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 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.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Industry & Commerce • War, Cold. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection

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series list. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1951.

Location. 39° 17.288′ N, 84° 40.987′ W. Marker is near Hamilton, Ohio, in Hamilton County. It 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.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Cincinnati.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Ohio River Valley.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Greg Snyder (approx. 1.4 miles away); Dunlap's Station (approx. 1.6 miles away); Former Site of Fort Dunlap (approx. 1.6 miles away); Paddy's Run (approx. 3.1 miles away); Meeting House

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, March 30, 2021

2. The First Link Marker

(approx. 3.7 miles away); Dwelling (approx. 3.7 miles away); Welcome to White Water Shaker Village (approx. 3.7 miles away); Brethren's Shop (approx. 3.7 miles away).

Another marker is no longer nearby. Colerain Turnpike Watering Trough (was approx. 2.8 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

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 691 times since then and 46 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.