Spring 2014 Article 11

May 2014 150 Years of the Unexpected Rachel Vipond

Alexandra Collins Iowa State University

Rahemma Mayfield Iowa State University

Follow this and additional works at: http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/ethos Part of the Higher Education Commons, Journalism Studies Commons, Social History Commons, and the United States History Commons

Recommended Citation Vipond, Rachel; Collins, Alexandra; and Mayfield, Rahemma (2014) "150 Years of the Unexpected," Ethos: Vol. 2014 , Article 11. Available at: http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/ethos/vol2014/iss3/11

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Publications at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Ethos by an authorized editor of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. OF 150 YEARS THE UNEXPECTED BEFORE DISMISSING AMES AS ANOTHER COLLEGE TOWN SURROUNDED BY CORNFIELDS, CONSIDER ITS UNIQUE HISTORY.

BY RACHEL VIPOND DESIGN ALEXANDRIA COLLINS PHOTO RAHEMMA MAYFIELD

Albert Cadwell, the principal of Ames High School from 1914 to 1917, had an interesting experience—he survived the sinking of thethe Titanic.Titanic. Remember a few years back, when ethanol was being marketed as a new fuel? It turns out Ames was ahead of the game. A blend of corn ethanol was fi rst sold commercially in Ames as early as 1932. Ames resident and ISU student Herman Banning became the fi rst black man to make a transcontinental fl ight in 1932. He fl ew a plane supplemented with surplus parts from Los Angeles to Long Island, N.Y.; Banning named his plane “Miss Ames.” Th anks to Iowa’s political draw, Ames has hosted 11 presidents—or future presidents— The Science over the years, including Ronald Reagan and William Howard Taft. Ames has been home to Hollywood actors, of War as well. In an interview with the Ames Historical Society, lifelong Ames resident Jay IowaIowa StateState scientistsscientists producedproduced aa Simster recalls playing with actor Nick Nolte (from(from “Cape“Cape Fear,”Fear,” “Th“Th ee PrincePrince ofof Tides”Tides” andand pure ingot that played an “Gangster“Gangster Squad”)Squad”) asas aa child.child. NolteNolte spentspent fi ve years of his childhood in Ames. importantimportant rolerole inin WWII.WWII. Scandalous new dance moves are often BY JACK CARNEY DESIGN JORDAN WELCH cause for controversy. For example, the PHOTO COURTESY OF , USDOE Inter-fraternityInter-fraternity CouncilCouncil bannedbanned tangotango fromfrom fraternityfraternity dancesdances inin 1913.1913. We’dWe’d hatehate toto seesee JustJust southsouth ofof HamiltonHamilton Hall,Hall, onon thethe may have realized, this is no ordinary stone, what would roughly amount to $24 billion what they’d think of twerking. east end of campus, lies a stone roughly and these were no ordinary men. Th e work inin currentcurrent U.S.U.S. currency.currency. ThTh ee operationoperation hadhad Have you ever heard of “partner cities?” thethe heightheight ofof aa carcar tire.tire. ThTh ee stonestone goesgoes accomplished at the very location of this labslabs throughoutthroughout thethe country.country. OneOne ofof thethe Sometimes, international or local mostly unnoticed, as it is not located in a stonestone revolutionizedrevolutionized sciencescience andand impactedimpacted most famous sites was in Chicago, where a partnerships are made between towns for busy sector of campus. But, if one were to thethe worldworld inin aa wayway thesethese menmen maymay havehave renownedrenowned physicist,physicist, EnricoEnrico Fermi,Fermi, workedworked diplomatic reasons or because of similarities. approach this stone, they would notice an never understood, and this is their story. under , who was in charge aged bronze plaque with an inscription of the Chicago lab, in hopes of creating the Ames has been a partner to Koshu City, Th e was conceived in elieve it or not, our beloved college town had humble beginnings. Containing only protruding from the metal, that reads: “A fi rst man-made . JapanJapan sincesince SeptemberSeptember 14,14, 1993.1993. 1939 and placed under the direction of 12 blocks and 844 residents when it was incorporated in 1870, Ames now has 58,965 strikingstriking achievementachievement amongamong thethe manymany United States Major General , InIn thethe fallfall ofof 1942,1942, Dr.Dr. FrankFrank Spedding,Spedding, aa residentsresidents includingincluding ISUISU students.students. InIn 1864,1864, AmesAmes waswas chosenchosen asas aa locationlocation forfor aa stationstation ISU’sISU’s MorrillMorrill HallHall hashas hadhad manymany eclecticeclectic usesuses associated with the Wartime Atomic with the backing of allies Canada and the professor at Iowa State College (ISC), was stopstop forfor thethe CedarCedar RapidsRapids andand MissouriMissouri Railroads.Railroads. AmesAmes waswas namednamed byby thethe railroadrailroad over the years. Since its construction in 1890, Energy Project in the United States was the B United Kingdom. Th is top-secret project brought on the scene. Spedding, a graduate president for his friend Oakes Ames, who never actually visited the town. Th e Hub, now a zoology, entomology and geology classes have production of many tons of pure Uranium was created to research and develop the of Berkeley, had been working at Iowa favoritefavorite spotspot forfor coffcoff eeee oror aa quickquick sandwich,sandwich, waswas thenthen aa bookstorebookstore andand waitingwaiting areaarea forfor thethe been held there. It has also served as a home by a group consisting of faculty and students materials that eventually composed the State since ’37 as the head of the physical Ames College Railway, which connected the town to the college campus. Ames turns 150 this forfor printingprinting services,services, anan offioffi cece forfor agricultureagriculture working in a disused building on the campus fi rst atomic bombs, costing the program department, and was an expert in year and quite a few interesting things have happened here—maybe more than you’d expect. extension and get this—a barber shop. It now of the Iowa State College at Ames.” As you servesserves asas anan artart andand textiletextile museum.museum. 24 ethosmagazine.org OF 150 YEARS THE UNEXPECTED BEFORE DISMISSING AMES AS ANOTHER COLLEGE TOWN SURROUNDED BY CORNFIELDS, CONSIDER ITS UNIQUE HISTORY.

BY RACHEL VIPOND DESIGN ALEXANDRIA COLLINS PHOTO RAHEMMA MAYFIELD

Albert Cadwell, the principal of Ames High School from 1914 to 1917, had an interesting experience—he survived the sinking of thethe Titanic.Titanic. Remember a few years back, when ethanol was being marketed as a new fuel? It turns out Ames was ahead of the game. A blend of corn ethanol was fi rst sold commercially in Ames as early as 1932. Ames resident and ISU student Herman Banning became the fi rst black man to make a transcontinental fl ight in 1932. He fl ew a plane supplemented with surplus parts from Los Angeles to Long Island, N.Y.; Banning named his plane “Miss Ames.” Th anks to Iowa’s political draw, Ames has hosted 11 presidents—or future presidents— The Science over the years, including Ronald Reagan and William Howard Taft. Ames has been home to Hollywood actors, of War as well. In an interview with the Ames Historical Society, lifelong Ames resident Jay IowaIowa StateState scientistsscientists producedproduced aa Simster recalls playing with actor Nick Nolte (from(from “Cape“Cape Fear,”Fear,” “Th“Th ee PrincePrince ofof Tides”Tides” andand pure uranium ingot that played an “Gangster“Gangster Squad”)Squad”) asas aa child.child. NolteNolte spentspent fi ve years of his childhood in Ames. importantimportant rolerole inin WWII.WWII. Scandalous new dance moves are often BY JACK CARNEY DESIGN JORDAN WELCH cause for controversy. For example, the PHOTO COURTESY OF AMES LABORATORY, USDOE Inter-fraternityInter-fraternity CouncilCouncil bannedbanned tangotango fromfrom fraternityfraternity dancesdances inin 1913.1913. We’dWe’d hatehate toto seesee JustJust southsouth ofof HamiltonHamilton Hall,Hall, onon thethe may have realized, this is no ordinary stone, what would roughly amount to $24 billion what they’d think of twerking. east end of campus, lies a stone roughly and these were no ordinary men. Th e work inin currentcurrent U.S.U.S. currency.currency. ThTh ee operationoperation hadhad Have you ever heard of “partner cities?” thethe heightheight ofof aa carcar tire.tire. ThTh ee stonestone goesgoes accomplished at the very location of this labslabs throughoutthroughout thethe country.country. OneOne ofof thethe Sometimes, international or local mostly unnoticed, as it is not located in a stonestone revolutionizedrevolutionized sciencescience andand impactedimpacted most famous sites was in Chicago, where a partnerships are made between towns for busy sector of campus. But, if one were to thethe worldworld inin aa wayway thesethese menmen maymay havehave renownedrenowned physicist,physicist, EnricoEnrico Fermi,Fermi, workedworked diplomatic reasons or because of similarities. approach this stone, they would notice an never understood, and this is their story. under Arthur Compton, who was in charge aged bronze plaque with an inscription of the Chicago lab, in hopes of creating the Ames has been a partner to Koshu City, Th e Manhattan Project was conceived in elieve it or not, our beloved college town had humble beginnings. Containing only protruding from the metal, that reads: “A fi rst man-made nuclear reactor. JapanJapan sincesince SeptemberSeptember 14,14, 1993.1993. 1939 and placed under the direction of 12 blocks and 844 residents when it was incorporated in 1870, Ames now has 58,965 strikingstriking achievementachievement amongamong thethe manymany United States Major General Leslie Groves, InIn thethe fallfall ofof 1942,1942, Dr.Dr. FrankFrank Spedding,Spedding, aa residentsresidents includingincluding ISUISU students.students. InIn 1864,1864, AmesAmes waswas chosenchosen asas aa locationlocation forfor aa stationstation ISU’sISU’s MorrillMorrill HallHall hashas hadhad manymany eclecticeclectic usesuses associated with the Wartime Atomic with the backing of allies Canada and the professor at Iowa State College (ISC), was stopstop forfor thethe CedarCedar RapidsRapids andand MissouriMissouri Railroads.Railroads. AmesAmes waswas namednamed byby thethe railroadrailroad over the years. Since its construction in 1890, Energy Project in the United States was the B United Kingdom. Th is top-secret project brought on the scene. Spedding, a graduate president for his friend Oakes Ames, who never actually visited the town. Th e Hub, now a zoology, entomology and geology classes have production of many tons of pure Uranium was created to research and develop the of Berkeley, had been working at Iowa favoritefavorite spotspot forfor coffcoff eeee oror aa quickquick sandwich,sandwich, waswas thenthen aa bookstorebookstore andand waitingwaiting areaarea forfor thethe been held there. It has also served as a home by a group consisting of faculty and students materials that eventually composed the State since ’37 as the head of the physical Ames College Railway, which connected the town to the college campus. Ames turns 150 this forfor printingprinting services,services, anan offioffi cece forfor agricultureagriculture working in a disused building on the campus fi rst atomic bombs, costing the program chemistry department, and was an expert in year and quite a few interesting things have happened here—maybe more than you’d expect. extension and get this—a barber shop. It now of the Iowa State College at Ames.” As you servesserves asas anan artart andand textiletextile museum.museum. 25 thethe fifi eldeld ofof rarerare earthearth metals.metals. HisHis expertiseexpertise remainderremainder ofof thethe journey.journey. UponUpon arrivingarriving withwith CiviliansCivilians inin AmesAmes wouldwould notnot knowknow ofof thethe inin rarerare earthsearths isis whatwhat sparkedsparked thethe interestinterest thethe ingot,ingot, WilhelmWilhelm waswas greetedgreeted withwith doubt.doubt. eventsevents thatthat occurredoccurred inin bothboth GilmanGilman HallHall andand ofof GeneralGeneral GrovesGroves andand hishis staffstaff .. SpeddingSpedding ComptonCompton (head(head ofof thethe ChicagoChicago lab)lab) suspectedsuspected LittleLittle AnkenyAnkeny untiluntil thethe monthsmonths followingfollowing thethe waswas summonedsummoned toto ChicagoChicago toto bebe briefedbriefed onon thatthat hehe wouldwould surelysurely fifi ndnd thatthat thethe ingotingot waswas detonationdetonation ofof thethe fifi rstrst nuclearnuclear bombsbombs overover thethe project.project. SpeddingSpedding quicklyquickly returnedreturned toto hollowhollow inside.inside. HisHis suspicionsuspicion waswas invalid.invalid. Japan.Japan. ThTh ee sheersheer magnitudemagnitude ofof thisthis eventevent Ames,Ames, butbut notnot forfor good—hegood—he wouldwould returnreturn ItIt waswas apparentapparent thatthat littlelittle waswas expectedexpected ofof continuescontinues toto rippleripple throughthrough societysociety today.today. toto ChicagoChicago severalseveral timestimes overover thethe nextnext fewfew thethe AmesAmes lablab byby thethe meremere astonishmentastonishment ofof InIn DecemberDecember ofof 1942,1942, underneathunderneath thethe hustlehustle monthsmonths toto serveserve asas anan intermediateintermediate betweenbetween ChicagoChicago whenwhen WilhelmWilhelm showedshowed upup withwith andand bustlebustle ofof suburbansuburban Chicago,Chicago, aa groupgroup ofof AmesAmes andand thethe projectproject asas aa whole.whole. thethe productproduct ofof SpeddingSpedding andand company.company. ThTh ee ourour nation’snation’s toptop scientistscientist gatheredgathered aroundaround aa uraniumuranium waswas exactlyexactly whatwhat Fermi’sFermi’s planplan calledcalled UponUpon returningreturning toto Ames,Ames, SpeddingSpedding tabletable wherewhere aa GeigerGeiger countercounter satsat toto registerregister for,for, butbut theythey neededneeded more.more. ThTh ee governmentgovernment understoodunderstood aa newnew techniquetechnique forfor purifyingpurifying thethe increaseincrease ofof neutronsneutrons fromfrom thethe CP-1CP-1 presentedpresented IowaIowa StateState withwith aa contractcontract toto uraniumuranium metalmetal wouldwould bebe neededneeded forfor Fermi’sFermi’s reactor.reactor. ThTh ee reactionreaction causedcaused thethe GeigerGeiger toto produceproduce 100100 poundspounds ofof uraniumuranium perper day,day, andand planplan toto succeed,succeed, soso hehe proceededproceeded toto fifi ndnd aa clickclick atat aa fasterfaster andand fasterfaster raterate untiluntil FermiFermi withinwithin thethe weekweek ofof Wilhelm’sWilhelm’s dashdash toto Chicago,Chicago, way.way. SpeddingSpedding immediatelyimmediately formedformed aa teamteam gavegave thethe orderorder forfor thethe controlcontrol rodsrods toto bebe IowaIowa StateState acceptedaccepted thethe contractcontract andand large-large- ofof qualifiqualifi eded chemistschemists andand scientists.scientists. HisHis fifi rstrst insertedinserted andand toto terminateterminate thethe reaction.reaction. ThTh ee scalescale productionproduction waswas underway.underway. SoonSoon thethe additionaddition waswas Dr.Dr. HarleyHarley Wilhelm.Wilhelm. Wilhelm,Wilhelm, clickclick ofof thethe countercounter beganbegan toto slowslow andand aa sighsigh projectproject wouldwould havehave aa suffisuffi cientcient amountamount ofof fuelfuel whowho waswas alsoalso aa professorprofessor atat ISC,ISC, waswas anan ofof reliefrelief camecame aboutabout thethe room.room. AfterAfter aa subtlesubtle toto testtest thethe reactor.reactor. expertexpert inin thethe fifi eldeld ofof ,metallurgy, makingmaking himhim andand awkwardawkward applause,applause, aa flfl askask waswas presentedpresented aa perfectperfect fifi tt forfor thethe project.project. WithWith WilhelmWilhelm atat SpeddingSpedding stoodstood amongamong aa collectioncollection ofof thethe andand winewine waswas distributeddistributed intointo oneone paperpaper hishis side,side, SpeddingSpedding continuedcontinued toto assembleassemble aa nation’snation’s brightestbrightest individualsindividuals inin aa tension-tension- cupcup toto bebe passedpassed aroundaround thethe room.room. RealizingRealizing groupgroup ofof thethe college’scollege’s toptop scholars.scholars. fifi lledlled roomroom layinglaying justjust beneathbeneath Chicago’sChicago’s theythey hadhad justjust witnessedwitnessed aa pivotalpivotal momentmoment StaggStagg fifi eldeld onon aa briskbrisk dayday inin earlyearly DecemberDecember WorkWork immediatelyimmediately wentwent underwayunderway inin GilmanGilman inin history,history, aa dramaticdramatic silencesilence setset inin andand nono ofof 1942.1942. ThTh ee menmen werewere broughtbrought togethertogether byby ’42,’42, furnacesfurnaces werewere movedmoved toto aa newnew locationlocation ThTh ee fifi nalnal stepstep afterafter productionproduction waswas shippingshipping HallHall asas thethe perimeterperimeter waswas tapedtaped offoff andand toaststoasts werewere made,made, asas thethe cupcup traveledtraveled fromfrom aa commoncommon interest:interest: produceproduce thethe world’sworld’s fifi rstrst namednamed “Little“Little Ankeny.”Ankeny.” ThTh ee buildingbuilding thethe material.material. DuringDuring thisthis time,time, AmesAmes hadhad governmentgovernment offioffi cialscials stoodstood guard.guard. SecuritySecurity manman toto man,man, notnot aa wordword waswas said.said. ThTh ee essenceessence controlledcontrolled nuclearnuclear reaction,reaction, aa goalgoal thethe menmen resembledresembled aa largelarge woodenwooden shedshed andand waswas traintrain trackstracks passingpassing throughthrough partpart ofof ISC’sISC’s becamebecame aa toptop prioritypriority inin Ames.Ames. RayRay Fisher,Fisher, ofof thisthis humbledhumbled silencesilence isis allall thatthat isis neededneeded werewere poised,poised, butbut eagereager toto test.test. Fermi,Fermi, thethe previouslypreviously beingbeing usedused forfor storage.storage. ThTh ee namename campus,campus, soso thethe AmesAmes ProjectProject waswas ableable toto aa chemist-technicianchemist-technician forfor thethe AmesAmes project,project, toto comprehendcomprehend thethe prominentprominent effeff ectect thisthis renownedrenowned physicist,physicist, waswas responsibleresponsible forfor thethe LittleLittle AnkenyAnkeny referencedreferenced anan ammunitionammunition utilizeutilize thisthis forfor shipping.shipping. AA traintrain occupiedoccupied elaborateselaborates onon securitysecurity duringduring thisthis paranoidparanoid eventevent setset forthforth uponupon thethe world.world. ThTh eseese menmen constructionconstruction ofof thethe reactor,reactor, laterlater toto bebe namednamed plantplant justjust southsouth ofof Ames.Ames. ThTh eyey thoughtthought ifif theythey byby governmentgovernment offioffi cialscials wouldwould rollroll intointo eraera inin anan interviewinterview byby thethe AmesAmes lablab forfor thethe understoodunderstood itit wouldwould nono longerlonger bebe thethe same.same. “Chicago“Chicago Pile-1”Pile-1” oror “CP-1.”“CP-1.” ThTh ee reactorreactor waswas aa nicknamednicknamed thisthis buildingbuilding afterafter thethe popularpopular AmesAmes withwith armedarmed guardsguards perchedperched aboveabove thethe project’sproject’s 50th50th anniversary:anniversary: “We“We hadhad veryvery conficonfi gurationguration ofof purepure uraniumuranium metalmetal (which(which ammunitionammunition plant,plant, citizenscitizens wouldwould assumeassume boxcars.boxcars. ThTh ee carscars enteredentered withwith theirtheir doorsdoors tighttight securitysecurity inin thosethose days.days. AnAn FBIFBI agentagent waswas waswas thethe reactantreactant AmesAmes waswas producing)producing) thatthat theythey werewere doingdoing similarsimilar workwork herehere inin Ames,Ames, openopen andand thethe cargocargo waswas loadedloaded ontoonto thethe stationedstationed inin AmesAmes andand hehe checkedchecked forfor anyoneanyone waswas situatedsituated systematicallysystematically betweenbetween thethe andand notnot producingproducing nuclearnuclear fuel.fuel. traintrain inin secretsecret compartmentscompartments layinglaying beneathbeneath whowho talkedtalked tootoo muchmuch outsideoutside thethe workplace.workplace. II .graphite. AtAt thethe basebase ofof thisthis “pile,”“pile,” aa manman thethe boxcars,boxcars, thethe carscars thenthen departeddeparted withwith thinkthink onlyonly oneone personperson waswas letlet gogo duedue toto looseloose WorkWork atat LittleLittle AnkenyAnkeny wentwent aroundaround thethe wouldwould stand;stand; hishis tasktask waswas toto operateoperate thethe doorsdoors open,open, thethe samesame wayway theythey entered.entered. lips.lips. WhenWhen askedasked whatwhat waswas goinggoing onon insideinside clock.clock. CompetitionCompetition arosearose betweenbetween shiftshift controlcontrol rods,rods, whichwhich wouldwould bebe insertedinserted intointo thethe WhenWhen thethe projectproject waswas completed,completed, overover twotwo fifi rstrst flfl ooroor ofof thethe ChemistryChemistry Building,Building, wewe toldtold teamsteams toto seesee whowho couldcould yieldyield thethe puristpurist andand reactorreactor toto regulateregulate thethe reactionreaction byby absorbingabsorbing millionmillion poundspounds ofof purepure uraniumuranium metalmetal hadhad outsidersoutsiders thatthat wewe werewere makingmaking boxes.”boxes.” largestlargest amountsamounts ofof uranium.uranium. WorkWork eventuallyeventually beenbeen transportedtransported outout ofof Ames.Ames. .neutrons. AboveAbove thethe pile,pile, threethree menmen satsat readyready becamebecame soso repetitiverepetitive forfor thethe scientistscientist thatthat ThTh oughough allall maymay havehave seemedseemed laxlax fromfrom thethe toto pourpour bucketsbuckets ofof cadmiumcadmium solutionsolution overover thethe theythey becamebecame bored.bored. DavidDavid Peterson,Peterson, aa outside,outside, thethe workwork goinggoing onon insideinside GilmanGilman hallhall reactorreactor inin orderorder toto preventprevent nuclearnuclear runawayrunaway chemist,chemist, goesgoes intointo detaildetail onon couldn’tcouldn’t havehave beenbeen anyany moremore hectic.hectic. FisherFisher andand thethe devastationdevastation ofof Chicago.Chicago. howhow theythey compensatedcompensated forfor thethe continuedcontinued toto telltell ofof thethe madmad scramblescramble goinggoing onon ThTh ee ChicagoChicago reactorreactor waswas thethe fifi rstrst ofof itsits kind,kind, sometimes-boringsometimes-boring conditionsconditions insideinside thethe ChemistryChemistry building:building: “I“I rememberremember andand likelike manymany ofof thethe otherother experimentsexperiments inin anan interviewinterview byby thethe AmesAmes lab:lab: thatthat Dr.Dr. WilhelmWilhelm waswas alwaysalways inin aa hurry.hurry. WeWe thesethese scientistscientist hadhad undergone,undergone, theythey werewere “Th“Th ee routineroutine ofof standardstandard metalmetal sharedshared anan offioffi cece inin ChemistryChemistry andand therethere waswas unsureunsure ofof whatwhat maymay transpiretranspire uponupon testingtesting productionproduction soonsoon becamebecame boring,boring, aa transomtransom aboveabove thethe door,door, whichwhich waswas usuallyusually thethe reactor.reactor. FullyFully awareaware ofof thethe explosiveexplosive soso active,active, inquiringinquiring mindsminds werewere openopen forfor ventilation.ventilation. Dr.Dr. WilhelmWilhelm wouldn’twouldn’t powerspowers thatthat maymay bebe presentpresent withinwithin thethe busybusy dreamingdreaming ofof waysways toto improveimprove alwaysalways taketake timetime toto openopen thethe doordoor toto putput hishis graphitegraphite pile,pile, FermiFermi declareddeclared allall systemssystems go.go. thethe process.process. ThTh ee ‘wiser’‘wiser’ headsheads ofof mailmail onon hishis desk.desk. AsAs hehe passedpassed by,by, hehe wouldwould ThTh ee reactorreactor performedperformed justjust asas expectedexpected andand upperupper managementmanagement squelchedsquelched throwthrow itit upup throughthrough thethe transomtransom wherewhere itit wordword waswas relayedrelayed toto WashingtonWashington thatthat thethe almostalmost allall ofof thesethese ideasideas beforebefore flfl uttereduttered toto thethe flfl ooroor oror ontoonto mymy nearbynearby desk.”desk.” experimentexperiment hadhad beenbeen aa success.success. Compton,Compton, theythey couldcould bebe tried.tried. However,However, AllAll thethe hardhard workwork wouldwould paypay offoff .. Soon,Soon, thethe headhead ofof thethe lab,lab, notifinotifi eded JamesJames ConantConant ofof thethe upperupper managementmanagement waswas seldomseldom teamteam workingworking insideinside ofof GilmanGilman HallHall hadhad NationalNational DefenseDefense ResearchResearch committee.committee. ThTh ee presentpresent duringduring thethe graveyardgraveyard producedproduced aa purepure uraniumuranium ingotingot (also(also referredreferred conversationconversation ensuedensued asas follows:follows: “Th“Th ee ItalianItalian shiftshift fromfrom midnightmidnight toto 88 a.m.a.m. toto asas aa biscuit).biscuit). Wilhelm,Wilhelm, withwith nono timetime toto lose,lose, NavigatorNavigator hashas landedlanded inin thethe NewNew World,”World,” SomeSome experimentsexperiments werewere triedtried waswas offoff toto ChicagoChicago toto shareshare thethe news.news. ComptonCompton said.said. “How“How werewere thethe Natives?”Natives?” onon thisthis shiftshift andand werewere notednoted inin thethe productionproduction journaljournal onlyonly ifif WilhelmWilhelm placedplaced thethe eleven-poundeleven-pound ingotingot ConantConant asked.asked. “Very“Very Friendly,”Friendly,” ComptonCompton successful.successful. ThTh ee famousfamous explosionexplosion inin aa travelingtraveling bagbag andand boardedboarded thethe nextnext replied.replied. AndAnd soso itit was,was, thethe beginningbeginning ofof aa thatthat movedmoved thethe southsouth wallwall ofof LittleLittle traintrain toto Chicago.Chicago. ThTh ee biscuitbiscuit producedproduced newnew eraera andand thethe inceptioninception ofof aa newnew weaponweapon AnkenyAnkeny outout oneone footfoot happenedhappened onlyonly aa minisculeminiscule amountamount ofof radiation,radiation, butbut thatthat wouldwould changechange thethe coursecourse ofof thethe world.world. toto occuroccur onon thethe graveyardgraveyard shift.shift. itit probablyprobably didn’tdidn’t helphelp thatthat thethe handleshandles onon BackBack inin Ames,Ames, GilmanGilman HallHall wouldwould nono longerlonger NoNo record,record, oraloral oror written,written, ofof thatthat Wilhelm’sWilhelm’s traveltravel bagbag gavegave way,way, allowingallowing provideprovide adequateadequate spacespace withwith thethe projectproject experimentexperiment hashas everever surfaced.”surfaced.” thethe rarerare earthearth metalmetal toto fallfall toto thethe ground.ground. goinggoing full-scale,full-scale, soso aa newnew locationlocation wouldwould bebe HeHe bravelybravely carriedcarried itit underunder hishis armarm forfor thethe neededneeded toto movemove forward.forward. InIn DecemberDecember ofof

26 ethosmagazine.org thethe fifi eldeld ofof rarerare earthearth metals.metals. HisHis expertiseexpertise remainderremainder ofof thethe journey.journey. UponUpon arrivingarriving withwith CiviliansCivilians inin AmesAmes wouldwould notnot knowknow ofof thethe inin rarerare earthsearths isis whatwhat sparkedsparked thethe interestinterest thethe ingot,ingot, WilhelmWilhelm waswas greetedgreeted withwith doubt.doubt. eventsevents thatthat occurredoccurred inin bothboth GilmanGilman HallHall andand ofof GeneralGeneral GrovesGroves andand hishis staffstaff .. SpeddingSpedding ComptonCompton (head(head ofof thethe ChicagoChicago lab)lab) suspectedsuspected LittleLittle AnkenyAnkeny untiluntil thethe monthsmonths followingfollowing thethe waswas summonedsummoned toto ChicagoChicago toto bebe briefedbriefed onon thatthat hehe wouldwould surelysurely fifi ndnd thatthat thethe ingotingot waswas detonationdetonation ofof thethe fifi rstrst nuclearnuclear bombsbombs overover thethe project.project. SpeddingSpedding quicklyquickly returnedreturned toto hollowhollow inside.inside. HisHis suspicionsuspicion waswas invalid.invalid. Japan.Japan. ThTh ee sheersheer magnitudemagnitude ofof thisthis eventevent Ames,Ames, butbut notnot forfor good—hegood—he wouldwould returnreturn ItIt waswas apparentapparent thatthat littlelittle waswas expectedexpected ofof continuescontinues toto rippleripple throughthrough societysociety today.today. toto ChicagoChicago severalseveral timestimes overover thethe nextnext fewfew thethe AmesAmes lablab byby thethe meremere astonishmentastonishment ofof InIn DecemberDecember ofof 1942,1942, underneathunderneath thethe hustlehustle monthsmonths toto serveserve asas anan intermediateintermediate betweenbetween ChicagoChicago whenwhen WilhelmWilhelm showedshowed upup withwith andand bustlebustle ofof suburbansuburban Chicago,Chicago, aa groupgroup ofof AmesAmes andand thethe projectproject asas aa whole.whole. thethe productproduct ofof SpeddingSpedding andand company.company. ThTh ee ourour nation’snation’s toptop scientistscientist gatheredgathered aroundaround aa uraniumuranium waswas exactlyexactly whatwhat Fermi’sFermi’s planplan calledcalled UponUpon returningreturning toto Ames,Ames, SpeddingSpedding tabletable wherewhere aa GeigerGeiger countercounter satsat toto registerregister for,for, butbut theythey neededneeded more.more. ThTh ee governmentgovernment understoodunderstood aa newnew techniquetechnique forfor purifyingpurifying thethe increaseincrease ofof neutronsneutrons fromfrom thethe CP-1CP-1 presentedpresented IowaIowa StateState withwith aa contractcontract toto uraniumuranium metalmetal wouldwould bebe neededneeded forfor Fermi’sFermi’s reactor.reactor. ThTh ee reactionreaction causedcaused thethe GeigerGeiger toto produceproduce 100100 poundspounds ofof uraniumuranium perper day,day, andand planplan toto succeed,succeed, soso hehe proceededproceeded toto fifi ndnd aa clickclick atat aa fasterfaster andand fasterfaster raterate untiluntil FermiFermi withinwithin thethe weekweek ofof Wilhelm’sWilhelm’s dashdash toto Chicago,Chicago, way.way. SpeddingSpedding immediatelyimmediately formedformed aa teamteam gavegave thethe orderorder forfor thethe controlcontrol rodsrods toto bebe IowaIowa StateState acceptedaccepted thethe contractcontract andand large-large- ofof qualifiqualifi eded chemistschemists andand scientists.scientists. HisHis fifi rstrst insertedinserted andand toto terminateterminate thethe reaction.reaction. ThTh ee scalescale productionproduction waswas underway.underway. SoonSoon thethe additionaddition waswas Dr.Dr. HarleyHarley Wilhelm.Wilhelm. Wilhelm,Wilhelm, clickclick ofof thethe countercounter beganbegan toto slowslow andand aa sighsigh projectproject wouldwould havehave aa suffisuffi cientcient amountamount ofof fuelfuel whowho waswas alsoalso aa professorprofessor atat ISC,ISC, waswas anan ofof reliefrelief camecame aboutabout thethe room.room. AfterAfter aa subtlesubtle toto testtest thethe reactor.reactor. expertexpert inin thethe fifi eldeld ofof metallurgy,metallurgy, makingmaking himhim andand awkwardawkward applause,applause, aa flfl askask waswas presentedpresented aa perfectperfect fifi tt forfor thethe project.project. WithWith WilhelmWilhelm atat SpeddingSpedding stoodstood amongamong aa collectioncollection ofof thethe andand winewine waswas distributeddistributed intointo oneone paperpaper hishis side,side, SpeddingSpedding continuedcontinued toto assembleassemble aa nation’snation’s brightestbrightest individualsindividuals inin aa tension-tension- cupcup toto bebe passedpassed aroundaround thethe room.room. RealizingRealizing groupgroup ofof thethe college’scollege’s toptop scholars.scholars. fifi lledlled roomroom layinglaying justjust beneathbeneath Chicago’sChicago’s theythey hadhad justjust witnessedwitnessed aa pivotalpivotal momentmoment StaggStagg fifi eldeld onon aa briskbrisk dayday inin earlyearly DecemberDecember WorkWork immediatelyimmediately wentwent underwayunderway inin GilmanGilman inin history,history, aa dramaticdramatic silencesilence setset inin andand nono ofof 1942.1942. ThTh ee menmen werewere broughtbrought togethertogether byby ’42,’42, furnacesfurnaces werewere movedmoved toto aa newnew locationlocation ThTh ee fifi nalnal stepstep afterafter productionproduction waswas shippingshipping HallHall asas thethe perimeterperimeter waswas tapedtaped offoff andand toaststoasts werewere made,made, asas thethe cupcup traveledtraveled fromfrom aa commoncommon interest:interest: produceproduce thethe world’sworld’s fifi rstrst namednamed “Little“Little Ankeny.”Ankeny.” ThTh ee buildingbuilding thethe material.material. DuringDuring thisthis time,time, AmesAmes hadhad governmentgovernment offioffi cialscials stoodstood guard.guard. SecuritySecurity manman toto man,man, notnot aa wordword waswas said.said. ThTh ee essenceessence controlledcontrolled nuclearnuclear reaction,reaction, aa goalgoal thethe menmen resembledresembled aa largelarge woodenwooden shedshed andand waswas traintrain trackstracks passingpassing throughthrough partpart ofof ISC’sISC’s becamebecame aa toptop prioritypriority inin Ames.Ames. RayRay Fisher,Fisher, ofof thisthis humbledhumbled silencesilence isis allall thatthat isis neededneeded werewere poised,poised, butbut eagereager toto test.test. Fermi,Fermi, thethe previouslypreviously beingbeing usedused forfor storage.storage. ThTh ee namename campus,campus, soso thethe AmesAmes ProjectProject waswas ableable toto aa chemist-technicianchemist-technician forfor thethe AmesAmes project,project, toto comprehendcomprehend thethe prominentprominent effeff ectect thisthis renownedrenowned physicist,physicist, waswas responsibleresponsible forfor thethe LittleLittle AnkenyAnkeny referencedreferenced anan ammunitionammunition utilizeutilize thisthis forfor shipping.shipping. AA traintrain occupiedoccupied elaborateselaborates onon securitysecurity duringduring thisthis paranoidparanoid eventevent setset forthforth uponupon thethe world.world. ThTh eseese menmen constructionconstruction ofof thethe reactor,reactor, laterlater toto bebe namednamed plantplant justjust southsouth ofof Ames.Ames. ThTh eyey thoughtthought ifif theythey byby governmentgovernment offioffi cialscials wouldwould rollroll intointo eraera inin anan interviewinterview byby thethe AmesAmes lablab forfor thethe understoodunderstood itit wouldwould nono longerlonger bebe thethe same.same. “Chicago“Chicago Pile-1”Pile-1” oror “CP-1.”“CP-1.” ThTh ee reactorreactor waswas aa nicknamednicknamed thisthis buildingbuilding afterafter thethe popularpopular AmesAmes withwith armedarmed guardsguards perchedperched aboveabove thethe project’sproject’s 50th50th anniversary:anniversary: “We“We hadhad veryvery conficonfi gurationguration ofof purepure uraniumuranium metalmetal (which(which ammunitionammunition plant,plant, citizenscitizens wouldwould assumeassume boxcars.boxcars. ThTh ee carscars enteredentered withwith theirtheir doorsdoors tighttight securitysecurity inin thosethose days.days. AnAn FBIFBI agentagent waswas waswas thethe reactantreactant AmesAmes waswas producing)producing) thatthat theythey werewere doingdoing similarsimilar workwork herehere inin Ames,Ames, openopen andand thethe cargocargo waswas loadedloaded ontoonto thethe stationedstationed inin AmesAmes andand hehe checkedchecked forfor anyoneanyone waswas situatedsituated systematicallysystematically betweenbetween thethe andand notnot producingproducing nuclearnuclear fuel.fuel. traintrain inin secretsecret compartmentscompartments layinglaying beneathbeneath whowho talkedtalked tootoo muchmuch outsideoutside thethe workplace.workplace. II graphite.graphite. AtAt thethe basebase ofof thisthis “pile,”“pile,” aa manman thethe boxcars,boxcars, thethe carscars thenthen departeddeparted withwith thinkthink onlyonly oneone personperson waswas letlet gogo duedue toto looseloose WorkWork atat LittleLittle AnkenyAnkeny wentwent aroundaround thethe wouldwould stand;stand; hishis tasktask waswas toto operateoperate thethe doorsdoors open,open, thethe samesame wayway theythey entered.entered. lips.lips. WhenWhen askedasked whatwhat waswas goinggoing onon insideinside clock.clock. CompetitionCompetition arosearose betweenbetween shiftshift controlcontrol rods,rods, whichwhich wouldwould bebe insertedinserted intointo thethe WhenWhen thethe projectproject waswas completed,completed, overover twotwo fifi rstrst flfl ooroor ofof thethe ChemistryChemistry Building,Building, wewe toldtold teamsteams toto seesee whowho couldcould yieldyield thethe puristpurist andand reactorreactor toto regulateregulate thethe reactionreaction byby absorbingabsorbing millionmillion poundspounds ofof purepure uraniumuranium metalmetal hadhad outsidersoutsiders thatthat wewe werewere makingmaking boxes.”boxes.” largestlargest amountsamounts ofof uranium.uranium. WorkWork eventuallyeventually beenbeen transportedtransported outout ofof Ames.Ames. neutrons.neutrons. AboveAbove thethe pile,pile, threethree menmen satsat readyready becamebecame soso repetitiverepetitive forfor thethe scientistscientist thatthat ThTh oughough allall maymay havehave seemedseemed laxlax fromfrom thethe toto pourpour bucketsbuckets ofof cadmiumcadmium solutionsolution overover thethe theythey becamebecame bored.bored. DavidDavid Peterson,Peterson, aa outside,outside, thethe workwork goinggoing onon insideinside GilmanGilman hallhall reactorreactor inin orderorder toto preventprevent nuclearnuclear runawayrunaway chemist,chemist, goesgoes intointo detaildetail onon couldn’tcouldn’t havehave beenbeen anyany moremore hectic.hectic. FisherFisher andand thethe devastationdevastation ofof Chicago.Chicago. howhow theythey compensatedcompensated forfor thethe continuedcontinued toto telltell ofof thethe madmad scramblescramble goinggoing onon ThTh ee ChicagoChicago reactorreactor waswas thethe fifi rstrst ofof itsits kind,kind, sometimes-boringsometimes-boring conditionsconditions insideinside thethe ChemistryChemistry building:building: “I“I rememberremember andand likelike manymany ofof thethe otherother experimentsexperiments inin anan interviewinterview byby thethe AmesAmes lab:lab: thatthat Dr.Dr. WilhelmWilhelm waswas alwaysalways inin aa hurry.hurry. WeWe thesethese scientistscientist hadhad undergone,undergone, theythey werewere “Th“Th ee routineroutine ofof standardstandard metalmetal sharedshared anan offioffi cece inin ChemistryChemistry andand therethere waswas unsureunsure ofof whatwhat maymay transpiretranspire uponupon testingtesting productionproduction soonsoon becamebecame boring,boring, aa transomtransom aboveabove thethe door,door, whichwhich waswas usuallyusually thethe reactor.reactor. FullyFully awareaware ofof thethe explosiveexplosive soso active,active, inquiringinquiring mindsminds werewere openopen forfor ventilation.ventilation. Dr.Dr. WilhelmWilhelm wouldn’twouldn’t powerspowers thatthat maymay bebe presentpresent withinwithin thethe busybusy dreamingdreaming ofof waysways toto improveimprove alwaysalways taketake timetime toto openopen thethe doordoor toto putput hishis graphitegraphite pile,pile, FermiFermi declareddeclared allall systemssystems go.go. thethe process.process. ThTh ee ‘wiser’‘wiser’ headsheads ofof mailmail onon hishis desk.desk. AsAs hehe passedpassed by,by, hehe wouldwould ThTh ee reactorreactor performedperformed justjust asas expectedexpected andand upperupper managementmanagement squelchedsquelched throwthrow itit upup throughthrough thethe transomtransom wherewhere itit wordword waswas relayedrelayed toto WashingtonWashington thatthat thethe almostalmost allall ofof thesethese ideasideas beforebefore flfl uttereduttered toto thethe flfl ooroor oror ontoonto mymy nearbynearby desk.”desk.” experimentexperiment hadhad beenbeen aa success.success. Compton,Compton, theythey couldcould bebe tried.tried. However,However, AllAll thethe hardhard workwork wouldwould paypay offoff .. Soon,Soon, thethe headhead ofof thethe lab,lab, notifinotifi eded JamesJames ConantConant ofof thethe upperupper managementmanagement waswas seldomseldom teamteam workingworking insideinside ofof GilmanGilman HallHall hadhad NationalNational DefenseDefense ResearchResearch committee.committee. ThTh ee presentpresent duringduring thethe graveyardgraveyard producedproduced aa purepure uraniumuranium ingotingot (also(also referredreferred conversationconversation ensuedensued asas follows:follows: “Th“Th ee ItalianItalian shiftshift fromfrom midnightmidnight toto 88 a.m.a.m. toto asas aa biscuit).biscuit). Wilhelm,Wilhelm, withwith nono timetime toto lose,lose, NavigatorNavigator hashas landedlanded inin thethe NewNew World,”World,” SomeSome experimentsexperiments werewere triedtried waswas offoff toto ChicagoChicago toto shareshare thethe news.news. ComptonCompton said.said. “How“How werewere thethe Natives?”Natives?” onon thisthis shiftshift andand werewere notednoted inin thethe productionproduction journaljournal onlyonly ifif WilhelmWilhelm placedplaced thethe eleven-poundeleven-pound ingotingot ConantConant asked.asked. “Very“Very Friendly,”Friendly,” ComptonCompton successful.successful. ThTh ee famousfamous explosionexplosion inin aa travelingtraveling bagbag andand boardedboarded thethe nextnext replied.replied. AndAnd soso itit was,was, thethe beginningbeginning ofof aa thatthat movedmoved thethe southsouth wallwall ofof LittleLittle traintrain toto Chicago.Chicago. ThTh ee biscuitbiscuit producedproduced newnew eraera andand thethe inceptioninception ofof aa newnew weaponweapon AnkenyAnkeny outout oneone footfoot happenedhappened onlyonly aa minisculeminiscule amountamount ofof radiation,radiation, butbut thatthat wouldwould changechange thethe coursecourse ofof thethe world.world. toto occuroccur onon thethe graveyardgraveyard shift.shift. itit probablyprobably didn’tdidn’t helphelp thatthat thethe handleshandles onon BackBack inin Ames,Ames, GilmanGilman HallHall wouldwould nono longerlonger NoNo record,record, oraloral oror written,written, ofof thatthat Wilhelm’sWilhelm’s traveltravel bagbag gavegave way,way, allowingallowing provideprovide adequateadequate spacespace withwith thethe projectproject experimentexperiment hashas everever surfaced.”surfaced.” thethe rarerare earthearth metalmetal toto fallfall toto thethe ground.ground. goinggoing full-scale,full-scale, soso aa newnew locationlocation wouldwould bebe HeHe bravelybravely carriedcarried itit underunder hishis armarm forfor thethe neededneeded toto movemove forward.forward. InIn DecemberDecember ofof

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