When Oak Ridge changed the world

Knoxville News Sentinel ^ | 8/7/5 | Frank Munger

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Published August 7, 2005 | Email this page to a friend

Watch and listen as Secret City residents share their memories | View a slide show of Oak Ridge in the '40s
Share your own memories of Oak Ridge | Read all stories and learn more about the plant and its buildings

Hear from residents who worked and lived in the Secret City during World War II
View a slide show of images from Oak Ridge during the 1940s
Share your own memories of life in Oak Ridge during World War II in our message board
Read all the stories from this commemorative section of life in Oak Ridge during World War II, learn more about the building and test your knowledge of Oak Ridge

On Aug. 6, 1945, with a hellish blast over Hiroshima, Japan, the world learned about the power of the atom. Soon thereafter, the world also learned about Oak Ridge and the role it played in development of the atomic bomb.

The devastation of Hiroshima, followed three days later by the bombing of Nagasaki, forced Japan to surrender unconditionally and effectively brought an end to World War II.

It was time for celebration in Tennessee’s secret city.

Tens of thousands of workers finally understood the meaning of their wartime labors, having performed their jobs under the strictest secrecy ever enforced on such a broad scale. Their pride welled up like a mushroom cloud, punctuated by the joy and promise of peace at last.

Sixty years later, with a lifetime to reflect, surviving participants of the Manhattan Project share their thoughts on living and working in wartime Oak Ridge.

Photo caption above: A shift change at Y-12 during World War II. Women made up a large portion of the workforce because many men were at war. Photo by Ed Westcott/Government Archives

Special section and vignettes by News Sentinel senior writer Frank Munger. Web site and multimedia work by senior online producer Jigsha Desai. Questions about the package? Email us.

Copyright 2005 - KnoxNews.com is an E.W. Scripps Company website.

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[endthematrix]

If anybody can find info on cement contractors working Oak Ridge it would be appreciated. My Grandfather and Great Uncle did some work there and I've come up short in the genealogical quest.

[solzhenitsyn]

Thanks from a native Oak Ridger!

[Guenevere]

bttt for my home state...

...we always spoke in whispers and awe when mentioning Oak Ridge.

[ovrtaxt]

I hate country music, but I'm sure glad they saved the world!!

[McGarrett]

I once heard that they originally wired Oak Ridge with silver due to fears that copper taken for the job would be noticed, due to shortages. The story has it that they went back and rewired it after WWII. Can anyone confirm or deny that?

[Samwise]

We just took the tour there. It's worth doing if you are in the area. The reactor is really cool--but so old-fashioned. The guide was a retired physicist who had worked on it.

[Samwise]

They used silver wire for the electromagnets because copper was in short supply. They "borrowed" the silver from the US mint.

http://www.childrenofthemanhattanproject.org/HISTORY/H-06b2-1.htm

[Samwise]

This link might help you in your family search. Let me know if you find anything. (I'm into genealogy too.)

http://www.childrenofthemanhattanproject.org/index.htm

[McGarrett]

Many thanks.

[TN4Liberty]

Actually, if you went on the Y-12 tours in June, you were part of a unique experience and a unique group of people. The public tour or the old separation building was a one-day first-time event, followed up by a similar open house a week later for families. That will likely be the only public tours for many years. I was very excited that for the first time, my teenagers were able to get a glimpse of where Dad works. They got a lot out of it as well.