Property Map U.S. Government Explosive Plant “C” Nitro, West Virginia

A one-of-a-kind 8′ long map showing the foundations of Nitro, West Virginia.

This rare handwritten plan outlines numerous parcels of property across the small town of Nitro, West Virginia. The image, oriented with north to the left, is drawn at a scale of about 1″ = 300′ and provides a thoroughly detailed overview of the area. A legend in the lower right presents the different boundaries and related infrastructure like fenceposts, telephone poles, and gas lines. Various landowners are named, along with their respective holdings (in acres) and any buildings such as homes, barns, etc. Transportation routes, geographic features, several churches, and (segregated) burial grounds are also labeled.

The map was first drawn in 1918 and published by the Thompson–Starrett Company. With its recent entry into World War I, the United States government was looking to acquire much of the area to facilitate the construction of a new munitions factory known as Explosives Plant ‘C’. Over 100,000 people were engaged in the massive construction project, which was only 90% complete by the war’s end.

This is a later, corrected revision surveyed by Charles A. Haviland and M.A. Bender and published in 1921. By that time, peace had led to the entire plant’s designation as military surplus. Manuscript updates note numerous official measurements, concentrated primarily along the line of the Kanawha & Michigan Railroad. This is likely one of numerous plans (#03802 in the lower right) and legal documentation created to facilitate the complex real estate transaction.

Further reading about the fascinating history of Nitro can be found at West Virginia University, Nitro Visitor’s Bureau, Los Angeles Times, West Virginia Bureau of Culture,