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A few short articles about the Hazard Powder Company in an effort to help understand why there's only one US black powder maker still in business today.
Of course, black powder has largely been replaced by smokeless powder & guns which reduced demand for it
But the US still imports a lot of it to fulfill current demand.
The article also provides some interesting details about how the plant was built and operated.
The Hazard Powder Co. was one of the three largest powder companies at the time of the civil war when it was producing 12.5 tons of powder per day.
Despite the explosions that did occur, the Hazardville operation was unusually safe with only 67 deaths during nearly eight decades of operation.
What happened before the sale to Dupont is worth quoting:
"In 1872, just prior to du Pont's purchase of the Hazard Powder Company, du Pont, the Hazard Powder Company, and Laflin and Rand formed the "Gunpowder Trade Association of the United States" to restore health to the industry. Health was restored by purchasing and closing smaller companies, discouraging new companies from starting, and fixing prices. On July 2, 1890, President Harrison signed the anti-monopoly Sherman Act, but it was some years before this had any impact on the gunpowder industry. Finally in 1907 a government suit was brought against du Pont. Four years later the court found du Pont guilty of violating the Sherman Act. As a result the explosives business was divided into three firms: Hercules Powder, Atlas Powder, and E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. The Hazard mills were transferred to Hercules on December 15, 1912. Less than a month later, on January 14, 1913 a huge explosion heavily damaged the plant and killed two workers. The damage was so extensive that the mill was permanently closed and the equipment moved to Valley Falls, New York." --->>> https://www.enfieldhistoricalsociety.org/EHSpowder.html
There's details about the 2nd explosion that leveled the plant from another article which I will quote:
"In a twist of fate, the rebranded Hazard Powder Company had only been operating under its new name – the Hercules Powder Company – for a few months when the worst accident in its history forced it to close its doors for good. On January 14, 1913, a series of four massive explosions ripped through the heart of the gunpowder mill, killing two men and injuring dozens of others. Even though the mill buildings were specially designed to mitigate the force of accidental explosions, the blasts that occurred that day were too strong for them to handle, blowing out massive stone walls and damaging the buildings and machinery beyond repair. Nearby homes, churches, and even the town post office had their windows blown out and also endured severe damage from the shock waves. The blasts were so enormous that residents in Hartford and Willimantic – over twenty-five miles away – reported hearing booms and observing their doors and windows rattling." --->>> https://todayincthistory.com/2019/01/14/january-14-tragedy-at-the-hazardville-gunpowder-mill/
Additional overview and photos: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazard_Powder_Company
Of course, black powder has largely been replaced by smokeless powder & guns which reduced demand for it
But the US still imports a lot of it to fulfill current demand.
The article also provides some interesting details about how the plant was built and operated.
The Hazard Powder Co. was one of the three largest powder companies at the time of the civil war when it was producing 12.5 tons of powder per day.
Despite the explosions that did occur, the Hazardville operation was unusually safe with only 67 deaths during nearly eight decades of operation.
What happened before the sale to Dupont is worth quoting:
"In 1872, just prior to du Pont's purchase of the Hazard Powder Company, du Pont, the Hazard Powder Company, and Laflin and Rand formed the "Gunpowder Trade Association of the United States" to restore health to the industry. Health was restored by purchasing and closing smaller companies, discouraging new companies from starting, and fixing prices. On July 2, 1890, President Harrison signed the anti-monopoly Sherman Act, but it was some years before this had any impact on the gunpowder industry. Finally in 1907 a government suit was brought against du Pont. Four years later the court found du Pont guilty of violating the Sherman Act. As a result the explosives business was divided into three firms: Hercules Powder, Atlas Powder, and E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. The Hazard mills were transferred to Hercules on December 15, 1912. Less than a month later, on January 14, 1913 a huge explosion heavily damaged the plant and killed two workers. The damage was so extensive that the mill was permanently closed and the equipment moved to Valley Falls, New York." --->>> https://www.enfieldhistoricalsociety.org/EHSpowder.html
There's details about the 2nd explosion that leveled the plant from another article which I will quote:
"In a twist of fate, the rebranded Hazard Powder Company had only been operating under its new name – the Hercules Powder Company – for a few months when the worst accident in its history forced it to close its doors for good. On January 14, 1913, a series of four massive explosions ripped through the heart of the gunpowder mill, killing two men and injuring dozens of others. Even though the mill buildings were specially designed to mitigate the force of accidental explosions, the blasts that occurred that day were too strong for them to handle, blowing out massive stone walls and damaging the buildings and machinery beyond repair. Nearby homes, churches, and even the town post office had their windows blown out and also endured severe damage from the shock waves. The blasts were so enormous that residents in Hartford and Willimantic – over twenty-five miles away – reported hearing booms and observing their doors and windows rattling." --->>> https://todayincthistory.com/2019/01/14/january-14-tragedy-at-the-hazardville-gunpowder-mill/
Additional overview and photos: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazard_Powder_Company
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