Color view of new boiler room at Consumers Central Heating Co., taken on June 19, 1968. Consumers Central Heating was located at 914 A St. and provided complete air conditioning and "purchased steam service." Their steam plant was located at 1147-51 Dock St.

Consumers Central Heating Co. (Tacoma); Boilers; Heating & ventilation industry--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Progress photos at Consumer's Heating. Robert W. Winskill was director and manager of Hurley Engineering, authorized sales and service providers for Ray Oil Burners and Automatic Fuel Oil Burners. Consumers Central Heating Company provided steam service in Tacoma since 1919. The steam was used for heating, cooking, hot water, pasteurizing, dry cleaning, vulcanizing, auto cleaning and power. A huge burner is directed towards a rack of metal plates in this interior view of Consumers Central Heating Company. Ordered by Hurley Engineering. (TDL, 5/26/1931)

Consumers Central Heating Co. (Tacoma); Hurley Engineering Co. (Tacoma); Heating & ventilation industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Engineering--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1940-1950;

A skunk managed to get into Consumer's Central Heating Co. plant. It ran around for a while, and then jumped into the hog fuel machine. Evidently frightened by the experience, the skunk sprayed and ran off. E.E. Schultz, W. Northey and G. Van Alstyne (left to right) were left in a dilemma wondering what to do. Consumer's Heating supplied heat to downtown buildings from 1920 until it closed in 1979. (T.Times, 2/4/1944, p.4)

Consumer's Central Heating Co. (Tacoma); Skunks--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The boiler at Consumers Central Heating's heating plant.

Consumers Central Heating Co. (Tacoma); Heating & ventilation industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Repairs are being made to the boiler at Consumers Central Heating's heating plant.

Consumers Central Heating Co. (Tacoma); Heating & ventilation industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Close-up of pipes and interior of Consumers Central heating building, 1218 A St.

Consumers Central Heating Co. (Tacoma); Heating & ventilation industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

In September of 1920, work was begun on the Consumers Central Heating Co., a huge steam heating plant on Dock St. at the foot of 11th St. By the end of October, the last brick had been laid in the 200 foot stack, second only in size to the one located at the Tacoma Smelting Co. Boilers had been installed, and the tunnel excavated for the pipe from the plant that would connect to the piping system of the city. The new plant was needed to supply heat to the new construction in downtown Tacoma - the Rust Building, Scandinavian American Bank and the National Bank of Tacoma. In an innovative move, it would run on refuse wood from Tacoma's many mills. The plant was expected to be fully operational by mid-November. The city liked the location of the plant so much that in 1922 they erected their own plant at 1145 Dock St. (The site of Dutho Rubber Co. and Pacific Machine Shop in the picture.) In September of 1979, 59 years later, the Cental Heating plant shut down permanently. The stack was dismantled brick by brick in 1980. (TDL 10/31/1920, pg. 5- picture, TDL 9/5/1920, pg. B6, 10/17/20, pg. B7) Boland B3347, TPL-9503

Consumers Central Heating Co. (Tacoma); Steam;