Situated along the Little Miami River in Kings Mills, Ohio, the Peter Cartridge Company was an abandoned company, specialized in gunpowder and ammunition production. The Peters Cartridge Company was opened in 1887 by Gershom Moore Peters, by which name the company was named. The company was one of the major suppliers who supplied military ammunition to various countries during both World Wars. This site has a historical value and was recorded in the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.

The History of Peters Cartridge Company

In its early days, Peter Cartridge Company was owned by Joseph Warren King, and it was named Austin & Carleton powder mill; it was extended as Miami Powder Company. King purchased this company in 1855. Later in 1877, he sold the Miami powder company. He wanted to build the Great Western Power works, in a more profitable hydropower location near the Miami River. The producing buildings were allocated along the 2 miles from the power canal, so that would minimize the damage during any explosion. After King passed away his son-in-law Gershom Moore Peters began to work at the power mill in 1881 and he became the president of the powder company in 1885.

By the time 1889 machinery was manufacturing four thousand cartridges per hour. In the 1890s 15 July, a huge collision happened when loaded railway cars were handed out at the powder mill, twelve people were killed and started a fire which destroyed the railway station, the freight house, two buildings of the Peters Cartridge Company, the shell factory, and a large warehouse. Within 1907 many wooden structures were rebuilt by the power company.In 1934 the company was sold to Remington Arms, which expanded the facility during World War II.

Closing of Peter Cartridge Company 

In 1944s March, the production of military ammunition was ended and the company again sold and purchased by Columbia Records. Until 1966 the company buildings were leased to Seagram distillers in the form of warehouse space. Many explosions took place on this site. The explosion was so frequent that it caused little remark. But in 1942 a big explosion took place by an unknown origin which destroyed windows 30 miles away from this property. Later in the same year, the company was closed permanently. The area was fully abandoned and untouched in the 21st century. In 1985, on October 10 the place was added to the National Register of Historic Places. 

Current situation of Peters Cartridge Company

In 2017, a local group of business partners signed a letter of intent to renovate the property and also wants to open a brewery and apartment complex. The theme of the new buildings is the old defunct company. Eventually, in 2020, the construction will begin, and many structures of the old company will be rebuilt and the history of the company will be on display for visitors.