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Delco-Remy in WWII
Delco-Remy WWII Aircraft Products
Delco-Remy WWII Marine
Equipment
Delco-Rremy WWII Tank Products
Delco-Remy WWII Vehicle Products
Delco-Remy and LST-393
Delco-Remy WWII Antioch Foundry
Delco-Remy WWII
Stationary Engine Products
Delco-Remy WWII
Electrical Components for the Reo and Federal Truck, 20-Ton, 6x4
Delco-Remy
Training Manuals for Aircraft Components
Delco-Remy in World War Two
Navy
plant Kings Mills, OH
This page updated 8-31-2017.
Editor's note in reference to
the 8-31-2017 update: In August of 2016 I visited the site of
the original Peterson Cartridge Company along the Little Miami River in
Kings Mills, OH. I was under the impression that this was the
location where Delco-Remy built starter for naval landing craft during
1944-45. After my return and in assembling the webpage in January
2017, I realized that the location of the Delco-Remy site was at the top of the
hill overlooking the location I photographed. The location on top
of the hill was known as the Kings Mills Ordnance Plant. In
January 2016 I had no photos of it. On August 30, 2017 I returned
to the area and the library in nearby Mason, OH, where I was able to
find some period photos of the plant. I have added these and
several Google Maps photos of the area today. There are still two
buildings left from the Kings Mills Ordnance Plant as the Google Maps
photos show, but these are not accessible to the public. The area
is fenced with a locked gate. David D Jackson 8-31-2017.
The April 28, 1944 Delco-Remy Clan
announced that the Navy had taken over the Army's Ordnance plant in
King's Mills, OH. Delco-Remy would build starting motors for Navy
diesel powered landing craft there. Through the rest of 1944 until
the war ended in August 1945, D-R built 62,000 starters and 375,000 switches for
the U.S. Navy.
Today, parts of the
original Peterson Cartridge Company still exist in Kings Mills.
Built in the 1860's, the plant
produced
cannon balls and bullets for the Union Army. Morgan's Raiders
attempted to attack the complex when they invaded Ohio in 1863, but
apparently became lost and missed the plant. During WWII the plant
was purchased by Remington Arms which made .30 carbine ammunition.
However, the plant, known as the Kings Mills Ordnance Plant, was considered to be inefficient, and was closed by
the Army in 1944.
Today only portions of the
original buildings still remain, located on the south side of the Little Miami River. At its height there were buildings on the north side of the
river also. The Peterson plant had expanded from its original
location along the river to higher ground to the south. It was at
the higher ground location that DR made the Navy starters and switches.
Today that area is an Army Reserve Center and "The Heritage at Miami
Bluffs" gated community for "active seniors."
There are only two period photos of the
Kings Mills plant from DR literature. This photo was in
the 1944 Delco-Remy publication "Our War Job." Note the
large expanse of the complex, the exhaust fans, and the power
transformers.
This photo, from the October 6, 1944 Delco-Remy Clan,
shows the workers going to lunch. Note all of the exhaust fans on
the roof.
This 1942 photo shows the original Peterson
Cartridge Company along the Little Miami River. On top of the hill
above it is the Kings Mills Ordnance Plant that Delco-Remy took over in
1944-45. The small town of Kings Mills is across the river in the woods
from the plant. In the upper right hand corner of the photo is the
current location of the Kings Island amusement park. Photo
added 8-31-2017.
This Google Maps 3D image shows the area
today. Civilization has invaded the formerly little populated
farmland. Google Maps 3D image added 8-31-2017.
The former Peterson Cartridge Company can be
seen along the river. The former Kings Mills Ordnance Plant has
largely been replaced by an Army Reserve Center. Google Maps 3D
image added 8-31-2017.
This is where Delco-Remy made 62,000
starters and 375,000 switches for the U.S. Navy in 1944-45. This was
the D-R Kings Mills plant. Photo added 8-31-2017.
The Army Reserve Center is in the lower
left. In the lower and upper right are two buildings from the
former Kings Mills Ordnance Plant that still stand. Google Maps 3D
image added 8-31-2017.
The photos below are of the original
Peterson Cartridge Company plant along the Little Miami River.
Originally I thought this was the location of Delco-Remy's Kings Mills
Naval starter motor location. I have left the photos on the page
for historical interest.
This 1935 aerial photo of the Peter Peterson
Cartridge Company along the Little Miami River at Kings Mills, OH.
This is looking southeast. Compare this to the photos below taken
in 2016. Some of the building are gone, but several still remain.
The railroad track along between the plant and the river is now a
walking trial. There is a one lane bridge across the river that
does not exist today. It has been replaced by a more modern
structure. Author's photo added 8-31-2017.
This is view of what remains today of the Peters Cartridge Company,
on the south side of the Little Miami River. Google Earth shows
the grass area all in trees. In the spring of 2015 all of
the trees were cut down as part of an EPA superfund hazardous
material clean-up of 80 years of ammunition
manufacturing waste. Author's photo.
These trees were all cut down and the slope re-seeded. The
Delco-Remy Navy landing craft cranking motor plant was located
over the top of the hill.
Author's photo.
Author's photo.
Author's photo.
Author's photo.
Author's photo.
This appears to be the original building.
Local developers are seeking to convert the building into
lofts. Author's photo.
Author's photo.
The clock tower in the center as is the
original shot tower. Hot lead was dropped from the top of the
tower. By the time it hit bottom it would have frozen into a perfect sphere.
Author's photo.
Up the road and to the right is the
location of the DR motor plant. Author's photo.
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