BLC Photo Collection
A collection of historic photos of Belcoville and the Bethlehem Loading Company are provided in the galleries below.
The Bethlehem Loading Company resided from below Mays Landing to Petersburg, totaling approximately 10,000 acres. Belcoville (short for Bethlehem Loading Co. ) was the name of the town that housed the thousands of employees that were needed to work in the plant. The operation had 24 miles of track along with administration buildings, cafeterias, change houses, police buildings, and military barracks to house 1,100 soldiers who were there to guard the operation.
Plant Operations
Updated on 08/04/2023 11:18 AM
The construction of the plant was started on April 3, 1918. By July 1, the first 155mm shell was loaded and by November, 56,000 155mm shells were loaded and delivered. The 8 inch shell plant was started up, and the 75 mm shell plant was 70% complete. The modern plant had 24 miles of track along with administration buildings, cafeterias, change houses, police buildings, and military barracks to house 1,100 soldiers to guard the plant.