Oklahoma Ordnance Works

The Oklahoma Ordnance Works (OOW) was a government-owned, contractor-operated (GOCO) facility that was built in Mayes County, Oklahoma to produce smokeless powder and other military explosives that were to be used during World War II. The facility was closed from 1946 until 1954, when production resumed until 1956, then closed again. In 1960, it was sold to the Oklahoma Ordnance Works Authority (OOWA), which converted most of the facility to become the mid America Industrial Park.

In July 1941, the War Department decided to build a munitions manufacturing facility between Chouteau and Pryor in Mayes County, Oklahoma. Site selection criteria included an ample supply of water and hydroelectric power, relatively level ground and an available local work force. Completion of the nearby Pensacola Dam in 1940 had assured this site would have adequate supplies of electricity and water.

During the summer of 1941, the government began buying approximately 15,000 acres (6,100 ha) of land for the facility. Concurrently, the duPont Company began designing the plant to produce smokeless powder. Although the project, now designated as the Oklahoma Ordnance Works (OOW), was originally estimated to cost $32 million, by September 1941, the estimate had risen to about $80 million. The plant started up in June 1942 and began actual production of smokeless powder in September.

In January 1942, the government formed a War Production Board began to expand powder and munitions production plants. In March 1942, a TNT plant was constructed. Other production plants included those for nitric acid, sulfuric acid and tetryl. Production continued until the war ended in 1945. By the end of the war, the complex covered 16,273 acres (6,585 ha) containing 487 buildings, 24 residences, 50 miles (80 km) of railroad track, and four complete water systems. Ultimately, the OOW produced more than 400,000,000 pounds (180,000 t) of smokeless powder and 90,000,000 pounds (41,000 t) of TNT and tetryl. Production ceased on August 16, 1945.

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