Williamson County, Illinois 1945 map

Before there was a Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, nearly the entire refuge was a heavily secured ordnance plant for the production of bombs and ammunition to supply the needs of World War II. A number of roads and railroad spurs used to weave in and out of various bunker storage locations with security checkpoints. This 1945 map shows the magnitude of the impact of WW II on the area.

(Map from 1995 History Edition of the Marion Daily Republican)