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Coming of Age: Idaho Falls and the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory 1949-1990
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About Coming Of Age: Idaho Falls And The Idaho National
Product Description Idaho Falls and the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory grew up together. Which one benefited the most is arguable since this truly was a symbiotic relationship. The details of this courtship and ensuing life together are chronicled by longtime Idaho Falls newspaperman Ben J. Plastino. From his perspective in 1990, he traces the creation of the INEL project and highlights the local and national personalities that charted and maintained its success from 1949 until 1990. This task included interviews held in 1989 and 1990 of more than one hundred persons, including early NRTS arrivals, present and past members of Idaho's congressional delegation, governors and many other political leaders, Idaho Atomic Energy Commission and Department of Energy operations managers, contractor supervisors, and others who had a prime hand in the site's operation. A person who greatly enjoyed people, Plastino focuses on the human aspects of the "site" and its inseparable relationship with the progressive community of Idaho Falls. A long-time observer of both the INEL and Idaho Falls, he pays tribute through this book to the innovation, fortitude and brilliance of those responsible for the success that began in 1949. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Highly important to AEC employees working at the site was the completion of what then was called the Twin Buttes Road, now known as Highway 20, for 41 miles between Idaho Falls and Central Facilities, and its connection with Highway 26 to the west. It was dedicated October 8, 1951, near its intersection with Highway 26. Among those participating were Joe Call, Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce president, as master of ceremonies; Johnston; W. Fisher Ellsworth, Idaho Falls, auto firm owner and new member of the State Highway Board, who cut the ribbon; Roscoe Rich, Burley, State Highway Board chairman; Lt. Governor Edson H. Deal, representing Governor Len B. Jordan; and State Senator O. J. Buxton, Driggs. One of the humorous aspects of this ceremony was the unscheduled appearance of a Butte County cattle truck. The astonished driver saw the paved road ahead and rumbled past as dignitaries watched with mouths agape. Kirby Whitham had a long and notable career as a chemical engineer but when the flicker of lights glowed in four globes at Experiment Breeder Reactor I on the afternoon of December 20, 1951, it forever cemented his mark in his chosen fields. An ANL team headed by Zinn had brought the historic reactor to criticality (a controlled, self-sustained chain reaction with a core) on August 24. The scientists were embarking on a new field and they were enthralled at what was happening. They continued to toil on low-power operations while they studied their new creation. Then on that historic day four months later, the reactor started up and gradually increased over several hours. At 1:23 p.m., the first electricity ever generated from nuclear heat began flowing from the reactor's turbine generator. Whitham was one of the pioneers and his name is one of sixteen chalked on the wall of the generator room to commemorate the historic occasion. "We were all exuberant but we also were too busy with the equipment to give it much thought," recalled Whitham, who was retired in Idaho Falls. "I know it was in the late afternoon and we were so happy to demonstrate that we could generate electricity." It wasn't until that evening the elated scientists took time out to celebrate in a small way. "I know we had some champagne but we didn't drink much. You must remember that this was classified," he said. Dr. Zinn then announced the achievement to Argonne's main office at Chicago. The scientists lived in a state of euphoria for some time but they were too busy to pursue their success in a project that was the forerunner to the worldwide nuclear electricity of today. Whitham laughingly recalled that day, adding, "Dr. Zinn probably saw the significance more than we did, b
