This forlorn abandoned factory building along the north side of Stratford Avenue is the remnant of the massive army munitions plant that manufactured arms during World War II.
It featured a gigantic vaulted steel building that looked like it had horns sticking out of its roof.
Built St. Louis has a whole page on it.
From what I understand, the whole site is polluted now.
Long term I don’t know what is planned for this site, sitting abandoned as long as it has been.
Here’s a short talk I gave at the Missouri History Museum on the subject of the plant; if it doesn’t automatically jump to my portion, it starts at 22:24.
This plant did not make explosives. Ordanace facilities are in the middle of nowhere farm country. I’ve been to all the abandoned facilities that still exist. Some that don’t also!
Do you know what this building was used for, Jeff? It definitely sits on the grounds of the larger demolished plant.
Chris, my guess on what this building was used for was probably shipping and receiving and possibly some offices. Looking at it on Google street view you can see docks on the side opposite of Stratford Ave and a rail spur that lead to that side of the building.
I guess it depends on your definition of explosives? This was definitely part of the famed munitions plant and this plant definitely made ammunition – a lot of it. They also regularly test fired their product on site; locals reported regularly hearing the sound. I read somewhere recently that it produced the most ammunition of any US facility during WWII. Not sure if true and don’t recall the source of that claim.
As far as this particular building, the last time I was out there it was definitely active, so when you say ‘sitting abandoned as long as it has been’, you’re only talking a couple years at most. But i’ll concede that it appears to have been abandoned for a long time before that.
Interesting…thank you! I just read upwards of 40,000 people worked there at one point.
From 1941-1945 the St Louis Army ammunition Plabt was operated by the USCCo division of Winchester Western as GOCO (govt owned contractor operated). This facility produced 30 and 50 caliber plus 105mm ammunition. and other components via subcontractors in St Louis. Records show that this facility produced more ammunition than all the other facilities. It reopened during the Korean War and part was used during the Vietnam war. Many St Louis people were employed during WW2. The buildings have in part been repurposed as office space aling goodfelliw but much if the facility was raised since 1990s.
Hey John! You missed my presentation on the plant for Johnny Rabbit’s last show at the History Museum!
Sorry. im not in St louis anymore. and do remeber Johnny Rabbit!
Oh! That is St. Louis’s loss and your new home’s gain! I hope we can still see you around sometime.