Hi there, It does look rather explosives magazine style. There are an amazing number of styles and shapes and designs but the solidity of them is usually the key, if its built that solid and close (but not that close ::) ) to old workings it would seem to be what you think IMHO. Is the chimney a chimney or just a vent?
Regs ICLOK

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I wonder if it could be a "strong room"?

Often magazines had comparatively weaker roofs to allow any blast to escape upwards. They also often had double walls. Also, why would an explosive store have a chimney?

Depending on the circumstances a strong room would be used to hold valuable produce from the mine (obviously not in this case) or miners' wages.

Once upon a time it was necessary to use a "warming pan" to soften explosives before inserting them into shot holes - but I guess having a stove in the explosives store itself might be bit risky! ::)

Cheers

Grahami

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I think I would tend to vote for it being a strong room.

I see no problem with the possibility of there having been one of those cast iron 'Pot Bellied' stoves in the middle of a room, its actually the most efficent place to put it, both it and its iron pipe flue radiate heat all round.

Also (although I may be seeing thing that aren't there) the photographs suggest that there were two large areas of signage on the front wall. One is about 2ft above the door and would have been about 2ft high and 3ft wide. The other to the right of the door again about 2ft high and 3ft wide with something about 1ft square (letter box maybe?) below it, both lined up with the edge of the door frame. Its difficult to tell from the photo's but the staining and surface finish of the concrete appear different in those areas and I cannot see what else it could be. I wouldn't expect that much signage on an explosives store.

If it was a 'company town' as your description suggests its also possible that the company strong room would have at some stage also have functioned as the town bank. Is it located at the residential side of the works site?

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Ok thats additional info that does tend to argue against the strong room suggestion. However it doesn't need change my other comments.
Correct me if I'm wrong but I'm under the impression that winter temperatures can be as low as -30 in Kansas which suggests heating. Those pot bellied stoves were quite small and effecient and could have either straight or angled flues (the arrangment was imported from scandanavia).

As to the signage I wasn't looking at the obvious chisling but at the water staining of the wall, in places you can see where a vertical water stain has been diverted to both left and right horizontally, this suggests there was something on the wall to obstruct the flow, also the colour (dirt) on the wall. (It helps if you put the photo in photoshop and manipulate it a lot with the contrast, brightness etc controls) I should add that I spent some of my working life looking for subtle changes in similar images (it does take a lot of practice to 'get your eye in'). I'm very confident there was something to the right of the door, I'm less confident of something above the door but I do think I can just see the ghost of something there. In both cases I cannot think what it might be other than signage for the two larger marks and a (letter) box (or sign) for the smaller.

If you haven't aready done so you should investigate the floor. The picture of the wall vent shows what appears to be a lip in the wall below the vent. Was this lip to support the floor, or is the real floor below the dirt. If there is a concrete (or other) floor below the dirt the vent obviously serves the room. If not there may have been a wooden floor supported by the lip, in which case its possible the vents were under the floor and therefore did not serve the room.

ADDED LATER
I can only think of three possibilities for this building. two have been discussed strong room and explosives store. The third possibility is armoury, could there have been any military activity in the area, possibly a National Guard unit who's members were from the factory. Its possible cement could have been considered a vital war material and the creation of a national guard unit encouraged. What is the roof like is it as strong as the walls, armouries and strong rooms both require a strong roof.

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Once upon a time it was necessary to use a "warming pan" to soften explosives before inserting them into shot holes - but I guess having a stove in the explosives store itself might be bit risky! ::)

Cheers

Grahami

Why was there a need to soften explosives before inserting them in shot holes?

With some explosives ,that were of a hardish brittle texture,one had roll between warm hands ,to get it soft enough to insert a Det,but soft explosives would tend to kink as you ram the holes,and block before reaching the end.

Once upon a time it was necessary to use a "warming pan" to soften explosives before inserting them into shot holes - but I guess having a stove in the explosives store itself might be bit risky! ::)

Cheers

Grahami

Why was there a need to soften explosives before inserting them in shot holes?

With some explosives ,that were of a hardish brittle texture,one had roll between warm hands ,to get it soft enough to insert a Det,but soft explosives would tend to kink as you ram the holes,and block before reaching the end.

Found this in an explosive use guide.

"Explosive cartridges should be used only in the form in which they are delivered.
Frozen or deteriorated explosives, including explosives that show abnormal
appearance and those that misfired, should not be used for shot-firing.
Frozen explosives should be thawed with due precautions, and deteriorated
explosives should be destroyed under the supervision of a competent person."

Is this the place?

http://www.abandonedok.com/united-kansas-portland-cement-company/