Peters Cartridge Company
Kings Mill, Ohio
Just as a little preface, I wanted to mention how difficult it is to find
accurate and creditable information about Peters; many different websites have
conflicting dates and figures, so it is kind of like a puzzle to piece
everything together.
Peters Cartridge Company (also locally know as the Powder Factory) was built
along the Little Miami River in 1877 by J. King, originally naming it the Great
Western Powder Company. (The exact date of construction is a little
unclear; many sites claim different dates, some even predating it
to the Civil War). The factory was nestled down in a valley
in the Kings Mill / Mason region on a plot of about 71 acres. They
manufactured shot gun shell ammunition; at first, many materials used in
the factory were leftovers from the Civil War (which concluded in 1865).
To this day, only about one third of the original building complex remains; it
is astounding to think how large this factory must have been, considering just
how huge the factory is that still stands.
Just as a little preface, I wanted to mention how difficult it is to find
accurate and creditable information about Peters; many different websites have
conflicting dates and figures, so it is kind of like a puzzle to piece
everything together.
Peters Cartridge Company (also locally know as the Powder Factory) was built
along the Little Miami River in 1877 by J. King, originally naming it the Great
Western Powder Company. (The exact date of construction is a little
unclear; many sites claim different dates, some even predating it
to the Civil War). The factory was nestled down in a valley
in the Kings Mill / Mason region on a plot of about 71 acres. They
manufactured shot gun shell ammunition; at first, many materials used in
the factory were leftovers from the Civil War (which concluded in 1865).
To this day, only about one third of the original building complex remains; it
is astounding to think how large this factory must have been, considering just
how huge the factory is that still stands.
One of the biggest events in the history of Peters was the great explosion of
1890. On July 15th, a train car collided with two load cars that were
packed with 800 kegs of gun powder along the Little Miami Railroad. The
explosion could be heard from many miles away; a majority say around 5-6 miles,
others claim to have heard it over 11+ miles away. Ultimately, 1600 kegs
exploded in and around the factory. Eleven men were killed instantly, and
many others died in the hospital. The explosion completely destroyed a
majority of the original factory, which was mostly made from wood at the
time. Countless urban myths and ghost stories have emerged because of this
event; claims have surfaced that the ghosts of the men who died in the explosion
still haunt the factory to this day.
1890. On July 15th, a train car collided with two load cars that were
packed with 800 kegs of gun powder along the Little Miami Railroad. The
explosion could be heard from many miles away; a majority say around 5-6 miles,
others claim to have heard it over 11+ miles away. Ultimately, 1600 kegs
exploded in and around the factory. Eleven men were killed instantly, and
many others died in the hospital. The explosion completely destroyed a
majority of the original factory, which was mostly made from wood at the
time. Countless urban myths and ghost stories have emerged because of this
event; claims have surfaced that the ghosts of the men who died in the explosion
still haunt the factory to this day.
In response to the outbreak of WWI, Peters began manufacturing ammunition
again, expanding their plant north across Grandin Rd. In 1916, the plant had
been rebuilt with reinforced concrete and brick, much of which still stands strong
to this day.
In 1934, Remington bought Peters Cartridge Co., continuing to output
ammunition for the WWI efforts. They did so until 1944, which was the last
year that the factory was used in the production of ammunition. From 1944
onward, the factory held many different commercial businesses, including:
- Columbia Records (1944-1948): mixed plastic materials and manufactured
phonograph record disks
- Seagrams Distillers (1950′s): used factory as a warehouse
- Cabinet Company (1970′s): construction and storage
- Lenscrafters (1987-1991): leased space for production of eyeglass lenses
and frames
- Haunted House (1992-1993): Halloween attraction held in two different
locations at the factory over two years.
- Motorcycle Repair Shop (2004)
- Whistle Manufacturer (2004)
- The Powder Factory Studio (present): an artist holds classes in an
outbuilding in the back of the factory.
- Recycling/Scrap Business (present)
- Storage Units (present): locals rent sections of the factory for
storage.
again, expanding their plant north across Grandin Rd. In 1916, the plant had
been rebuilt with reinforced concrete and brick, much of which still stands strong
to this day.
In 1934, Remington bought Peters Cartridge Co., continuing to output
ammunition for the WWI efforts. They did so until 1944, which was the last
year that the factory was used in the production of ammunition. From 1944
onward, the factory held many different commercial businesses, including:
- Columbia Records (1944-1948): mixed plastic materials and manufactured
phonograph record disks
- Seagrams Distillers (1950′s): used factory as a warehouse
- Cabinet Company (1970′s): construction and storage
- Lenscrafters (1987-1991): leased space for production of eyeglass lenses
and frames
- Haunted House (1992-1993): Halloween attraction held in two different
locations at the factory over two years.
- Motorcycle Repair Shop (2004)
- Whistle Manufacturer (2004)
- The Powder Factory Studio (present): an artist holds classes in an
outbuilding in the back of the factory.
- Recycling/Scrap Business (present)
- Storage Units (present): locals rent sections of the factory for
storage.
Probably one of the most noticeable features of the factory is the shot
tower. The original was built in 1895, but was later replaced
by the current shot tower during WWI. It was used during the creation
of lead shot; molten lead was poured down the shot
tower and over a series of screens, until small lead pellets were
formed. The pellets were combined with gunpowder and placed into shell
casings to form ammunition. For years and years, there was a
ladder that protruded from the very top of the roof of the tower;
originally it had been attached to the roof to scale it to the top, but
eventually it had become unattached & stuck out
Many dare devils and crazy kids would try to reach this ladder and climb
to the top, and there have been claims that people
have fallen from this point (I do not think they are true, but definitely a
good story to tell your friends!). I am almost 100% sure this ladder has
been removed within the last year or two; I did not see it while I was visiting,
and it did not show up in any of my photos.
tower. The original was built in 1895, but was later replaced
by the current shot tower during WWI. It was used during the creation
of lead shot; molten lead was poured down the shot
tower and over a series of screens, until small lead pellets were
formed. The pellets were combined with gunpowder and placed into shell
casings to form ammunition. For years and years, there was a
ladder that protruded from the very top of the roof of the tower;
originally it had been attached to the roof to scale it to the top, but
eventually it had become unattached & stuck out
Many dare devils and crazy kids would try to reach this ladder and climb
to the top, and there have been claims that people
have fallen from this point (I do not think they are true, but definitely a
good story to tell your friends!). I am almost 100% sure this ladder has
been removed within the last year or two; I did not see it while I was visiting,
and it did not show up in any of my photos.
Another new change to the factory was the removal of the skywalk that
was suspended over Grandin Rd; identical to the skywalk over the parking lot, this
skywalk connected the factory and the outbuildings on the other side
of Grandin Rd. However, just within two years ago this skywalk was removed
due to the growing potential danger of collapse on drivers below. (You can read
more about this removal here in the Dayton Daily News and see picture of old
skywalk below).
Also, recent news involving the factory includes a chemical spill that
occurred in March of 2010; a gas tank was leaking sulfur dioxide which
caused noxious, malodorous smoke and vapor to emanate from a storage building
at Peter’s Cartridge Co. Firefighters and the Cinci haz-mat team
had to be called out, and the road outside the factory was shut down for hours.
(You can read more about this spill here).
was suspended over Grandin Rd; identical to the skywalk over the parking lot, this
skywalk connected the factory and the outbuildings on the other side
of Grandin Rd. However, just within two years ago this skywalk was removed
due to the growing potential danger of collapse on drivers below. (You can read
more about this removal here in the Dayton Daily News and see picture of old
skywalk below).
Also, recent news involving the factory includes a chemical spill that
occurred in March of 2010; a gas tank was leaking sulfur dioxide which
caused noxious, malodorous smoke and vapor to emanate from a storage building
at Peter’s Cartridge Co. Firefighters and the Cinci haz-mat team
had to be called out, and the road outside the factory was shut down for hours.
(You can read more about this spill here).
I wasn’t able to get a lot of pictures from the factory. During our trip, we only got
inside the inner-most atrium building of the factory; we did not have the time
to venture into the main floors where production was held, or the tower.
In the photo down below, you can see this inner building, sandwiched
between the smokestack and the inner parking lot. As you can see, we
only managed to explore a very small portion of the entire factory
complex. Hopefully a return trip will make this possible
inside the inner-most atrium building of the factory; we did not have the time
to venture into the main floors where production was held, or the tower.
In the photo down below, you can see this inner building, sandwiched
between the smokestack and the inner parking lot. As you can see, we
only managed to explore a very small portion of the entire factory
complex. Hopefully a return trip will make this possible