Oak Ridge's Secret Army: The Calutron Girls (Part 2)

Oak Ridge, Tennessee. One of the most important cities in the history of civilization was founded on Oak Ridge when the world-altering Manhattan Project made this area its district headquarters. Alan and Ray take us a little deeper into the science of Oak Ridge. And I know that you said that initially they wanted a location and they wanted to keep it at least out of the press. So did the locals immediately know what they were building? No, I didn't have any idea. TIMELINE 1900: the village idiot of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, laid on his back in the middle of the woods and heard the voice of God. 1942: the continent of Europe was crumbling under an onslaught of Nazi invasion and ingenuity. 1943: they started three schools here. 1945: Then in August, after the war ended, the population went down from 75,000 to about 30,000. WHY THIS MATTERS The story of Oak Ridge is a reminder that the events that shaped America didn't always happen in the biggest cities. What unfolded here left marks on the community that are still visible today. The full story is more complicated, and more human, than the version most people know. Episode 47 | Hometown History | Hosted by Shane Waters If you liked this: Episode 175 (Athens, Tennessee) Hometown History explores forgotten stories from small-town America. The overlooked events, hidden triumphs, and buried tragedies that shaped the country we live in. New episodes every Tuesday. Find every episode at mythsandmalice.com/hometown-historyAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy