Vigo County Historical Society

Vigo plants aided war effort

"Ordinance" is defined by the dictionary as a noun which refers to military supplies, especially weapons and their equipment and ammunition. During World War II, Vigo County was the location of two military installations that dealt with ordinance connected to the war effort.

Pictured is the Terre Haute War Aid Ordnance Depot which was located on North Fruitridge Avenue at what is now the Fort Harrison Industrial Park. The Vigo Ordnance Plant was at what is now the Pfizer Inc.

Also at the Vigo Ordnance Plant was the Vigo Plant of Chemical Warfare Services. According to a program for the 1945 Thanksgiving Dinner, there were 236 military men and civilians working for Chemical Warfare Service at that time.

Several mementos connected with the ordnance plants are on display at the museum as part of the "On the Home Front" exhibit, the first of a four-part series of exhibits commemorating the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Especially interesting are items concerning Faustina and Pete Shaw. Pete was employed by the federal government as a guard at the Terre Haute Ordnance Depot, and his wife, Faustina, was employed as a forklift operator. In the telegram Pete received offering him the job, the proposed salary was $1,200 per year--a good working wage in 1942.

Tine was assuming a role traditionally done by a man. Forklift operators were not among the jobs assigned to women before 1941. The war years changed that. She was known as a W.O.W. (Women Ordnance Worker)--Terre Haute’s answer to "Rosie the Riveter."

The end of the war put the Ordnance Plants on the endangered species list. The need for handling vital war materials decreased and the plants were eventually closed. However, their contribution to the war effort was considerable, and they hold a place of great importance in the history of Terre Haute’s contributions "On the Home Front" during World War II.

The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.