Near Hamilton in Hamilton County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The First Link
Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, March 30, 2021
1. The First Link Marker
Inscription.
The First Link. . The Fernald Feed Materials Production Center initiated operations on this site in October 1951, in support of America's Cold War effort. As the first link in America's nuclear weapons production cycle, Fernald's mission was to produce high purity uranium metal products for use by other sites within the nuclear weapons complex. In the late 1980s, releases of radioactive contamination from Fernald focused national attention on the environmental legacy of the Cold War. As a result of reduced demand for its product and public outcry over the environmental contamination, Fernald's mission changed to environmental cleanup in 1989. Following the completion of one of the largest environmental cleanup and ecological restoration projects in American history, the site was renamed "The Fernald Preserve" in 2006.
The Fernald Feed Materials Production Center initiated operations on this site in October 1951, in support of America's Cold War effort. As the first link in America's nuclear weapons production cycle, Fernald's mission was to produce high purity uranium metal products for use by other sites within the nuclear weapons complex. In the late 1980s, releases of radioactive contamination from Fernald focused national attention on the environmental legacy of the Cold War. As a result of reduced demand for its product and public outcry over the environmental contamination, Fernald's mission changed to environmental cleanup in 1989. Following the completion of one of the largest environmental cleanup and ecological restoration projects in American history, the site was renamed "The Fernald Preserve" in 2006.
Erected 2008 by U.S. Department of Energy, Fernald Preserve, and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 74-31.)
Marker is near Hamilton, Ohio, in Hamilton County. Marker is at the intersection of Wiley Road and Fernald Preserve Drive, on the right when traveling west on Wiley Road. The marker stands at the front gate of the Fernald Preserve. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7400 Willey Road, Hamilton OH 45013, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 31, 2021, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. This page has been viewed 255 times since then and 67 times this year. Last updated on July 7, 2023, by Grant & Mary Ann Fish of Galloway, Ohio. Photos:1, 2. submitted on March 31, 2021, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
