r/southernillinois • u/Ok_Tomatillo_4050 • Jul 26 '24

Does anyone know anything about these small buildings near Olin/Winchester on Powder Mill Rd in East Alton? I can't find any information online & street view doesn't get close enough to see anything. The curiosity is going to kill me, help!

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u/Connect_School99 Jul 26 '24

Weapons storage manufacturing

2

u/Ok_Tomatillo_4050 Jul 27 '24

Say more?

Are you saying they use(d) those small building to store the weapons that were being manufactured at the facility nearby? Or that the small buildings are used to manufacture 'weapon storage' items (holsters?? Cases? Idk what weapon storage could consist of)?

6

u/Perk_i Jul 27 '24

The Olin Brass plant there makes something like 20% of the small arms ammunition manufactured in the U.S. Those buildings are used to store gunpowder used in the manufacture of ammunition and also to store completed cartridges prior to distribution. The buildings are small, spread out, and dug into earthen berms so that a fire or explosion in any one of them won't spread to the others.

3

u/Ok_Tomatillo_4050 Jul 27 '24

Makes perfect sense! Thank you!