Speakers to Discuss Past, Present, Future of Ravenna Arsenal at February Meeting

The history of the Ravenna Arsenal will be the topic of the next Hudson Heritage Association meeting when the group gathers February 9 at Barlow Community Center.  HHA will welcome Mr. Tim Morgan, State Environmental Supervisor, and COL (Retired) Ed Meade, Base Operations Manager, who will talk about the past, present and future of this important military facility located only 30 miles from downtown Hudson in Portage County.

According to Ohio History Connection, from 1942 to 1945, workers at the Ravenna Arsenal produced more weapons for the war effort than at any other plant in the United States. More than 14,000 Ohioans were employed at the site during World War II. The arsenal eventually included 1,371 buildings located on 21,418 acres. The complex stopped arms production at the end of World War II, although it continued to store ammunition. When the Korean War began, production of arms resumed, and the site again manufactured arms during the Vietnam War until the facility closed in 1972. Today, a portion of the site, now known as Camp James A. Garfield, is used by the Ohio National Guard for training.

The meeting, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 7:30 p.m.  Refreshments will follow the presentation.