A Foggy Morning at the Ammunition Plant

One night, accompanied by another photographer, I embarked on a journey to capture the early morning scenery at the Indiana Army Ammunition Plant, which holds the distinction of being the largest abandonment in the United States. The trek into the facility proved challenging, with tall grasses and vegetation reclaiming what once were meticulously maintained grounds bustling with activity.

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Camera bag? Ready.

Tick repellant? On hand.

Light? Prepared.

One night, accompanied by another photographer, I embarked on a journey to capture the early morning scenery at the Indiana Army Ammunition Plant, which holds the distinction of being the largest abandonment in the United States. The trek into the facility proved challenging, with tall grasses and vegetation reclaiming what once were meticulously maintained grounds bustling with activity.

What struck me about my last visit a year prior was how little the complex had changed. Although some buildings had been emptied of their contents and more ground cleared of vegetation, the overall landscape remained largely unchanged. Most structures were reminders of pre-World War II construction, adorned with hand-painted signs cautioning against spitting, Goodyear tires supporting frictionless carts, and sturdy brick-layered buildings equipped with emergency slides.

This marks the beginning of a series documenting the Indiana Army Ammunition Plant. Starting where I entered the plant, I began with the Control Circulation Dry House (Building 220), responsible for drying solvent residue from the powder before it was blended with water in the blending tower to achieve a specific burn rate. The photographs captured here progress from the rear of the plant towards the front and do not follow the exact order of the production sequence, which will be detailed in subsequent parts of this series.

The morning fog was thick, likely due to the proximity of the Ohio River. Most of my previous visits to the plant had been during the day. Still, anticipating the summer heat and the presence of ticks in dry vegetation, I chose a moist morning for this expedition – primarily for the sake of my well-being.

The Water Dry Houses (Building 219) aged and purified powder containing 3% to 5% solvent by soaking it in water.

Rows of Solvent Recovery Houses (Building 214) extracted ether and alcohol from black powder. While varying in architectural style, either brick or concrete, they served identical functions.

Mixer Houses (Building 208) utilized a Baker-Perkins mixer and kneading machine with a 100-gallon capacity to mix and knead powder.

Dehydration Press Houses (Building 202) compressed nitrocellulose into powder form.

The Scrap Rework House (Building 209-2) housed numerous wooden barrels, likely containing black powder.

The Ether-Mix House (Building 206-3) was where ether was blended.

Our nocturnal excursion into the Indiana Army Ammunition Plant illuminated both the eerie beauty of abandonment and the enduring resilience of industrial relics. As we navigated through the overgrown paths and crumbling structures, it became evident that this vast complex holds historical significance and a profound sense of mystery and intrigue.

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