Abandoned Nuclear Facility | Wood River Junction Criticality Accident | Rhode Island

[@JasonAllard]

Do you think Robert Peabody deserved all of the blame for what happened?

[@MSProtege]

Definitely not.

[@ELMS]

It’s a beautiful site. Maybe it should be named ‘Robert Peabody State Park’.

[@rogerstlaurent8704]

Hell NO and the UNC screwed Robert Peabody family over with a 22k settlement ... Mr Jason again one of your best videos this year you sir you are a National Rhode Island treasure

[@harveygarbage8618]

hell no! they done him dirty in the paperwork too!

[@chriskeating5926]

@@harveygarbage8618 TYPICAL UNDERHANDED COMPANY POLICY 🙄

[@JaeTheDev]

I’ve lived in the Westerly, RI area, right next to Charlestown for over two decades and never knew this. My wife is born and raised in Wood River Junction. She also never knew this. Amazing how citizens of an area where an incident like this could happen, never knew, and it’s so swept under the rug, it takes an amazing KZbinr and videographer like yourself to teach us. Thanks brother! Amazing work as usual. ❤

[@ziostregoneria6178]

That's right big daddy! I can't believe we didn't know.

[@mattesquieu1068]

Also a westerly resident here!

[@RyanL-om1ut]

Oh interesting! Sounds like the company was pretty successful in spinning the story to keep it from spreading…

[@johnmartin122187]

Probably because it didn't affect anything but the immediate vicinity of the plant. Yes someone died, but the effects were still very localized. To the newspaper this was only worthy of a side story and not front page news. Most likely the only people that remember this are people who worked there, and Robert's family.

[@ziostregoneria6178]

@@johnmartin122187 oh course it effected the environment! That man died within hours!

[@nans969]

Thanks for bringing us this story. I grew up in Rhode island. I was born in 1966. I never knew this place existed. Nevermind the accident. It wouldn't surprise me shortcuts were overlooked due to Rhode Islands infamous unethical politics . It's horrible what happened to Robert.

[@amaionnaise]

i live in rhode island right now and have almost all of my life and i have never heard of this at all

[@arjanpetersen]

@@amaionnaisewell that’s the majority of usa… severe lack of education.

[@PR0XYL1NK]

free masons did abd hid this, changed the facts

[@wyndwalkerranger7421]

I lived in RI as a young man and had a job in which I would collect water samples at United Nuclear among other duties. I had to wear all kinds of clothing and a badge showing how much exposure I had while there. This was a true tragedy and clearly a fault of poor management for not developing proper procedures and supervision. Thank you for this video.

[@marykelly8179]

My husband was a guard and whistleblower in the late seventies.

[@monkcheetah8203]

I worked security there from 1989-93. I wasn’t really aware what happened there until I started working security there. There was two office trailers with all kinds of documents and pictures being shredded that’s when I found all the information on what happened there. I was always in that tower where the accident happened and I didn’t even know it. I was always told by the one old timer that was still working security that the ambulance was buried out there. It is a beautiful spot with the Pawcatuck river running through it. I had access to all the 1100 acres it’s truly a great piece of land. I always dreamed of paying it and making a private hunting and fishing preserve. I’ve actually made a few videos on the area myself. Metal detecting there is old homesteads throughout the property. One nice one along the river. Great video I wish someone would but a plaque or something there in memory of peabody just a man doing his job. But I guess the would admit guilt on UNC part. I believe it was UNC fault for unsafe practices after reading all that stuff in the trailer before it got shredded. Great video! 🐆🐆🐆🐆🐆🐆🐆🐆

[@AintSkeerdNWO]

It is a beautiful spot - on the river, in the woods!!!

[@MickeyMishra]

The secrets we know. This comment should be saved and archived as record. Or else it will be lost in a few years with the way things are going, trying to hide the past and all..

[@arthursmith6854]

I too worked security for UNC and conducted Tactical Response Training at Wood River. By the way, the ambulance was not actually buried out there.

[@Physco219]

Do you care to elaborate further on what happened to it? I've heard that it was relocated to the sight before it was all torn down. When it was torn down it was added to the building materials and sent to the landfill in Burrillville​@@arthursmith6854

[@420manonthemoon16]

Do you have an address for this place? Is it legal to go check this place out? I would love to walk the property.

[@randykirby2866]

Great bringing attention to this story Jason. I remember reading about this in Yankee magazine in the 80's. Mr. Peabody deserves to be remembered. Hard working family man just doing his job. Hints of blame on his name should be erased. This video will help.

[@Dan63091]

My grandfather worked in this facility after the accident happened. He worked there from 1964 until his retirement in 1980.

[@Aulianurhuda1]

Your grandfather didn’t know that the nuclear criticality that happened here is the person that got the most radiation?

[@12MapleLane]

As far back as the 70s this incident was taught in the EMT certification classes in RI. Learning about radiation exposure and the end result was sobering and never to be forgotten. There was never any judgement but only heartfelt sympathy for Mr. Peabody and his family from all of us.

[@bernielarrivee5448]

I'd heard rumors about this place for ages. One such account from an electrician friend who was contracted to install a radiation monitor far from the plant and told not to mention it to anyone. Good to finally know the entire story. Thanks!

[@vinny142]

" to install a radiation monitor far from the plant and told not to mention it to anyone" But why? This was not a secret organisation, it was all above-board, nothing secret about it. The locals knew perfectly well what was going on there. Anyway, they'd have their own electricians. And they would not need an electrician to install a radiation detector, worst case they'd need one to bring power to a building. And they'd need a dozen detectors, good luck keeping that a secret. I know it's exciting to pretend this was all mysterious and scary, but it was just a company where something went horribly wrong and that is *all*.

[@GhostRiderSpiritOfVengeance]

I remember hearing a story about a group of people in RI that attended the same high school and a large amount of these students developed a very rare form of brain cancer

[@candui-7]

Interesting how the site has no trees and the waste water zone has almost no grass. I wouldn't scratch around in that dirt.

[@Joe_VanCleave]

That’s because the topsoil was scraped off and disposed of as hazardous waste.

[@DeepseaOddities]

Allardheimer In all seriousness, your videos are so insightful and very impressive in their creativity and production value. I've lived in Rhode Island and have sought out all the strange and abandoned places around but have never heard of this one! Absolutely crazy how much dark stuff went on in this state during the 20th century alone. Thanks for this video! Never stop. EDIT: I have literally lived in Charlestown and NEVER heard of this.

[@PizzlesTechTime]

I had no idea this happened I would go fishing here all the time as a young man. That really breaks my heart for him and his family.

[@Dwigt_Rortugal]

Did you encounter a three-headed fish?

[@LaLaLaLaNom]

I’m kinda disappointed that you didn’t mention the supervisor who went back inside after the FIRST two events to try and dump the radioactive waste down the drain.

[@Dwigt_Rortugal]

That really is a Homer Simpson solution. In the decades following WW2, it seems like there was a nonchalant attitude toward toxic substances. "Hey, Ed, there's some radioactive liquid in there. The boss says to dispose of it. What do you think we should do?" "Don't sweat it. Just pour it down the drain." It's like they were living a fantasy such that, if they just tossed a chemical into a river or down the drain, it would go to another dimension and nothing bad would happen.

[@travisbrown4187]

I think you did a great job, explaining what happened and honoring the man who died by telling his story

[@shannonkeeley7775]

Thank you for telling this story. I grew up in Wood River Junction, and I had NO clue this even existed

[@awright3365]

I went to high school nearby and the only way I found out this place existed was through a photo in an old yearbook from the 70s that showed a local street sign referencing the plant. Thank you for the research and very well done video.

[@island007100]

Magnificent work, Jason! I've lived in South County all my life and never knew about this facility or the accident.

[@ziostregoneria6178]

Washington County

[@RIGeek.]

@@ziostregoneria6178 Looks like you're not from around these parts...

[@ziostregoneria6178]

@@RIGeek. Looks like you don't have a clue.

[@EVGSTORE]

@@ziostregoneria6178 South Kingstown is inside of Washington County.. Washington County is made up of multiple smaller towns...

[@ziostregoneria6178]

@@EVGSTORE Duh! No one even mentioned South Kingstown. Do pay attention! Why people seek attention is beyond me. Rhode Island is in New England. Did you know that?

[@j-mass]

Fascinating history! I never knew about this incident-just goes to show how well it was kept under wraps.

[@_Dave_S]

I went to Chariho Middle and High School back in the 70s/early 80s, it is in Wood River Junction. I never knew of this facility, or its nuclear history. Interesting stuff. Poor Robert. The way they treated his reputation and his family after his passing was criminal!

[@elitadunn24]

this is behind my high school. I used to explore this place a lot. I remember getting a crazy headache while I was there

[@rosslever7844]

Good old Chariho.

[@jakehildebrand1824]

Bullshit

[@kurtismckemmie4850]

But did you die?

[@elitadunn24]

@@kurtismckemmie4850 on the inside, yes

[@neebob2]

Awesome work . I can't imagine how many hours were put in for this 15 minute video . Thanks and keep up the good work !!

[@certaindeed]

Hey was taken to WESTERLY hospital first. They refused him. The ambulance driver and medic in the ambulance died from complications as well.

[@coreysoderlund1376]

Another masterpiece detailing Rhode Island’s long forgotten history. Please take a look at the deserted navy base on south Prudence Island. I have fond memories as a kid exploring the abandoned bunkers with no idea of it’s place in history.

[@lciummo1]

That might be good - all the deserted islands in the bay have some history on them.

[@Sn4fu]

Great Video, It's nice to see this one covered by a Rhode islander.

[@sharonthiel4708]

Absolutely not! His family still deserves more compensation and clearing of his name than has been given!

[@jasminemoorehead9710]

My dad has told me this story many times while I was growing up. Also we lived not far away. It is also a known ufo sighting place.

[@1tinacosta]

I've heard about ufo sightings around there I wonder if they were around the same time?

[@LindaB651]

In the 60's my mother worked evening shift at a nearby textile mill. During dinner break, she and her co-workers would often go there to watch for UFOs, and sometimes saw them.

[@elliesaint1993]

I lived just down the road from this site by kings factory RD. This place is definitely known for UFO sightings by locals. It’s good to see others online confirm that 😅

[@Dwigt_Rortugal]

Are you sure it's not Mr. Burns glowing from radiation and muttering, "I come in peace, we bring you love"?

[@Dwigt_Rortugal]

​@@1tinacostaFACT: Aliens are attracted to high concentrations of radiation. Also a FACT: Aliens hate Kraft Handi-Snacks. FACT: They are also huge fans of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

[@cooltuber1404]

Absolutely incredible ! A huge THANK YOU for your research and editing of the material and this video. I believe not many people knew about this including myself.

[@46bovine]

I was born in 1946 in nearby MA but was brought up in RI. I never heard of UNC or the accident. I joined the Navy in 1965 served on active duty until 1971, a total of six years. Went back to RI in 1972 and left that hell hole in 1977 and never went back!

[@kl0wnkiller912]

Actually the SL-1 incident happened in 1961 and killed three Army Technicians. It was so radioactive that they literally just bulldozed the site into a hole and buried it.

[@Dwigt_Rortugal]

Sounds like a well thought out plan. 🫡

[@scrapplejacks8780]

Thank you for showing this. I've lived in RI almost my whole life and never heard of this. Amazing how that company continued to operate. Today, the Peanody's would have owned the company. The negligence of the Comcast was on full display.

[@Andi-tu6gd]

Thank you for this video, Mr. Allard. I just looked up the half life of Uranium 235, and it's stated to be 700 million years. That's unthinkable, really. 😩🤮Truly heartbreaking.

[@Dwigt_Rortugal]

Yikes, that stuff is nasty.

[@Runofthemillshop]

Unbelievable.. great documentation jason. Its so sad to hear what happened to Robert. His poor family!

[@Benjamin-085]

Very good video! I have lived in Rhode Island for my whole life and I heard about this nuclear accident. One of my parents was familiar with the incident but nothing more other than there was a singular death. This video helped clarify this and I look forward to your future videos/documentaries!

[@jonathangodbout6645]

I am from Warwick RI. I grew up there in the 70s and 80s... I have never heard of this until this video...LOL

[@jaredwilbur3553]

Fantastic story. Thanks for taking the time to put this together.

[@blipco5]

Yes, Mr Peabody was so accident prone they had him do this important, dangerous job. 🙄

[@Dwigt_Rortugal]

Doh!

[@blipco5]

@@Dwigt_Rortugal 🍺

[@missjddrage1111]

I can definitely appreciate anyone who likes to read this type of material for fun. Being a bookworm isn't ever a bad thing. Knowledge is key. Great documentary. Well done Sir. 💯🏆💐

[@DianaDeLuna]

A lovely detailed, sensitive retelling of the Wood River Junction tragedy. I was hoping on your walk to the old site, you'd bring a dosimeter with you to measure remaining radiation on the compound's footprint. Other KZbinrs do this, but as far as I know, not in the Eastern US.

[@julianmalcolm]

I appreciate the hours of work put into this video and how awesome it is. Keep up the amazing work.

[@derekp2674]

Jason, thanks very much for this video. I am a retired Nuclear Criticality Safety Engineer, so I've known the basic details of this accident for many years, but it was great to see all the additional material from your research and the footage of your site visit. As i expect you noticed from LA-13638, "A Review of Criticality Accidents" there were many criticality accidents during the cold war. Military grade uranium and plutonium were precious strategic materials then and production pressures tended to discourage a slow and cautious approach to the development of safe processes and equipment. Today, we would say that Mr Peabody was "set up to fail" by shortfalls in plant and process design and in nuclear safety management.

[@FifteenthApollo]

Love your content keep it up! I've lived in RI for a while and this is a part of its history I didn't even know. This channel is great.

[@gregorymotta6628]

Great video Jason, that truly was a dark time in RI history. And as mentioned several times the 22k settlement was a travesty. May Mr. Peabody RIP 🙏

[@carolinaeric8500]

Wow I had no idea! What a tragic story and to think those execs at that company got away with that…not sure how they slept at night knowing it was pure negligence on their part not making sure everything was done correctly, unbelievable! That bit of injustice is the kind that yanks my chain

[@bethbrocato3266]

I lived about 2 miles from this site in the 70s/80’s/90’s. I remember going to non-nuclear demonstrations there in the early 80’s. @JasonAllard … I wonder if there is any correlation to illnesses/cancers, etc for families living near to, or particularly down river from this site, as the groundwater is tied to the Wood River, which is very close to this site???

[@FixItStupid]

Right Still Cancer Comes Never Cleaned UP All Lies Cover Up It Still Get In Ground Water & Dust In The Wind & Off Gas Too They Lie WE DIE

[@johndutton7915]

Lived here my whole life. Born in 1976. I just found out about this 4 or 5 years ago from my 83 year old boss. He told me all about it. Thanks Calvin Bronson. SCARY VERY SCARY

[@MrRichard57000]

A japaneese worker at a nuclear plant in japan died within 90 days with a similar accident...what a way to go,rip

[@Poorschedriver]

Holy hell was this well written and produced. Very well done.

[@rogersellers493]

Don’t forget that Harry Daghlian died of a supercritical excursion during an experiment with the “demo core”. He was exposed on 8/21/1945 and died on 9/15/1945 of extreme radiation exposure. Also another casualty of the demo core was to happen to Louis Slotin who also died of a supercritical excursion. He was exposed on 5/21/1946 and died on 5/30/1946 of extreme radiation exposure. Both those incidents also happened in the United States.

[@WindTurbineSyndrome]

A Japanese worker was in a super criticality incident and the doctors kept him.alive as he slowly died a horrible death of radiation sickness.

[@christianlavallee3041]

Absolutely mind blowing story. Never heard of this at all. I’ve spent the majority of my life fishing and exploring the Wood River and never heard of this story! Incredible work.

[@justinj8149]

Another great video!!

[@reverands571]

I lived in southern Rhode Island, during that time. It never was a big enough story in the papers, to be known by any of us.

[@gerardjohnson2106]

Great reporting. You didn't need formal education on atomic energy and nuclear processes. Your in-depth research gives you the creds to present this story. Thanks for sharing.

[@alpalazzo1950]

Just read this article. I never knew this. At the time l was 13 yrs old. Thank you for researching this part of RI history. I'm sharing this with friends.

[@darlenedebont9950]

Did you interview any of Mr. Peabodys children? I wonder if they're still living in that area. I have always been fascinated by this story and very sad for the family. May Robert Peabody rest in eternal peace.

[@blendofdays]

This is amazing. Thank you so much for bringing this out into public view. I've lived in ri for almost 30yrs & grew up in Massachusetts & have NEVER heard about this! 😮

[@jasminemoorehead9710]

There was also a secret train track that delivered the nuclear waste.

[@lciummo1]

Do you know of any tracks off the mainline to the plant site? Would love to find them.

[@1tinacosta]

Not surprising

[@vinny142]

"There was also a secret train track that delivered the nuclear waste." How do you keep a train track secret? And why would they? It wasn't secret organisation or anything.

[@Dwigt_Rortugal]

Yum!

[@Dwigt_Rortugal]

​@@vinny142It was like the Polar Express. An extra special secret train, except Tom Hanks' character glowed an ethereal blue, and the Aspy kid knew all the specific isotopes and their molar concentrations.

[@juxxtapoz]

I found out about this incident from the KZbin channel Plainly Difficult a few years ago. Very interesting stuff and you did a great job presenting the facts.

[@FenianAn1mal]

PD does a much better job and doesnt stretch the truth like this guy here.

[@dizfoster]

Jason, this is a fantastically researched, narrated, and edited. This is so fascinating

[@skynetd-termination98]

This was fascinating Jason! Thanks for sharing this one...really enjoy the way you tell a story.

[@aleks1939]

I remember around 4 or 5 years ago someone posted a pic in a RI hiking Facebook group of a sign with the radiation warning symbol they came across while hiking around Alton Jones. Very fascinating find!

[@benjaminbassett7757]

Sick video, lived in south RI forever, mountain bikes in WRJ a lot too. Cool to learn the history

[@anthonybanks2979]

nice work Jason . good watch

[@bkenyon]

i’ve hiked that whole trail and riden dirt bikes there my whole life had no idea about this

[@BrandonPhillipsPosterus]

Beautiful editing. And writing especially in that conclusion. I have lived in RI my whole life and never knew any of this! No wonder they made nuclear illegal here now haha

[@Don-ib7ey]

When I saw your mothers review and your shopping list, I knew I was in for a treat.

[@firecracker3911]

No gift shop? Unbelievable

[@Dwigt_Rortugal]

Exit through the gift shop!

[@DarkExploration]

Unbelievably well done 👏

[@sosvegas2964]

As somebody who is obssessed with nuclear power plants chernobyle and 3 mile island. And has watched and studdied so much its insane to see this and knownthat i had no clue about this. Thank you for your hard work. Makes me wonder how much else we dont know about.

[@peterfaggella3120]

I teach at the high school right near there. Thanks so much for this awesome documentary. Never heard of this accident!

[@lisabethbennett8057]

I grew up on the other side of Route 112 in the 70's and 80's. I'd wander miles in the woods in every direction as a kid, but I never went onto United Nuclear's land across the highway. My parents warned us off and we took it to heart. Totally creepy. This event drove a lot of the anti-nuclear sentiment in town when they wanted to put a reactor at Ninigret, which was successful in preventing the project.

[@Eremon1]

Wow, this one I had never heard about until this video. Thanks for the video.

[@theodoreanderson1311]

Thats nuts, I can't believe this happened in Charlestown! Great content!

[@edrhodes4354]

I've lived in Southern RI for the majority of my 52 years. I've never heard about this. Thank you

[@markramos307]

Jason, this is fascinating. It's really good work and I think you've earned that internet PhD. In 1964, government was still trusted totally by citizens and the press. I can't imagine a similar accident happening today without scrutiny and questions. I think about all of the people who were exposed: first responders, hospital staff and his family. You noted that the ambulance was crushed and buried. In your research, was there any mention of the funeral and the potential for further exposure to those involved with that? I would think that the deaths attributable to exposure is actually much higher.

[@chriskeating5926]

WOW such a tragic story of the "WORKING MAN "... great job Jason, you must have done a Shit ton of homework on this one ...geez where did you find all the newspaper articles ? the library ?.? Awesome job ...hope you brought your Geiger counter on your Exploration

[@s1lenceblade]

I'm a Rhode Island Resident and took Rhode Island History back in High School and I've never heard about this until today.

[@jawsxx8683]

"History shows again and again how nature picks up the follies of man "- BOC.

[@mikeiyc]

Points out

[@vintage76vipergreenBeetle]

I heard rumors about this place. Now I now the whole story. Nice job Jason.

[@frankb5693]

What a fascinating…and sad….video. As always s stellar presentation, thanks Jason!

[@cheryljackson5364]

I never heard of this and I was 11 at the time. I wonder how many were really affected by this accident? Swept under the rug

[@markarca6360]

This is comparable to the Tokaimura criticality incident during the late 90s in Japan. Hisashi Ouchi is the Robert Peabody of Japan.

[@garethjohnstone9282]

Did you say it was the only fatality in the US nuclear industry as a whole? Because there have been quite a few criticality accidents and deaths in the US. Also, when a mass of uranium goes critical, there is no explosion. Thees a flash of blue light and heat.

[@cameronricher2263]

To be fair he said this was the only death in the private US nuclear industry - which is correct. The others were government/military

[@lciummo1]

If you reflect enough neutrons back into the uranium the fission will continue and release extrememly large amounts of energy, that most people would cause an explosion.

[@SombraPiloto]

I grew up not far away in CT and this is the first I've ever heard of this.

[@flotsamike]

Well done. I had not heard of this incident. The term" unrequested fission bonus", is the dark humor phrase for these situations. If you look hard, you might still find europium 152 in the slab of building where the criticality occured.

[@lawrencejneuser8801]

Mr Peabody, is just another person that got screwed for somebody else's mistake. And to think that I lived only 5 miles from there at one point.

[@mancima]

Amazing history. Well done.

[@MSProtege]

Interesting video!

[@shmartyponsh1]

Incredible story. Incredibly well told and edited.

[@ipodwallify]

This has gotta be one of your best videos to date, very good stuff

[@quinnjackson9252]

I get giddy every time I see a new upload!! I love abandoned places in RI, and enjoy their history and beauty. I'd love to team up with Jason to try and restore or preserve some of these old artifacts through political means, as videos of this quality and some clever political campaigning can definitely achieve some amazing successes.

[@kyle2beats]

me too!

[@Misterlucas134]

Awesome video! Very well put together. I enjoyed that!

[@supershutze1944]

I feel like the bottle issue could have been solved by having bottles painted different colours.

[@Dwigt_Rortugal]

Quiet, you. You're not paid to think.

[@RyanL-om1ut]

Sad but very interesting story, great work!

[@zeitlerusmc]

You did a great job on this!

[@scottinharwood]

You forgot SL1 in idaho. The super criticality accident and core steam explosion there killed three men.

[@judy-uv1bk]

Never heard of this. Thank you

[@flawlessleak]

Rhode Islander’s confused how we all know everyone but no one knew ANYTHING about this

[@franimal007]

Is the secret underground building still there underground?

[@1tinacosta]

What secret underground building?

[@Manpant86]

Great video man.