Black Hills Ordnance Depot
Encyclopedia
The Black Hills Ordnance Depot (BHOD) was a munitions storage and maintenance facility formerly operated by the Ordnance Corps of the United States Army
. The depot was located in Fall River County
, in far southwestern South Dakota
about eight miles south of the town of Edgemont
.
BHOD was established and constructed in 1942, to help meet the Army's increased ordnance handling needs caused by World War II
. Because of the relative remoteness of the location, nearly all of the facility's civilian workforce lived in federally owned housing at the depot; this residential community was known as Igloo, a name derived because the characteristic shape of the munitions storage buildings constructed at the site has a similar appearance to igloo
s. The Igloo community included public schools, a hospital, post office, church, and shopping and entertainment facilities including a theater, swimming pool and a recreation center.
Among Igloo's residents was a young Tom Brokaw
, who spent a few years living on the base as a boy.
The level of employment at BHOD varied over the years, increasing during periods of war. During typical peacetime periods of the 1950s, between 650 and 750 workers were employed at the site, and the community population was around 1800 people.
BHOD was renamed "Black Hills Army Depot" (BHAD) in 1962.
Over the years, BHOD was used for storage and testing of chemical weapons, including sarin
and mustard gas
. Additionally, during World War II, the site also held Italian prisoners of war.
The Depot was closed on June 30, 1967, and the Igloo community was abandoned. Once the Depot was closed, most of the residential housing units were moved to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
. A large number of former Depot buildings remained at the site in 2007.
The entire depot is currently under private ownership and off limits to the general public without express permission of the owner.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. The depot was located in Fall River County
Fall River County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,453 people, 3,127 households, and 1,976 families residing in the county. The population density was 4 people per square mile . There were 3,812 housing units at an average density of 2 per square mile...
, in far southwestern South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
about eight miles south of the town of Edgemont
Edgemont, South Dakota
Edgemont is a city in Fall River County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 774 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Edgemont is located at ....
.
BHOD was established and constructed in 1942, to help meet the Army's increased ordnance handling needs caused by World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Because of the relative remoteness of the location, nearly all of the facility's civilian workforce lived in federally owned housing at the depot; this residential community was known as Igloo, a name derived because the characteristic shape of the munitions storage buildings constructed at the site has a similar appearance to igloo
Igloo
An igloo or snowhouse is a type of shelter built of snow, originally built by the Inuit....
s. The Igloo community included public schools, a hospital, post office, church, and shopping and entertainment facilities including a theater, swimming pool and a recreation center.
Among Igloo's residents was a young Tom Brokaw
Tom Brokaw
Thomas John "Tom" Brokaw is an American television journalist and author best known as the anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News from 1982 to 2004. He is the author of The Greatest Generation and other books and the recipient of numerous awards and honors...
, who spent a few years living on the base as a boy.
The level of employment at BHOD varied over the years, increasing during periods of war. During typical peacetime periods of the 1950s, between 650 and 750 workers were employed at the site, and the community population was around 1800 people.
BHOD was renamed "Black Hills Army Depot" (BHAD) in 1962.
Over the years, BHOD was used for storage and testing of chemical weapons, including sarin
Sarin
Sarin, or GB, is an organophosphorus compound with the formula [2CHO]CH3PF. It is a colorless, odorless liquid, which is used as a chemical weapon. It has been classified as a weapon of mass destruction in UN Resolution 687...
and mustard gas
Sulfur mustard
The sulfur mustards, or sulphur mustards, commonly known as mustard gas, are a class of related cytotoxic, vesicant chemical warfare agents with the ability to form large blisters on exposed skin. Pure sulfur mustards are colorless, viscous liquids at room temperature...
. Additionally, during World War II, the site also held Italian prisoners of war.
The Depot was closed on June 30, 1967, and the Igloo community was abandoned. Once the Depot was closed, most of the residential housing units were moved to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is an Oglala Sioux Native American reservation located in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Originally included within the territory of the Great Sioux Reservation, Pine Ridge was established in 1889 in the southwest corner of South Dakota on the Nebraska border...
. A large number of former Depot buildings remained at the site in 2007.
The entire depot is currently under private ownership and off limits to the general public without express permission of the owner.