Washington Cooperative Farmers Association's Feed Mill. The Co-op spent a million dollars in the late 1940's to construct the modern feed mill pictured above. The feed mill would utilize the most modern techniques to blend and weigh its grains. In addition, a bulk feed unit was constructed where the feed could be funneled directly into waiting delivery trucks or rail cars. The Washington Co-op had been serving the Tacoma area since 1920. Its feed mill manufactured much of the formula feeds used by Western Washington members. As the Co-op continued to grow, new additions were made to improve efficiency including eight huge tanks added to the bulk feed loading-out line to increase storage by 50%. A completely new overhead conveying system was added to speed the handling from the mill to the truck. It made it possible to convey two different products simultaneously and increased the loading capacity from 40 to 100 tons per hour. (TNT 9-1-58, C-2)

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Food storage buildings--Tacoma; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Representatives of the 4-H Clubs of Washington meet with a Washington Co-op Farmers Association official on April 26, 1957, outside the association's headquarters on Taylor Way. Two of the 4-H'ers are standing on the running board of the Co-op's bulk feeds delivery truck. Photograph ordered by the Washington Cooperative Farmers Association.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; 4-H Club (Tacoma);

Exposure of a grinder at the Washington Coop Farmers Association. The workman appears to be changing a screen on the grinder. A chute to the right appears to feed the material to be ground, possibly grain, into the machine. There is another large pipe leading up from the machine. Photograph possibly taken inside the Association's feed mill.

Food storage buildings--Tacoma; Machinery; Equipment; Mills--Tacoma; Farming--Tacoma; Food industry--Tacoma; Washington Cooperative Farmers' Association (Tacoma);

Exposure of a grinder at the Washington Coop Farmers Association. The workman appears to be changing a screen on the grinder. A chute to the right appears to feed the material to be ground, possibly grain, into the machine. There is another large pipe leading up from the machine. Photograph possibly taken inside the Association's feed mill.

Food storage buildings--Tacoma; Machinery; Equipment; Mills--Tacoma; Farming--Tacoma; Food industry--Tacoma; Washington Cooperative Farmers' Association (Tacoma);

Exterior Washington Co-op Farmers Association buildings. Located close to the modern feed mill appears to be the Washington Cooperative Farmers Association garage. The Co-op owned several delivery trucks that would transport bulk feeds and petroleum to its customers. They could be stored and maintained at this facility, which included three gas pumps. Photograph ordered by Washington Cooperative Farmers Association.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Garages--Tacoma--1950-1960; Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Exterior views of some Washington Co-op Farmers Association buildings were taken on February 1, 1956. The brick Farm Service Store was open Mondays-Fridays from 8 am to 4pm for the convenience of its members. A truck and passenger car are parked at the store's loading dock. A Great Northern boxcar is located close to the truck. Photograph ordered by Washington Cooperative Farmers Association.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Railroad freight cars--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Exterior of mill and bulk feed station. The Washington Co-op Farmers Association built a modern, efficient feed mill in the late 1940's at a cost of $1,000,000+. Located on the Tideflats at the Hylebos waterway, the Co-op had immediate access to transcontinental railroads and sound or ocean going vessels which made transport of their feeds and grain extremely efficient. Bulk feed could be poured into the Co-op's Diamond-T trucks for delivery to waiting customers from the Bulk Feed Service area. Photograph ordered by Washington Cooperative Farmers Association. TPL-10077

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Grain elevators--Tacoma; Mills--Tacoma; Food storage buildings--Tacoma; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad freight cars--Tacoma--1950-1960; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The new facility would have automatic meters for blending grains and scratch feed and automatic feeder scales that would weigh the formula feed ingredients accurately. The concrete structure was built by slip-form method, had 11 stories and a basement, a head-house that reaches 163 feet above ground and ten cylindrical storage bins, 18 feet in diameter and 105 feet deep. View of building progress on the new feed mill for Washington Co-operative Farmers' Association and Northern Pacific freight railroad cars.

Building construction--Tacoma; Food storage buildings--Tacoma; Railroad freight cars--Tacoma; Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma);

Washington Co-operative Farmers' Association would be one of the country's finest and most modern feed mills constructed. The building was on 8-1/2 acres of the Hylebos waterway, this would facilitate future water transporting by sound and ocean going vessels. The facilities gave access to all transcontinental railroads. Exterior view of new feed mill for Washington Co-operative Farmers' Association.

Food storage buildings--Tacoma; Farming--Tacoma; Food industry--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma; Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma);

Washington Co-op's new feed mill would be one of the finest and most modern feed mills ever constructed. The building was built in Tacoma Tideflats area, at the Hylebos waterway, built over 8-1/2 acres. The mill would have access to the most efficient transportation, including all transcontinental railroads and any sound or ocean going vessels. Interior view of feed mill, machinery and feed equipment is ready for the official opening of facility.

Food storage buildings--Tacoma; Machinery; Equipment; Mills--Tacoma; Farming--Tacoma; Food industry--Tacoma; Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma);

The feed mill was conveniently located on the Hylebos waterway, the Washington Co-op would later add a large dock which would provide water transportation. The feed mill had 110 foot tall elevators, 18 feet in diameter, these grain elevators had a capacity of 276,000 bushels of grain. Interior view of the new feed mill facilities, located at 1801 Taylor Way in Tacoma.

Food storage buildings--Tacoma; Machinery; Equipment; Mills--Tacoma; Farming--Tacoma; Food industry--Tacoma; Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma);

Washington Co-operative Farmers' Association new feed mill had an innovative pre-mix system. The pre-mix system would mix vitamins and rare minerals and incorporate them into the mixing lines of poultry and dairy feeds. The pre-mix system would operated using the same type of Marchen feeders and equipment already installed at the mill. Interior view of new agricultural facility.

Food storage buildings--Tacoma; Machinery; Equipment; Mills--Tacoma; Farming--Tacoma; Food industry--Tacoma; Washington Cooperative Farmers' Association (Tacoma);

Washington Co-operative farmers' Association's new feed mill has taken about two years of construction and will officially open in March 1949. The building is 12 stories high, it cost approximately $1,500,000 to built. The new feed mill was built on 8-1/2 acres of the Hylebos waterway, this new mill will service all of southwest Washington and its feeds will be distributed to all of the Washington Co-operative branch stations and farm service stores throughout the state. Interior view of new facilities.

Food storage buildings--Tacoma; Machinery; Equipment; Mills--Tacoma; Farming--Tacoma; Food industry--Tacoma; Washington Cooperative Farmers' Association (Tacoma);

The new feed mill was constructed with a concrete foundation and concrete structure, it was built by slip form method. The new Washington Co-operative Farmers' feed mill has a headhouse that reaches 163 feet above ground. They also have 10 large cylindrical storage bins that measure 18 feet in diameter and 105 feet deep; there are additional storage bins throughout the new building. Interior view of new Co-op feed mill.

Food storage buildings--Tacoma; Machinery; Equipment; Mills--Tacoma; Farming--Tacoma; Food industry--Tacoma; Washington Cooperative Farmers' Association (Tacoma);

The Washington Co-op feed mill is one of the country's finest and most modern feed mills. Russell Rathbone, Director of Operations for the association stated it is the most modern feed mill west of the Mississippi. The new mill is very efficient and has the most efficient milling operations. Interior view of the feed mill, the feed mill has storage bins with a total capacity of 15,000 tons.

Food storage buildings--Tacoma; Machinery; Equipment; Mills--Tacoma; Farming--Tacoma; Food industry--Tacoma; Washington Cooperative Farmers' Association (Tacoma);

Storage bins at the new feed mill help Washington farmers get the feeds they need in the amounts needed. The new mill also has an innovative weighing and packing machinery. These new modern machines are 99.9% accurate in packaging feed bags. Interior view of Washington Co-operative Farmers' Association feed mill; possibly possibly the feed and grains mixing machines.

Food storage buildings--Tacoma; Machinery; Equipment; Mills--Tacoma; Farming--Tacoma; Food industry--Tacoma; Washington Cooperative Farmers' Association (Tacoma);

The new Washington Co-operative Farmers' Association feed mill was being served by the Tacoma Belt Line, giving access to all transcontinental railroads. There were currently four railroad lines set up, more would be added in the future. Interior view of new feed mill, the machinery and equipment is numbered, the plant is expected to being its operations in its new building in March 1949.

Food storage buildings--Tacoma; Machinery; Equipment; Mills--Tacoma; Farming--Tacoma; Food industry--Tacoma; Washington Cooperative Farmers' Association (Tacoma);

Washington Co-Operative Farmers' Association was building a new $1,000,000 feed mill. This facility would join the existing building, the new building would house a 165 foot mill and warehouse. The basic construction on their new grain elevator was near completion. The expansion and new elevator would give Washington Co-Op modern facilities. Exterior view of new building, scaffolding on left side.

Dairy products industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma--1940-1950; Progress photographs; Scaffolding--Tacoma; Washington Cooperative Farmers' Association (Tacoma);

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association refrigerated delivery truck. The truck is painted with the logo for the Lynden brand, one of the co-op's brands. Lynden sold eggs, chicken and turkey. Washington farmers banded together and sold under the co-op's brands in order to get better prices for their goods. The grain elevators can be seen on the left.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Grain elevators--Tacoma; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

As the holidays approached in 1953, the Washington Co-operative Farmers Association stood ready with their refrigerated delivery trucks. This truck was painted with the logo for the Lynden brand, one of the Co-op's brands, and their most popular holiday product - turkey. Lynden sold eggs and chicken, as well as the holiday gobbler. The truck was posed at the Co-op's Mill and grain elevators, located at 1801 Taylor Way, on the tideflats. The Co-op was formed of Washington farmers who banded together and sold under the Co-op's brands in order to get better prices for their goods.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Grain elevators--Tacoma; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A new Diamond-T petroleum truck is parked near the Washington Cooperative Farmers Association's feed mill in April, 1954. The Co-op continually upgraded their equipment; this new truck would be used to deliver gasoline, lube and heating oils to Co-op customers. No passengers would be permitted on board and smoking was strictly prohibited.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; Diamond T trucks; Signs (Notices);

Washington Coop Farmers Association, a truck carrying bulk feeds being filled directly from the feed mill. Built on 8 1/2 acres on the Hylebos Waterway, the feed mill was one of the most modern structures in the country. The Coop used both trucks and railroads to move its product across the country .

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Grain elevators--Tacoma; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Washinton Co-op Farmers Association building with trucks, bulk feed truck being filled.

Commerical Organizations - Business Enterprises, Cooperatives - -Tacoma - Washington Cooperative Farmers Association

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association. Building with truck on left and rail cars on righ, also smaller building with six automobiles in front.

Commerical Organizations - Business Enterprises, Cooperatives - -Tacoma - Washington Cooperative Farmers Association

In June of 1952, the Washington Cooperative Farmers Association operated a grain elevator, feed mill and warehouse complex at 1801 Taylor Way on an 8 1/2 acre site on the Hylebos Waterway. The mill, including its 163 Foot tall "headhouse" was completed in 1949 and was the last word in mill construction at that time. The site was served by the Tacoma Belt line, giving it access to all transcontinental railroads, and had a dock to accomodate ocean-going vessels. The mill was sold to Land O'Lakes/Cenex Feeds, Inc. in the 1980s and closed in 1990. TPL-9616

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Grain elevators--Tacoma--1950-1960; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad freight cars--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Built on eight and a half acres of the Hylebos waterway, the Washington Co-operative Farmers Association's new feed mill was one of the finest and most modern units in the country. Trucks were able to have feed directly loaded from the warehouses via metallic hoses. The Co-op also used at least four railroad lines to transport their product throughout the country. Kenworth trucks would be able to haul eggs long distance as well. View of Washington Co-operative Farmers Association feed mill, grain elevator and warehouses in this February, 1953, photograph. Photograph ordered by Dale Smith, Washington Co-operative Farmers Assn.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Grain elevators--Tacoma; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad freight cars--Tacoma--1950-1960; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A view of Washington Cooperative Farmers Association with the feed mill on left. Two trucks loaded with wood crates are parked in front of the mill. A line of automobiles is parked on left side of railroad tracks. The grain elevators are in the left background.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Grain elevators--Tacoma; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Close up of A64472-4 cuts off right front of Washington Cooperative Building.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Grain elevators--Tacoma; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Men are weighing a truck filled with bulk feed at the Washington Cooperative Farmers Association's grain elevator, feed mill and warehouses on the Hylebos Waterway. The truck in the foreground and two more in the background have been painted with the Washington Co-op name.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Grain elevators--Tacoma; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; International trucks;

Exposure of construction on Taylor Way, Washington Cooperative Farmers Association. The Washington Coop had built a large grain elevator at this site and was making additions to the plant.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma);