Helium Plant was Important Part of World War II
A reminder of an important chapter in Moore County history can be seen west of Masterson. A single water tower and a few scattered buildings remain where Exell Helium Plant manufactured helium during the 1940's to 1998.
The plant was under the direction of the United States Department of the Interior and was constructed by Stearns-Rogers of Denver, Colorado. Land was purchased from J. W. Crawford.
Plans for the plant started early in the 1940s and the helium produced by the plant was to play an irreplaceable role in World War II. Helium was used as an aid in welding to construct tanks, planes, missiles, and other battle equipment.
Helium was used in blimps that patrolled the seas searching for Nazi U-boats. It carried meteorological balloons that helped forecast weather. Helium is used around the world in deep sea salvage and in medical treatments of respiratory diseases. It was used in the development of the atomic bomb and was important in the technology of both the arms race and NASA's space program.
Helium is a colorless, odorless, weightless and tasteless element which millions of Americans "have never seen and will never see". It is non-flammable and was used in dirigibles after the explosion of the Hindenburg disaster in May of 1937.
Production of helium at the Exell plant was so important to the war effort that the government wanted the plant to be "as invisible as the gas it produced". Location of the plant was known only as "somewhere in Texas". Guards were posted around the clock in guard towers to monitor activity at the plant.
The plant was under the direction of the United States Department of the Interior and was constructed by Stearns-Rogers of Denver, Colorado. Land was purchased from J. W. Crawford.
Plans for the plant started early in the 1940s and the helium produced by the plant was to play an irreplaceable role in World War II. Helium was used as an aid in welding to construct tanks, planes, missiles, and other battle equipment.
Helium was used in blimps that patrolled the seas searching for Nazi U-boats. It carried meteorological balloons that helped forecast weather. Helium is used around the world in deep sea salvage and in medical treatments of respiratory diseases. It was used in the development of the atomic bomb and was important in the technology of both the arms race and NASA's space program.
Helium is a colorless, odorless, weightless and tasteless element which millions of Americans "have never seen and will never see". It is non-flammable and was used in dirigibles after the explosion of the Hindenburg disaster in May of 1937.
Production of helium at the Exell plant was so important to the war effort that the government wanted the plant to be "as invisible as the gas it produced". Location of the plant was known only as "somewhere in Texas". Guards were posted around the clock in guard towers to monitor activity at the plant.
First load of helium left the plant in 1943
The government-owned plant at Masterson was the second in Texas. The first was in Amarillo in Soncy Community, 6 miles west of town.
The first load of helium produced by Exell left the plant March 13, 1943, and helium was produced there for 55 years. In the beginning, workers were bused to work in a fleet of 72 passenger buses.
Development of housing for employees was started and 75 houses for employees were built. The housing units were west of the plant. The camp included a recreation hall, playgrounds and equipment and a laundry room. Children went to school at the Bivins School.
When families began leaving the camp to move to Amarillo or Dumas where they could own homes instead of paying rent, houses were sold and moved away. The school closed following the 1977-1978 school year.
In 1996, Congress moved to privatize the production of helium and the end was near for the Exell Plant. Production was permanently halted April 1, 1998, and the final shipment of five rail cars left the plant.
Some parts of the plant were moved to storage at the Soncy Plant, but most of the plant stood deserted until July of 2010 when the government began looking at what remained and began plans to dismantle it.
Some of the concrete was crushed and used for construction of roads leading to government recreation areas. Power poles were used as barriers or for erosion control. The recycled materials totaled 24,714 tons.
The 229-acre complex that had provided jobs for around 150 workers and meant 15 - 20 million dollars to the local economy now served no purpose.
An auction was held in late March of 2000 and equipment that remained was sold for $580,000.
The first load of helium produced by Exell left the plant March 13, 1943, and helium was produced there for 55 years. In the beginning, workers were bused to work in a fleet of 72 passenger buses.
Development of housing for employees was started and 75 houses for employees were built. The housing units were west of the plant. The camp included a recreation hall, playgrounds and equipment and a laundry room. Children went to school at the Bivins School.
When families began leaving the camp to move to Amarillo or Dumas where they could own homes instead of paying rent, houses were sold and moved away. The school closed following the 1977-1978 school year.
In 1996, Congress moved to privatize the production of helium and the end was near for the Exell Plant. Production was permanently halted April 1, 1998, and the final shipment of five rail cars left the plant.
Some parts of the plant were moved to storage at the Soncy Plant, but most of the plant stood deserted until July of 2010 when the government began looking at what remained and began plans to dismantle it.
Some of the concrete was crushed and used for construction of roads leading to government recreation areas. Power poles were used as barriers or for erosion control. The recycled materials totaled 24,714 tons.
The 229-acre complex that had provided jobs for around 150 workers and meant 15 - 20 million dollars to the local economy now served no purpose.
An auction was held in late March of 2000 and equipment that remained was sold for $580,000.