Speaker Series Presentation – Lost Wonders in the Pines; Amatol Munitions & the World’s Fastest Speedway

Greg White, HSH President, will speak about one of the most exciting but near-forgotten periods in Hammonton history.

Hidden in the pines off Moss Mill Road, two of the most incredible feats of engineering sprung up, each almost overnight. One employed a self-contained “city” of nearly 10,000, larger than Hammonton itself, and the other drew crowds of 60-90,000 from throughout the Northeast to celebrate man’s latest freedom and passion, the automobile!

By the end of World War I, 25% of all the bombs, shells, grenades, and bullets used by the Allies were produced here at “Amatol” by the Atlantic Loading Co., playing a major role in ending The Great War.  The explosive force contained within this facility could easily have leveled Hammonton and the surrounding area should any major accident or act of sabotage have taken place!  Then, just 5-6 years later, the 1,000 structures built were nearly gone. Only a small handful of buildings remain today.

Then, just 8 years later, the fastest speedway in the world at the time was built on the same land, now called “Speedway, NJ.” Suitably closing out the “Roaring Twenties,” this amazing track was also gone within a few years. Many of the homes from that period in the Hammonton area were built with lumber from this incredible facility!