Little Boy
In 1942 the American government acquired 60,000 acres of farmland in Tennessee’s Clinch River Valley. The plan was to build a secret city to manufacture uranium for the first nuclear bomb — Little Boy. The city would be built in secrecy as part of The Manhattan Project, which also included sites in Los Alamos, New Mexico and Hanford, Washington State. After expropriating land from the farmers who lived and worked in the area, the US Army Corps of Engineers started building houses, roads and infrastructure for the 75,000 residents and workers who would soon arrive. The city was named Oak Ridge. For the next seven years, Oak Ridge remained a well-kept secret and did not appear on any maps — only workers who lived in the city had access through the gates that guarded Oak Ridge, and all work within the city was kept highly confidential. The Manhattan Project was so confidential that most residents in Oak Ridge did not know what they were working on, only that it was part of the war effort. They all found out, however, on 6 August 1945 when Little Boy was dropped over Hiroshima, killing approximately 140,000 Japanese civilians. Oak Ridge was opened to the public in 1949 and to this day still produces nuclear weapons.
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Janet Michel worked as a Pollution Prevention Project Manager at the K-25 nuclear facility in Oak Ridge. While there, she suffered nickel poisoning and developed many other work-related health issues. She fights an ongoing battle with the US government to compensate her and other colleagues for illnesses related to their work at K-25
The Manhattan Project left its legacy in Oak Ridge in different ways — including street and place names.
A member of the Roane Anderson women’s basketball team in the 1940s, demonstrating a defensive move.
Text from a billboard in Oak Ridge, circa 1940s.
Oak Ridge was built in a relatively remote valley between the Cumberland and Great Smoky Mountains, so in case of a disaster any damage would be limited by the surrounding landscape of hills and ridges.
Between 1948–1949 guardhouses were built on all roads into Oak Ridge, controlling access to the secret city.
Between 1948–1949 guardhouses were built on all roads into Oak Ridge, controlling access to the secret city.
Between 1948–1949 guardhouses were built on all roads into Oak Ridge, controlling access to the secret city.
Allergies and other health issues linked to her work at the K-25 nuclear facility mean Janet Michel must wear protective gloves while driving, among other day-to-day tasks.
Ray Smith, retired historian of the Y-12 nuclear facility, telling the story of the “Prophet of Oak Ridge,” a man named John Hendrix (1865–1915), whose tombstone sits under the tree behind Ray. After the death of a daughter and subsequent dissolution of his marriage, Hendrix spent 40 days out in the woods alone. During this time he claimed to have a vision that some claim predicted the creation of Oak Ridge: “Bear Creek Valley someday will be filled with great buildings and factories, and they will help toward winning the greatest war that will ever be. Big engines will build big ditches, and thousands of people will be running to and fro. They will be building things, and there will be great noise and confusion, and the earth will shake. I’ve seen it; it’s coming.”
Denise-anjusan, a Nichiren Buddhist monk of the Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist Order in front of the Great Smoky Mountains Peace Pagoda. Each year on 6 August the Nipponzan Myohoji monks go on a peace pilgrimage to Oak Ridge to call for an end to the production of nuclear weapons. Originally, the monks were based in Atlanta and made their pilgrimages to Oak Ridge from there. But during one pilgrimage, they discovered some vacant land close to Oak Ridge, and decided to build the Peace Pagoda there.
Text from a 1940s Oak Ridge billboard.
“TRINITITE, formed by heat of the first atomic bomb exploded July 16, 1945.”
From the collection of Jim Young
The sky over Oak Ridge
“Packaging an atomic byproduct.” Vintage press photo
Beech Park Baptist Church just outside Oak Ridge
A peace crane. Each year, on 6 August, protesters from OREPA (Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance) demonstrate in front of the Y-12 nuclear facility — the Hiroshima Day Remembrance Ceremony, during which the names of the victims who died in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima are read aloud, and for each name an origami paper crane is added to a string.
The paper crane comes from the story of Sadako Sasaki from Hiroshima. She was 2 years old on 6 August 1945 when the Little Boy atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, she survived the explosion, but when she was eleven years old she developed Leukaemia. A story in Japan goes that the one who folds 1,000 paper cranes will have their wish granted, so Sadako started to fold cranes in hope of getting well. She died in 1955, and ever since the paper crane has been a symbol for all who work for nuclear abolition.
A vintage photo of a dance class in Oak Ridge.
Don Hunnicut, son-in-law of Ed Westcott (20 January 1922–29 March 2019) who was the official – and only – photographer hired by the US Army Corps of Engineers to document the Manhattan Project. Westcott was never told what he was photographing at the time, only finding out in later years.
The Norris Dam, situated on the Clinch River is a hydroelectric dam and likely one of the reasons that Oak Ridge is situated where it is: the Norris Dam was able to supply the massive amount of energy needed for creating nuclear weapons.
The International Friendship Bell symbolises the peace and friendship shared between Japan and Oak Ridge. The bell was the idea of Shigeko Uppuluri, an Oak Ridge resident born in Japan, and her husband Dr. Ram Uppuluri.
Model of the The United Church, Chapel on the Hill in Oak Ridge. This was the city’s main church during World War II. Dedicated on 30 September 1943, and completed late in October 1943, it was originally a multi-denominational chapel shared by Catholic, Protestant and Jewish congregations.
1940s billboard text from Oak Ridge.
Two girls practicing guitar play at the Grove Theater in Oak Ridge.
25th anniversary coin commemorating the creation of Oak Ridge, designed by Nat Johnson. The coin depicts the messenger god of Hermes hovering over the hills of Oak Ridge – ready to spread the newly-born source of atomic energy.
Passing through, Quality Inn, Oak Ridge
The Clinch river flows through Oak Ridge.
The temple at the Great Smoky Mountains Peace Pagoda.
A billboard reminding citizens of Oak Ridge to keep quite about their work.
Shop facade in Oak Ridge.
Atomic detection device designed by scientists in Oak Ridge.
Atomic detection device designed by scientists in Oak Ridge.
T-shirt graphics at the Great Smoky Mountains Peace Pagoda in East Tennessee.
Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps cadet during a celebration in the city of Oak Ridge. JROTC is a federal program sponsored by the United States Armed Forces. The program focuses on preparing school children for a career in the armed forces.
1940s billboard text from Oak Ridge
Ralph Hutchison, coordinator at OREPA (Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance) during the Peace Lantern ceremony 9 August 2022 remembering the Nagasaki bombing.
Buddhist monks Utsumi-Shonin and Denise-anjusan demonstrating for peace in front of the Y-12 nuclear facility.
The autograph of Morris Jepson. Jepson was a second lieutenant in the US Air Force during World War II and was designated as weapons test officer on the Enola Gay, the plane that carried out the bombing of Hiroshima. It was his job to arm the device once in the air over Japan.
The Grove Theater was constructed in 1943 as a concert auditorium, and later served as a movie theatre. Today it is run by High Places Community Church and used as a community space.
Vintage photograph of the K-25 Nuclear facility next to the Clinch River. At the time of its construction, K-25 was the largest building in the world.
Anniversary stamps for the Enola Gay bomber that dropped the Little Boy bomb over Hiroshima.
Visitor centre at the Y-12 Nuclear facility.
1940s billboard text from Oak Ridge
The legacy of the Manhattan Project on Oak Ridge continues in different ways.
1950s press photo of workers at Oak Ridge pouring uranium ore into a grinder.
The entrance to the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge. Constructed during World War II as part of the Manhattan Project, Y-12 provided the enriched uranium for Little Boy, the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. To this day Y-12 still makes thermonuclear cores for nuclear warheads and bombs.
The backroads of Oak Ridge in the 1940s. Vintage photograph by Ed Westcott
Student, National Martial Arts, Oak Ridge.
Janet Michel’s documentation of her nickel poisoning from working at the K-25 nuclear facility.
A row of flags representing the countries who support the United Nation’s Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
Peace Lantern ceremony, 9 August 2022, remembering Nagasaki.
After the bombing of Hiroshima, key workers received a pin with the inscription: “MANHATTAN PROJECT, A-BOMB” followed by the castle logo of the US Army Corps of Engineers.
From the collection of Jim Young
East Fork Poplar Creek. Starting in the early 1950s, East Fork Poplar Creek was contaminated by releases of mercury and other hazardous substances from the Y-12 plant. Bathing, fishing and other activities there are still considered hazardous.
The Grove Theater, Oak Ridge.
Vintage postcard
The Grove Theater, Oak Ridge.
Hitchhiker passing through Oak Ridge on his way west from Georgia.
The graveyard next to George Jones Memorial Baptist Church. The church and graveyard was part of the communities that were displaced to allow the development and construction of Oak Ridge. Around 3,000 people had their homes expropriated to make way for Oak Ridge.
A peace protester from OREPA placing a paper crane in front of the Y-12 facility during the Hiroshima Day Remembrance Ceremony on 6 August 2022.
Instructor, National Martial Arts, Oak Ridge.
Article about the public opening of Oak Ridge after World War II.
Atomic City Computers, Oak Ridge.
1940s billboard text from Oak Ridge
The town of Oliver Springs, situated right next to Oak Ridge.The economy of Oliver Springs became dependent on government employment in Oak Ridge, but suffered when employment levels declined at the end of the Cold War in the early 1990s.
Tool box with castle logo from the US Army Corps of Engineers in the 1940s. The US Army Corps of Engineers bought an estimated 60,000 acres of rural farm land in 1942 to construct a “temporary” city with three facilities to develop “technology that could end WWII.”
David Hackett, nuclear metallurgist and expert on the Yuchi Native American tribe. Both Mr Hackett and his father worked at Y-12. David also worked at the gaseous diffusion plant K-25 which made enriched uranium for the Little Boy bomb. He was was fired when he blew the whistle on the illegal disposal of contaminated waste and overspending on budgets.
Vintage photo of Oak Ridge City Municipal Building.
The bookshelf of Janet Michel, former K-25 worker.
Oak Ridge High School.
Oak Ridge’s population grew quickly and workers needed housing. Architectural firm Skidmore Owings & Merrill designed the alphabet type-houses which was fast and easy to build.
1940s billboard text from Oak Ridge.
Collage showing the volunteers who helped build the Great Smoky Mountains Peace Pagoda through the years.
MMXX
2020 Diary
Finding Nick Marshall
In 1960 John Steinbeck wrote a book called ’Travels with Charley’. The book depicts a roadtrip made by Steinbeck throughout the US starting from Long Island, New York through Maine all the way to to the pacific Northwest. Going through California he travelled back to New York through the deep south. The objective for Steinbeck, among others, was to re-explore the personality and the landscape of his own country and meet the people first hand. The series ‘Finding Nick Marshall’ is inspired by that journey, and the trip Steinbeck made in 1960. The series explores the rural and urban US landscape trying to suggest a story rooted in both fascination and history.
A new introduction to the 50th anniversary edition of the book cautioned readers that ”it would be a mistake to take this travelogue too literally, as Steinbeck was at heart a novelist.” → Wikipedia
→ Travels with Charley
TEOTWAWKI
Since the beginning of times it has been a basic instinct within man to be self-reliant and independent. The idea of being able to establish and maintain your living terms and conditions no matter what happens around you. For some people this means to stockpile food and water, prepare for self-sufficiency, and build structures that will help you survive anything. The series ‘TEOTWAWKI’ depicts the survivalist/prepper culture in the american midwest. People who are actively preparing for emergencies as well as possible disruptions in social or political order, on scales ranging from local to international. Insufficient help from government institutions such as when hurricane Katrina made its second landfall in southeast Louisiana in 2005 and other, serves as examples as why everyone need to help themselves when disaster strikes.
TEOTWAWKI
(The End Of The World As We Know It)
→ Feature in danish newspaper Information
→ Interview on BTRtoday
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