TRANSITION: The First

The U.S. reached a milestone: last week workers began to tear down a newly built war plant.

In the spring of 1942, the War Department hurriedly bought 21,000 acres of rich farmland at Rosemount, Minn. Farmers were hustled off ("Don't you know there's a war on?") before they could harvest crops already planted. In came the Du Pont Co. with a big job: to build and operate the DPC's $69,000,000 Gopher Ordnance Works.

Some 20,000 workers moved in, swiftly put up 500 buildings and a central powerhouse with 15-story chimneys. They hauled in 85,000 tons of coal, even built a miniature...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!