would not trigger a chain reaction. All were covered with a foot of earth and vegetation planted to make them less apparent from the air.
This was quite an operation bringing a boom to the local area, employing 3500 people. I understand that a lot of the housing in the north end of town was for TNT workers and for their children, Ornance Elementary School was built as the first federally funded grade school in the country. After the war, the TNT was not in as much demand so the workers were no longer needed.
The power plant structures that serviced the facility fell to disrepair (the local power plants that you see were not built yet) and was rumored to be the home of the Moth Man. (See Moth Man – Relocated letterbox) The TNT bunkers still stand, though erosion has washed some of the earth from them. Many if not all of them are privately owned and still contain explosives. During the summer of 2010, one exploded. The age of the explosives has changed its chemistry to be much more volitile, I understand. Vehicular traffic is now allowed in the area but stopping, parking, and trespassing are not. Please head all warnings for your personal safety.
Clues: To find TNT letterbox, continue north of Point Pleasant, W. Va. on Rt. 62, watching for mile marker signs. Note the sign for the West Virgina State Farm Museum. (If you’re inclined to detour a bit and visit the museum, go right ahead but due to the proximity to the county fair grounds, this area can be highly congested with people and traffic so I did not place a letterbox here.) After mile marker 26, turn right onto Potter Creek Road. There will be a large field on the left and a Christmas tree farm on the right. You will pass McClintic Groundwater Treatment Facility and then a McClintic Wildlife Management Area sign. Watch on the right for two long yellow pipes each held horizontally by 3 short yellow posts with a 10’ section of guardrail between them blocking access to a trail. There are no trespassing signs here but I did not note any saying no stopping or parking. Look for a camouflaged pouch in the guardrail. Obey signs and pass this one up if no parking or no stopping signs have been posted. If you continue on Potter Creek I think I was able to glimpse a couple of bunkers on the left but they are difficult to see.
When returning to Rt. 62, notice James M. Gavin Plant in the distance ahead of you. It is identified by two tall smokestacks, a short stack (it was cut down) and two cooling towers. You might want to find “How It’s Made – Electricity – Boiler” while you’re in the area.
Trinitrotoluene, commonly known as TNT, is the explosive material popularly used in military bombs because it does not explode on impact and is therefore unlikely to self detonate during handling. It is also the standard of measure for the strength of bombs.
There is an area north of Point Pleasant, W. Va. known by the locals as “the TNT area” because during World War II, it was West Virginia Ordnance Works, a munitions facility that manufactured 720,000 tons of TNT a day for the war effort. The most notable structures remaining are the dome-shaped concrete bunkers (called igloos by the locals) built to store the explosive materials. They were constructed in a grid pattern so that one explosion would not trigger a chain reaction. All were covered with a foot of earth and vegetation planted to make them less apparent from the air.
This was quite an operation bringing a boom to the local area, employing 3500 people. I understand that a lot of the housing in the north end of town was for TNT workers and for their children, Ornance Elementary School was built as the first federally funded grade school in the country. After the war, the TNT was not in as much demand so the workers were no longer needed.
The power plant structures that serviced the facility fell to disrepair (the local power plants that you see were not built yet) and was rumored to be the home of the Moth Man. (See Moth Man – Relocated letterbox) The TNT bunkers still stand, though erosion has washed some of the earth from them. Many if not all of them are privately owned and still contain explosives. During the summer of 2010, one exploded. The age of the explosives has changed its chemistry to be much more volitile, I understand. Vehicular traffic is now allowed in the area but stopping, parking, and trespassing are not. Please head all warnings for your personal safety.
Clues: To find TNT letterbox, continue north of Point Pleasant, W. Va. on Rt. 62, watching for mile marker signs. Note the sign for the West Virgina State Farm Museum. (If you’re inclined to detour a bit and visit the museum, go right ahead but due to the proximity to the county fair grounds, this area can be highly congested with people and traffic so I did not place a letterbox here.) After mile marker 26, turn right onto Potter Creek Road. There will be a large field on the left and a Christmas tree farm on the right. You will pass McClintic Groundwater Treatment Facility and then a McClintic Wildlife Management Area sign. Watch on the right for two long yellow pipes each held horizontally by 3 short yellow posts with a 10’ section of guardrail between them blocking access to a trail. There are no trespassing signs here but I did not note any saying no stopping or parking. Look for a camouflaged pouch in the guardrail. Obey signs and pass this one up if no parking or no stopping signs have been posted. If you continue on Potter Creek I think I was able to glimpse a couple of bunkers on the left but they are difficult to see.
When returning to Rt. 62, notice James M. Gavin Plant in the distance ahead of you. It is identified by two tall smokestacks, a short stack (it was cut down) and two cooling towers. You might want to find “How It’s Made – Electricity – Boiler” while you’re in the area.