Midewin employees, volunteers honor arsenal worker history

September 1, 2022

Four people in front of American flag and with Joliet Arsenal statue. — Midewin volunteer Penny Vanderhyden, former Joliet Arsenal worker and Joliet Arsenal Advisory Board member Elmo Ray Younger, Midewin archaeologist Joseph Wheeler and Wendell Johnson gather around a statue at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie that is dedicated to arsenal workers. USDA Forest Service photo by Veronica Hinke.

ILLINOIS—This summer, USDA Forest Service employees and volunteers hosted a public program to honor the history of the workers who “served on the home front,” during WWII at the Joliet Arsenal. The arsenal was active where Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie is located today.

Near one of the many concrete munitions storage bunkers that will remain intact for the purpose of future historical reference, family and friends recently gathered to commemorate a statue of an arsenal worker representing the many workers who lost their lives in a 1942 explosion.

The statue depicts a worker carrying a lunchbox and wearing a safety helmet. It stands tall, overlooking a scenic wayside that was constructed this spring along the Group 63 loop trail, where there are many more bunkers for people to experience. Species of plants and trees that are native to the Illinois prairies, including bur and white oaks, were planted in the wayside.

A new interpretive panel calls attention to the story of the arsenal workers who are so key to the history of the land. “At its peak, over 20,000 people worked here during WWII” the sign says. Forest Service landscape architect Richard Short designed the wayside and interpretive panel.

Man lays bouquet of flowers on base of Joliet Arsenal statue. — Chicago resident Keith McCawley places flowers at the base of an arsenal worker memorial statue at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. McCawley’s grandfather, Kankakee resident Lawrence “Alvin” McCawley, was one of the dozens of arsenal workers who lost their lives in an explosion that occurred at the arsenal June 5, 1942. USDA Forest Service photo by Veronica Hinke.

Former Joliet Arsenal worker Elmo Ray Younger, a 100-year-old U.S. Army veteran who served in WWII, spoke during the program. He was instrumental in raising funds to cover the costs of the statue and its installation. He thanked everyone for being there and for caring so graciously about the important history of the land. “It is good to be together with everyone here, today. Thank you for being part of this very special day.”

The program also acknowledged the late Lorin Schab, a former Forest Service volunteer and president of the Midewin Heritage Association, who was very active in history interpretation.

After the presentations and acknowledgements, some participants placed flowers at the base of the arsenal worker statue. Chicago resident Keith McCawley placed a colorful bouquet of prairie plants. McCawley’s grandfather, Kankakee resident Lawrence “Alvin” McCawley, was one of the dozens of arsenal workers who lost their lives in the arsenal explosion.