Windows to the Past
Page 1 Under a state of emergency, the U.S. Department of the Army in 1940 announced the acquisition of
17,232 acres in St. Charles County to build the largest explosives manufacturing plant in the nation. The people living in the villages of Howell, Hamburg, and Toonerville, would soon be displaced.
Page 2 The area of Hamburg was settled by German immigrants in 1833. Hamburg was a town-center, railroad access point, and river access for farm families within a radius of some three miles.
Page 3 The town of Howell (founded as Mechanicsville, renamed Howell in 1901), was founded by the descendants of southern pioneers in 1864.
Page 4 The town of Toonerville was formed in conjunction with the advent of general usage of the automobile. It was named "Toonerville" after a popular comic strip of the time. It was also founded as a result of the Centennial Road Law.
Page 5 Weldon Spring was a fourth town that lost part of its land to the Army. Weldon Spring survived with its core "town" intact and served as the "front door" to the plant site during the entirety of its operation.
Page 6 Essential criteria for an explosives facility included large areas of obtainable land, and close and efficient modes of transportation. Accessibility to the Central-Missouri Railroad, highways 94 and 40, and the Missouri River with the Daniel Boone Bridge were key factors in the selection of Weldon Spring.
Page 7 Signs declaring "U.S. Government Property" were posted on homes and businesses as the Army moved in to take possession of the land.
Page 8 In November 1940, Hamburg had a town auction, which began the forced exodus, and by July 1941, the people had moved and the towns were no more.
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