California Powder Works
Encyclopedia
California Powder Works was the first explosive powder manufacturing company west of the Rockies. When the outbreak of the Civil War
cut off supplies of powder to California's mining and road-building industries, a local manufacturer was needed. Originally located near Santa Cruz, California
, the company was incorporated in 1861 and began manufacturing powder in May 1864. For fifty years, it was a major employer in the county, employing between 150 and 275 men. The Powder Works was located on a flat adjacent to the San Lorenzo River
, three miles north of Santa Cruz. To facilitate transport and shipping, the company built a covered bridge across the river, still in use today, and a wharf off the main Santa Cruz beach. The wharf was removed when construction began in 1904 on the Neptune Casino at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
. The company ceased operating in Santa Cruz in 1914.
When dynamite
was invented in 1867 and quickly became popular, a new dynamite plant was opened in 1881 on the east side of San Francisco Bay
. The city of Hercules
was named after the company's leading product, known as Hercules Powder, which in turn was named for the powerful Greek
demigod
, Hercules
.
Explosive powder manufacturing was an extremely dangerous endeavor at the time, and uncontrolled explosions were frequent. Hercules's isolated location at the time, plus its proximity to rail
and water transportation
along San Pablo Bay
, made it an ideal choice. The explosives manufactured at California Powder Works played a significant and decisive role in the United States Army
's efforts to contain the fire
s started by the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
, as recounted by General Funston
. Considerable study has been made of the heavy metal lead
accumulated as upper layer soil contamination
from prior air pollution
smokestack emissions from the California Powder Works operations from this era.
California Powder Works contributed significantly to the production of explosives during both World Wars. By the Second World War, the plant had diversified to produce fertilizer
s and other chemical products. Eventually the facility was out-competed by foreign manufacturers, and the plant was closed in 1976. However, by this time the surrounding area was experiencing rapid growth as the commuter belt moved further outward from San Francisco. By the mid-1970s Centex Homes
and other developers began to build new subdivisions
and changed Hercules into the residential suburb
as it was known up until the late 1990s. Back in the 1970s, Hercules was one of the first cities in the United States
to develop a comprehensive Noise Element of the General Plan. This work included the production of noise
contour maps
for all major highway
s and arterial road
s, as well as a city-wide mitigation plan.
Civil war
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly-united nation state....
cut off supplies of powder to California's mining and road-building industries, a local manufacturer was needed. Originally located near Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946...
, the company was incorporated in 1861 and began manufacturing powder in May 1864. For fifty years, it was a major employer in the county, employing between 150 and 275 men. The Powder Works was located on a flat adjacent to the San Lorenzo River
San Lorenzo River
The San Lorenzo River drains a large watershed in Santa Cruz County, California. The headwaters originate in the Santa Cruz Mountains at an elevation of , and the river flows through the San Lorenzo Valley before emptying into the Pacific Ocean at Monterey Bay...
, three miles north of Santa Cruz. To facilitate transport and shipping, the company built a covered bridge across the river, still in use today, and a wharf off the main Santa Cruz beach. The wharf was removed when construction began in 1904 on the Neptune Casino at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is an oceanfront amusement park in Santa Cruz, California. Founded in 1907, it is California's oldest surviving amusement park and one of the few seaside parks on the West Coast of the United States.- Overview :...
. The company ceased operating in Santa Cruz in 1914.
When dynamite
Dynamite
Dynamite is an explosive material based on nitroglycerin, initially using diatomaceous earth , or another absorbent substance such as powdered shells, clay, sawdust, or wood pulp. Dynamites using organic materials such as sawdust are less stable and such use has been generally discontinued...
was invented in 1867 and quickly became popular, a new dynamite plant was opened in 1881 on the east side of San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay is a shallow, productive estuary through which water draining from approximately forty percent of California, flowing in the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers from the Sierra Nevada mountains, enters the Pacific Ocean...
. The city of Hercules
Hercules, California
Hercules is a city in western Contra Costa County, California. Situated along the coast of San Pablo Bay, it is located in the eastern region of the San Francisco Bay Area, about northeast of San Francisco. The city has a 2010 population of 24,060 according to the U.S...
was named after the company's leading product, known as Hercules Powder, which in turn was named for the powerful Greek
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
demigod
Demigod
The term "demigod" , meaning "half-god", is commonly used to describe mythological figures whose one parent was a god and whose other parent was human; as such, demigods are human-god hybrids...
, Hercules
Hercules
Hercules is the Roman name for Greek demigod Heracles, son of Zeus , and the mortal Alcmene...
.
Explosive powder manufacturing was an extremely dangerous endeavor at the time, and uncontrolled explosions were frequent. Hercules's isolated location at the time, plus its proximity to rail
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
and water transportation
Ship transport
Ship transport is watercraft carrying people or goods . Sea transport has been the largest carrier of freight throughout recorded history. Although the importance of sea travel for passengers has decreased due to aviation, it is effective for short trips and pleasure cruises...
along San Pablo Bay
San Pablo Bay
San Pablo Bay is a tidal estuary that forms the northern extension of San Francisco Bay in northern California in the United States. Most of the Bay is shallow; however, there is a deep water channel approximately in mid bay, which allows access to Sacramento, Stockton, Benicia, Martinez, and...
, made it an ideal choice. The explosives manufactured at California Powder Works played a significant and decisive role in the United States Army
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...
's efforts to contain the fire
Fire
Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material in the chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. Slower oxidative processes like rusting or digestion are not included by this definition....
s started by the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
1906 San Francisco earthquake
The San Francisco earthquake of 1906 was a major earthquake that struck San Francisco, California, and the coast of Northern California at 5:12 a.m. on Wednesday, April 18, 1906. The most widely accepted estimate for the magnitude of the earthquake is a moment magnitude of 7.9; however, other...
, as recounted by General Funston
Frederick Funston
Frederick N. Funston also known as Fred Funston, was a General in the United States Army, best known for his role in the Spanish-American War and the Philippine-American War...
. Considerable study has been made of the heavy metal lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
accumulated as upper layer soil contamination
Soil contamination
Soil contamination or soil pollution is caused by the presence of xenobiotic chemicals or other alteration in the natural soil environment....
from prior air pollution
Air pollution
Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or cause damage to the natural environment or built environment, into the atmosphere....
smokestack emissions from the California Powder Works operations from this era.
California Powder Works contributed significantly to the production of explosives during both World Wars. By the Second World War, the plant had diversified to produce fertilizer
Fertilizer
Fertilizer is any organic or inorganic material of natural or synthetic origin that is added to a soil to supply one or more plant nutrients essential to the growth of plants. A recent assessment found that about 40 to 60% of crop yields are attributable to commercial fertilizer use...
s and other chemical products. Eventually the facility was out-competed by foreign manufacturers, and the plant was closed in 1976. However, by this time the surrounding area was experiencing rapid growth as the commuter belt moved further outward from San Francisco. By the mid-1970s Centex Homes
Centex
Centex Corporation began as a Dallas, Texas based home builder in 1950.-Division:*Centex Destination Properties*Centex Homes*Centex Insurance*Centex Title*CTX Mortgage*Fox & Jacobs Homes-External links:****...
and other developers began to build new subdivisions
Subdivision (land)
Subdivision is the act of dividing land into pieces that are easier to sell or otherwise develop, usually via a plat. The former single piece as a whole is then known in the United States as a subdivision...
and changed Hercules into the residential suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
as it was known up until the late 1990s. Back in the 1970s, Hercules was one of the first cities in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to develop a comprehensive Noise Element of the General Plan. This work included the production of noise
Roadway noise
Roadway noise is the collective sound energy emanating from motor vehicles. In the USA it contributes more to environmental noise exposure than any other noise source, and is constituted chiefly of engine, tire, aerodynamic and braking elements...
contour maps
Contour line
A contour line of a function of two variables is a curve along which the function has a constant value. In cartography, a contour line joins points of equal elevation above a given level, such as mean sea level...
for all major highway
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
s and arterial road
Arterial road
An arterial road, or arterial thoroughfare, is a high-capacity urban road. The primary function of an arterial road is to deliver traffic from collector roads to freeways, and between urban centres at the highest level of service possible. As such, many arteries are limited-access roads, or feature...
s, as well as a city-wide mitigation plan.